Prune it. What do you want it to look like?

Many gallicas have this type of gtowth if left unpruned. That is why I always prune my. In early spring, before they star leafing out, shorten canes by 1/3 to 1/2. This way you will have the same number of blooms but on shorter canes. W/o prunning all the flowers will be from buds at the top of canes, the same will be with pruned canes. Just the top would be 4-5 fe7t,not 7 feet. Much more manageble and self-supprting bush structure.
Olga

I've done what Olga has suggested to my Hippolyte. It works.

Pruning sounds good. Despite my natural inclination to avoid it. It would also save all that effort to tie it.

MG I would like it to be rounded with center canes taller and the outside shorter. Should be easy to do!

Are you sure it wouldn't hurt it? A real worry wart.

Hi Jim

Younger canes flower more easily when pruned than older canes. Old canes might not flower at all if pruned more than 1/4-1/3. I know of albas that are pruned with chain-saw to about a foot every year and still flower (Minette). It is against all the rules in the book, but still it flowers really well. Some rose experts have refused to belive it is Minette until they have taken a sucker and grown it in their own garden. My point is that general rules sometimes can be a bit unreliable. Perhaps you can remove the oldest canes if you decide to prune a lot.

For suport I use canes I take from trees growing outside my garden (mostly salix caprea, I don't know what it's called in English). They should be strong enough to hold the longest rose canes in center of your rose, and still not disturb the arching effect of the Hippolyte-canes. I choose straight canes that look strong and long enough, and that leave a natural V-shape-growth at the top. They are hardly visible when the rose has leafed out, if at all. I just stick them in the ground and place the rose-cane in the small V-shape. Best of all I like them better than any thing I find at the garden center and don't cost a thing.

Perhaps you can make any use of this.
Good luck with your Hippolyte :-)

Jim,
If you prune outer branches and support longer ones, the outer shorter branches will die. I tried it. Really you have to do one or another, not the combination of two.
Olga

You know the whole issue is about chemical signals-Most roses have something called apical dominance-the end bud sends signals to the lower buds to not grow. When you take off the end bud the closest buds will not get this signal and will break and grow laterals and those laterals will bloom. All the buds down the whole cane were exposed to the cold weather that Gallicas need to bloom but the bud at the tip will prevent most of them from blooming unless you remove it. As the Cane ages the buds become less able to change-I dont have any information on why that is but as they get old the cane ages out becomes less productive and will need to be removed-Gallicas generally produce many new basal canes every year so it isn't a problem. If you want the plant to arch with no laterals dont prune but the cane usually will not hold the weight of the flowers as they are just not thick or woody enough-if it rains you have a complete mess-your choice.

patricia

Thanks Olga, it's too late for mine this year but next year it will be pruned! It's a giant here.
Patricia, good info., thanks.
Jim, good luck. Olga's suggestion sounds good to me.

Carla

I never tralized it was such a tricky business.

OK I'll prune!!

I agree with Carla..Olga knows what she is talking about-you dont have to know or care a thing Auxins and such stuff which I am sure has gotten way more complicated than when I studied it about 100 years ago. Just follow her advice and you too could have perfect roses.

patricia

Hi Jim, do you think you can spare me a few cuttings of your Rosa Hippolyte for trade or postage? I'd sure love to grow this beauty and would greatly appreciate it if you could.

Please email me jenlee_49@yahoo.com

Thanks...Jen