That depends upon which Cl. Cecile you have. There are some which are ONLY spring flowering. There are some which give scattered repeat and there is at least one which flowers pretty continuously spring through fall. If you want less of a cathedral eater and more continuous flowering, plant Spray Cecile Brunner instead. Traditional Cl. Cecile can get to 30' here. Spray usually doesn't exceed 15' here and flowers like an enormous floribunda, only in tremendous sprays.

Tying the canes of Spray Cecile in place, as has been discussed recently in the climbers threads here, will encourage it to grow like a climber. You can also whack the devil out of it as the photos of huge bushes on HMF show it can be grown. For the repeat flowering Climbing version, Heirloom advertises their "version" of Cl. Cecile Brunner is the more continuous flowering one.

Now the question is, how much of the performance issue with either of these roses is due to your Texas weather? Lack of water and the intense heat could easily inhibit flowering. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Spray Cecile Brunner

Kim, thanks for answering! I have a cl. Pinkie but not the cl. Cecile Brunner. I'd read there was more than one of them but didnt know which was best. Sounds like the spray CB is what I want. I have an Heirloom order coming, will get them to add to it.

Last summer wasnt bad - but 2011 was the absolute worst heat I have seen in Texas. Hopefully.....we wont have another one of those! My cl. Pinkie was planted last year so is still a young plant and probably wont bloom to capacity until it is 3. I have grown roses for years but have just recently purchased a Cecile Brunner - its starting to bloom its head off in a 1 gallon pot - and I started wondering about the climbing form. Chamblees has a cl. CB but not sure if its the spray form. I love Pinkie.......but I have an arbor that needs a pink climber and wanted to see what the experts thought of these. I water everything well in the summer, so unless the heat was the issue, these roses will have good care. So Kim, if it was your arbor, which would you choose? I will end up having both, no doubt....but now am wondering which to put on this arbor - its in my backyard and in full view of the deck so want whatever is planted there to be the best bloomer. Thanks!
Judith

Cl. Pinkie was planted out in the best friend's yard ( he wanted something that wouldn't die) and did what you say for a few years until he got some roots down and then became more continuous. When his mom came to stay for 6 months, she watered it every other day. Then it bloomed like crazy.

CCB is the only rose I have shovel pruned that was still alive. I didn't even get a spring flush out of it, just an occasional scattered bloom. The bush itself, however, was the most gloriously healthy thing you've ever seen and would have eaten the entire fence it was on if I hadn't dug it up.

SCB blooms year around here, and is very healthy. She's in partial shade and would do better with more sun.

In my garden Climbing Cecile Brunner is one of the biggest among my rambling giants. It has knocked down arbors and engulfed trees. For me both Pinkie and Cecile are spring bloomers with a very occassional bloom or two later.