I bet The Prince wouldn’t mind a hard prune, it seems to regenerate easily. It’s not one of those Charlotte Armstrong descendants that keeps building on itself, getting the thicker canes up higher and higher.

It does however depend on which zone you're asking about. A hard prune in a warm climate like yours tends to encourage growth in most Austins, and I'm presuming The Prince applies to this tendency.

In my cold zone (apparently 6 now), hard pruning The Prince means all the canes have died over the winter. The Prince is quite fussy about winter in harsh or variable winters, so he's likely to sulk and not come back, more than other Austins. In general the purple-ish toned Austins are more fussy about winter than the pink ones, though I had many years of The Dark Lady without that much dieback, and the more red-toned LD Braithwaite or Tradescant or Tess D'Ubervilles are reasonably hardy for me.

Cynthia - zone 5 Nebraska

I'm in zone 9 coastal Calif., and The Prince has never had a problem with a hard prune. I've had mine in a 15 gallon pot for ~23 years, and I always prune it back to ~12 inches in January. It always bounces back nicely, and I generally keep it to ~3 feet with deadheading.

Cynthia, yes I can see how The Prince might be fussier and suffer cane dieback in colder climates, I do find the purples trickier than most other colours. We do get cold winters here, but mine has never had any dieback, perhaps because it’s tucked up against a stone wall and so fairly well protected.

I am reassured by Ben’s thoughts and your experience, Susan - wow 23 years in the same pot, that must be a record! My pot is cracked and crumbling so the deed must be done.

I think part of my uncharacteristic hesitation is down to the fact it’s irreplaceable - no longer available in mainland Europe, at least from all the reputable sources I know of.

I appreciate the advice everyone, I shall confidently sally forth with the loppers!

I don't know. In nearly thirty years mine has never exceeded 3 feet anyway. It doesn't die back from freeze damage — it just doesn't grow. I'm envious of those who can actually get this cultivar to perform well.

I've grown The Prince for about 18 years. He has no winter dieback in our zone 7, and does not resent it when I prune in spring. He's a favorite of mine and doesn't give much in the way of problems. He used to come up with some wonky blooms when the heat got extreme, but mainly just rests in July now. He has a great growth habit, too. I have to say that my two Munstead Wood plants outbloom The Prince about 10 to 1, but they outbloom most other roses I grow, too. My The Prince was from Palatine roses, and I assume is grafted on multifloral rootstock. My garden has alkaline soil and is in a semi arid desert. Diane

Hello there. My owner often calls me Richard lll.

Paul, I think there must be a limited climate window where this rose performs well overall. Mine grows to about 5x5ft with healthy canes and foliage. Indeed it would turn into a short climber if I did not prune off a good third every year. However, the blooms are highly variable in form and colour, plus it fries easily from early summer to autumn in my hot and humid conditions. Still, when it hits the right weather window, the blooms can be sublime, so I treasure it just for those moments. I would be very happy if it never grew more than 3ft so long as it bloomed well without frying, but that's never going to happen!

Diane even when potted in a neutral-acidic pH potting soil and watered exclusively with rainwater, the few purple roses that can survive here are never as purple as yours. They are burgundy at best, frequently turning magenta at the first hint of summer heat.

For Paul.

Gorgeous, Sheila. I assume that's your Richard, The Prince.

Nollie, I can't explain purple. The Prince is darkest in spring and parts of fall. He retires fairly early in fall and lets Munstead take over. I'm down to one black Munstead Wood bloom, and the very dark Ebb Tide blooms gave up a few days ago in the cold. But we're not that cold here right now, just coldish and wet. Highs in the low fifties. I think the blooms I've seen of your Prince are beautiful. Diane

Blurry pic of The Prince at the end of his fall run. I apologize for this bunch of blurry pics.

Munstead looking grim at the end of November.

The Prince

Thank you Sheila and Diane.

I love the blooms of 'The Prince' or I wouldn't have persisted in keeping it for thirty years! But its never been a very good plant for me. I've grown it own root, (the original plant was budded onto 'Dr. Huey') and I have budded it myself onto R. multiflora and 'Pink Clouds' and none of them did particularly well.

This year, I fussed over the one specimen I have left (moved it into a pot) and fed it without fail, and it's close to 3 feet tall, which is the best it has done in a decade. Maybe I just oughtta stop saying mean things about it. Or maybe it got one look at 'Clara Thomson' and was shamed into action! (They share the same Austin parent, 'Lilian Austin')

Update - having hard pruned The Prince’s canes to between 6 and 12” and repotted, I’m pleased to report that every one is re-sprouting nicely - thus proving there was absolutely no need for my uncharacteristic reluctance to wield the loppers on this particular rose!

Thanks again to all for your encouragement folks.