Here you can see how he is not only reachIng for the skies, but plumping out around the bottom edges. See below:

This is one of only two tea roses I brought with me when we moved in 2018. Dr. Grill, not visible here, is also growing, and may pose similar problems in the future.

I don’t prune these in the winter — apparently that’s not done for tea roses — but the unchecked growth leaves something to be desired in the aesthetics department.

There is a short trellis behind the General, but it’s been swallowed up and you can barely see it. Should I get a larger one? Or some other kind of frame device that will help keep it upright and attractive? Not an obelisk, as I don’t want another vertical next to my rose tree, visible on the right,

i don’t mind sprawling plants, but this is so lopsided and unstructured ,,,

Thanks all!

Sylvia

Original post should read “at this time,” not “at this type.”

Hi Sylvia,

I grow few teas -- not either of these -- and am aware that most of them have the reputation of hating being pruned and also growing to huge dimensions. Perhaps running wires across the wall behind them and espaliering them on the wall would allow them to grow big enough to be happy? You can always try pruning them to see if these varieties will tolerate it. Hopefully one of the folks with amazing tea collections will chime in soon.

Hi Sylvia! He is quite healthy...mine is still in a pot, but from what I understand he will get quite a bit larger! I think Sheila also grows him, so hopefully she’ll see this and give you a better idea. It’s a gorgeous rose, and he looks very happy—-enjoy!! 😊

Sylvia, such problems we all should have. The general looks great to me. He just being a boss. Diane

Sylvia, mine seems to be growing up a phlomis fructiosa. I don't know why yours could not grow up a wall. I would hate to see it restricted, but that is me.

My tea rose that I strongly suspect is General Schablikine looks exactly like yours, Sylvia, rangy and sprawly, which can be a characteristic of teas, but I have, and have had in the past, quite a few that are much more upright such as Rosette Delizy, Rhodologue Jules Gravereaux, Miss Atwood, Mlle de Sombreuil, Madame Lambard and Baronne Henriette de Snoy, among others. Mine is wedged in among other roses, in a space that is much too small for it. and the roses there are just going to have to fight it out and sprawl over each other. In a way that's not a bad thing because these roses are all trying to grow taller to get to the light, away from hungry munching mouths down below. I see a certain kind of charm in roses that billow up and around their confined spaces, but everyone has a different aesthetic and your General might want to command a larger area for himself. Sheila, I have a weakness for pink and yellow flowers intermingled and love the combination of your General S and the phlomis.

Looks darn healthy and happy! Let him go! It's a beautiful rose, one I always admire when I visit the San Jose Heritage -- there are several there. Lucky you!

I have heard, from someone here in Sydney who grows this rose, that it reaches enormous proportions. I think he said his was 20' wide and 10' high, with a possum nesting in the middle of it, so you may want to move yours, Sylvia. I have had mine for around 4 years, and it is still small, but it, like nearly all my roses, has canker, and I moved it a couple of years ago.

Trish, that created the most charming picture in my mind, of that little animal finding shelter in that rose. From everything I've heard and seen, tea roses in Australia reach humongous proportions, as though someone had put them on steroids, but in my case at least that ain't happening. I'm more sorry than I can say that your roses (and you) still struggle with canker.

Thanks, all. What I will try to do, I think, is follow KS8b’s suggestion and try to espalier it or otherwise get it going up or across the wall. I‘m going to do something similar with Dr. Grill on the other side of the rose tree (not visible in these pictures).

I’m in 9a, So Cal, hot and dry inland. My rose are on a drip system.

i know how big tea roses can get here. At my old house, Marie Van Houtte grew to be 5x5 in two years, and was 6x6 by the time we moved. Originally, my plan was to plant the two teas in the community garden where I live now, but they will not let you water any way except standing there with a hose ..

no timers, no automation, and dirty looks if you leave a bubbler or soaker Jose and go away. We all know that roses in this climate need deep, intense watering at root level — not a stream from a hose! So I brought them back.

I’ll see how the General likes being tied up .. in green tape, not red. 😀

hose, not Jose. Por Dios!

I stated gardening and gem collection to set my mind away from addiction. So I join forums related to crystals and gardening I say this pic and simply could resist to suggest that if you can make a puff that will make that a beauty to behold and if you like I can send over some crystals to make it even better.

Welcome, Random Jason. May you find as many hours of pleasant distraction as I think the rest of us do, here and in our gardens.

Welcome Random Jason, good job on your recovery !

Roses are pretty great therapy

Comtesse, I'm with you on letting the Teas go natural.