Moses, I don’t grow this rose but I just wanted to say your story made me laugh because I am currently sitting here with what was planned to be a 2-3’ front of the bed rose that turned out to be a rambler that can turn into a 20 foot monster. Thus is the life of us rose nuts! 😂

I will say the one comment about True Devotion on HMF is certainly glowing so I would give it a shot! Maybe a tripod if that works for you? It looks like it should be a ’short’ climber but we all know that can vary wildly depending on the garden.

Good luck Moses...Hopefully it works out for ya! Not much info on that rose...

One thing that I've done when I discover a rose is growing much taller than I anticipated is put a low fence in front of the rose and let it drape itself over the fence in a dramatic Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone..." pose.

I did this many years ago when I had a combination of Lions Fairy Tale and Dames des Chenonceau in the front of my bed eating up precious space. I put a 2' fence along the front and tied the canes horizontally along that. They looked fabulous spilling out over that fence and put up more modest lateral canes along the fence. I liked it so much I'm replicating the exact same thing.

I do have to say I love the "True" series and they have been amazingly prolific and clean for me so far.

Cynthia

Brilliant idea, Cynthia! Expanding on your low fence concept, I could maintain the vertical possibility of True Devotion in its present spot where all its neighbors are hybrid tea types, by training it on a short obelisk. That way all its long canes can be tied to an obliging vertical garden accent.

BTW, do you have a favorite among the True Bloom Series? So far, mine is True Passion. It has vigor that makes me wonder at how so?...too much fertilizing?....no, True Passion got no more or less than any of its neighbors....just a tough, tough rose.

Moses

Glad the idea was helpful! I hate moving roses so any alternative that allows me to be lazy is welcome.

The True series is new enough that I can't evaluate the regular bloom cycle or hardiness, but in general the pink or orange blend ones are blooming much better than the red ones. I'd agree that True Passion has knocked my socks off with an immediately bushy plant and tons of blooms with intriguing colors, and True Sincerity comes close as well. I have high hopes for True Perfume in pink with high ARS ratings and True Inspiration has also bloomed pretty well (also pink). I'd like to see your feedback on True Devotion after you see how it does as I don't have that one yet.

I have 7 of the True series given that Walmart enticed me with $5-7 roses and followup of $1 roses that were highly salvageable in clearance. This has been a good year for body bag roses with good performance and reasonable accuracy given that I no longer have those common varieties that are offered in body bags.

Cynthia

Moses, my True Sincerity rose arrived from Texas ( Home Depot) actually in decent shape..A few stems got broken off but all is good... I planted it on June 14th...I will let you know how it does...Its in Earthsong old location...Earthsongs in a pot right now...

Jim,

How's Earth Song doing in the pot? Recovered, I hope? Do you plan to replant in ground soon? Sure hope you get it going and becoming the equal or better than Earth Song at your old house.

Moses

Moses, Earthsong needs to mature more in the pot...Not sure when I will replant into the ground...still deciding...

Well, it's June 20th. and True Devotion is not finished blooming, started 5 weeks ago. It looks like it staggered new growth while breaking dormancy, each next in line lateral flowering right into action while the previous one just finished. I suspect it may be a continuous bloomer rather than a flush bloomer.....time will tell.

Its blooms are just under 4", pale pink, petal packed, flatish flowered, and thin textured in the petal dept., so they're easily rain damaged, but extremely fragrant. I mean extremely so. So far no octopus canes whatsoever. It's showing no climbing tendency with short stiff canes, about 2' tall now, as I pruned it down hard in spring. Blooms held very upright, no weak necks so far.

I like it a lot, hope it stays on course. The only negatives are the thin, tissue paper bloom's petals, and the flat bloom when fully open.

Moses.