My Westerland is in a nursery pot still, and I got it as a rooted cutting. The first season it put on 4 1/2' of new, very thorny, growth, and then stayed that size over the winter. It's starting this year's growth now, and actually started much later than my other ghetto roses. I didn't prune it at all, which is probably the reason for the late growth. Anyway, if yours is in the ground you can probably expect it to grow more than mine did, especially if it's happy in its spot. Mine had, and still has, very pliable canes, and I just wrapped around its supports as it grew, to avoid the nasty thorns when they hardened.

Hope,

Here, Westerland wasted no time getting big. Buy a good pair of pruning shears and thick gloves.

After 1 year of growth:
{{gwi:234466}}

At end of second year:

{{gwi:217736}}

Hey Thanks, Harry and Steph.

Great pics, Harry. Wow - looks like I'd better get my trellises ready pretty soon if your Westie took off like that in the first year! I can't wait!

Thanks for the feedback and the gorgeous shots.
Hope

Harry, have you pruned your Westerland at all?
I think I've seen a picture of yours before and it is a gorgeous rose. I want to make mine bushier and I'm not sure if this is 2nd or 3rd year for mine. I have never been good at taking notes.

Carla

Carla,
I was advised that, if you want Westerland to cover an arbor, you must prune him from the beginning. He wants to be a big, round bush. Or a briar patch! But, with encouragement, the lead canes reached 10' in just 2 years.

I am very excited with anticipation of my June flush.

Next year I will need a chair and a whip!

Harry, you have done a wonderful job of taming and training that monster. He does want to be a big bush or a massive briar patch. My hat is off to you, sir. Lovely combination of companions, too.

Carol

My New Dawn got huge in it's first year. It was a grafted plant from a local nursery that I planted in May. By August it was at least 8 feet and grew to about 11-12 feet by October of that year! No blooms that first year but boy did it grow!

Thanks Harry

Carla

Thanks again everyone. Your posts have been a huge help. I'll get my trellises ready!

Harry - I agree with Carol - lovely companion plants with your Westerland. What are they? Especially that purplish one beside Westie in the second picture?

Thanks.
Hope