I grew both for years, the climber purchased from Vintage, and the bush from ARE. The climber was very easy to grow and put out a lot of flowers within 2-3 yrs, the flowers had little fragrance. The blooms were deep, true dark red, but not blackish, with velvety petals, quite full, tending toward mildew in my coastal garden. The bush was a beautiful dense shrub, wider than tall, with slightly different flowers: more cherry red, not in the least bit velvety, mild sweet fragrance, flowers prone to color change with the weather, consistent good bloomer but a bit prone to mildew.SInce it differed from the climber, I suspected the bush was actually Louis Phillipe. A couple yrs later, I ordered Louis Phillipe from either Vintage or ARE (can't remember) to compare. This second bush grew less dense & more angular, and it turned out flowers that were much more cherry-pink with a stronger sweeter fragrance, plus it didn't grow as well in my climate. So , my Cramoisi S. quest ended up with 3 similar, yet definitely different roses. It's been a lot cooler & foggier here the past 4-5 yrs, and I haven't had much luck with these roses -- I liked all of them, tho, and will try again. Gardeners, always optimistic!

Never grown the climbing form, but the shrub form never stopped reblooming for me, even when not deadheaded. In fact, there's no way I could keep it deadheaded if I wanted to. It blooms fast and furiously, and in such great quatities ... all on a huge plant (the climber must REALLY be huge). Enjoy. Cramoisi is a great rose. Randy

I guess that's what I'm wondering, too, peggy--if CS and LP are so similiar, how ARE we supposed to tell the difference? Especially if CS is being sold as Louis, or vice versa. And that's good to know that LP doesn't mind a severe haircut, barb. I actually pruned back the sides of this bush quite a bit this spring, as it was extending over the sides of the pot by several feet, but I didn't touch the height. Thanks for that information, Malcolm...I thought I had detected some differences in what few pictures of Slater's that I had found. I think I'll hold off and deal with one mystery rose at a time. Usually I don't mind owning a mystery rose...I've been able to identify everyone of them so far (a Lady Banks which was actually Fortuniana, a Cuthbert Grant which turned out to be a Zephirine Drouhin, etc.) But the confusion as to what is LP and what is CS has thrown me for a loop! I guess I'll have to leave it at this--I own a China rose now, and what a lovely little rose it is!

Hi, Sandy. My Climbing CS went in the ground in January. It has had only a few flower buds along the way which stayed small and balled without opening at all. In the last couple of months (since I disbudded it) it has had no flower buds until about 2 weeks ago. In this period it has thrown some new canes - one of which is about 5' long and has one or 2 side shoots. In the last couple of days while I was away the two buds, which are larger than previous, opened but not totally and were brown on the edges with nice fragrance. When I get a new mouse, I will take pictures. (I'm getting around in Handicap Mode with the number pad - no fun.) Apparently, this bugger is peculiar. I have let it be, watering it and giving it a couple of doses of alfalfa tea more than a month ago which started new growth. I guess it's saving me from being in a rush about building a trellis! I'm hoping I like this rose. So far it's disappointing. It was the first rose bush that I planted, so I was worried that I had messed up. But I guess it's just a kooky rose. We'll see, won't we? Sherry