That is normal for Golden Celebration.
Our mature plants are easily that tall.

We find if we alow the canes to reach their appointed size, they will arch over,
bloom first on the end of the cane, and then bloom on laterals along the arching cane.

Jeri

We find if we alow the canes to reach their appointed size, they will arch over,
bloom first on the end of the cane, and then bloom on laterals along the arching cane.

Mine does the same thing.

Thanks Jeri and Hoov, I knew I could count on you two! I just wasn't sure if they would ever bloom on the ends. The canes have arched over already, and I'll let them do their thing.
E

I'm in another zone, and mine got huge, but, when it was time to prune it in the spring, I pruned it back to about 3 feet and it was very content and gave me a good flush. I've had it pruned down for two years now. right now, it's probably close to 5' give or take.

Now, I have to tell you ...

I went trudging down the hill, and noticed a HUGE bloom on GC,
surrounded by 6-8 buds-in-waiting.

I said to DH:
There's a big spray coming up on Golden Celebration.
In a day or so, I'll pick it for the house.

DH growled in reply: "Don't you cut that basal! I'm going to stake that
so it doesn't break!

Properly rebuked, I left it alone to bloom outdoors.
And the undamaged basal is beginning to set lateral growth.
So, DH was right.
As usual.

Jeri

You're welcome, Eileen! I think it depends on how much room you can give it or how you want it to look. I didn't have a lot of room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pruned Golden Celebration

Jeri:
Can we see a picture of your GC? Did you dead head it before lateral appeared?

FJ

Here you are:

{{gwi:235916}}

There are 5 plants here, making a privacy hedge outside our bedroom window.
These plants had gone badly down hill -- needing more water, and not
taking kindly to pruning in our climate.
This was taken in early May, when Cemetery Rose was here.
The plants are shown just on the downside of a major flush.

Jeri

Jeri,

So much fun to see your GC pict. If I had to have one rose it would be GC. Although I haven't started planting OGRs yet. I may change my mind.
Eileen

Eileen, If we could grow just one rose, it would not be GC, as much as we
love the rose.
It would be the Found Rose, Grandmother's Hat.
There is simply no finer rose for a Southern California garden.
It is fragrant, disease-free, almost continuous-blooming, and it is a graceful
plant in the garden. Terrific in a vase, also.

If you're not growing this rose, you're doing yourself a disservice!
{{gwi:252232}}

Jeri

Jeri,

You have mentioned this rose to me before and believe me I will purchase it in Sept when I visit Vintage gardens. Do you need me to pick anything up for you while I am there? I suppose they ship, but I have to see the nursery in person.

Another question- I plant my roses in groups of five. GH looks like it is giant. Will one plant get that big with all my fog? And, should I only get one, or maybe do a group of three?

Thanks again, as always, for your help.
E

Oh, you don't actually have as much fog as we do!

"Grandmother's Hat" is a very obliging rose.
You can allow it to be quite tall, you can espalier it as a climber, or you
can prune it much as you would a tall Hybrid Tea Rose.

We have recently planted a row of it, fairly close together, to grow into
an informal hedge.

It's a vigorous plant, however, and I think I might be more likely to plant it
as a group of three, rather than a group of five.
Five of "Grandmother's Hat" would make quite a statement, but would need
quite a bit of real estate.

And, if you are visiting Vintage (I assume you mean that you are going
to their retail outlet at Garden Valley Ranch?) I recommend that you also
get their clone of 'Larry Daniels.'
LD is one of two pale-to-blush sports of "Grandmother's Hat," and they
now have a very vigorous clone of it.

Jeri

Jeri,

Is it worth it to go to Sebastopol? My family lives in Napa so it is an easy drive from there.

Is that where you think I should get Grandmother's Hat from?

Thank you for all your help!
E

Jeri your GC roses are beautiful. Sniff. I miss mine...darn gopher! I got another baby one to start over with. Thank you for posting the pics of GH. I haven't been able to find a whole bush shot of the rose. Now I KNOW I want it! Glad to hear it will most likely tolerate the Lompoc fog.
~Melissa

Very interesting thread about GC ( my favourite).
I was worried about the space, but after seeing Tivoli's gorgeous GC pruned down to three feet, i think i can manage mine. Jeri your GC bushes are gorgeous too.

my baby bush
{{gwi:318748}}

Tivoli, have you given any support, in the middle of the GC bush?

karima

Is it worth it to go to Sebastopol? My family lives in Napa so it is an easy drive from there.

*** IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!
Not least because you will see Garden Valley Ranch, and you really SHOULD
see Garden Valley Ranch.

Is that where you think I should get Grandmother's Hat from?

*** Yes. Absolutely.
And get their Larry Daniels, as well. Trust me on this -- you won't regret it.
You will get some great roses, and at the same time support a great nursery.

Jeri

Karima, yes, if there is lots of fresh new growth, heavy blooms and a rainstorm, then I may have to put in some stakes, only to remove them some days later. GC does have long, fresh small branches, so sometimes that has to be propped up too, till the blooms are done. Not heavily staked, just a couple.

ROAD TRIP!!! (I wish!)

Anybody call to see if they have Larry Daniels available? When I checked the website this week, it said available by custom rooting (18-24mo). Didn't think to call until today, but they're closed for the weekend although you can leave a message. I figured I'd just try again during the week...

As for keeping GC shorter, I kept my original plant around 4' and that was a great, shorter height for it. It got sun only in the morning-early afternoon hours, that may have helped it be happy smaller. If you have to do 3', then you gotta do what you gotta do, but thought I would offer that experience. Jeri, that's a great group of them, it must smell heavenly!!!