I'd call Scepter'd Isle a rose with upward tendencies, but not as narrow or as stiff as Queen of Sweden. For me, Scepter'd Isle is a good 5' tall and reliably winter hardy, so you'd think the canes would get stiffer with time. In practice, I have to support most of the canes most years with a 3-4' wire fence around to support it like a tall peony cage. Otherwise the canes would flop over on the ground without the ability to support itself. The fence contains it to a relatively narrow (maybe 2-3') width and keeps the canes from angling out. Mine would want to angle out if unsupported, but more because of the relatively weak canes than any tendency to form a vase-shaped plant. It seems happiest in a more or less cylindrical upright 2-3' wide circle support and about 5' high.

Here's the closest thing to a bush shot I can find. As you can see, the buds when young do stand up reasonably well but the flowers are heavier than the canes can support even after 5 years, so the blooms nod fairly often, and the whole cane bends without support.

Here's what Scepter'd Isle would look like without support. The picture above is taken at a 4' height with the top of the rose stretching above the picture to 5'. All 5' of that growth is mangled to the ground in the photo below by the very aggressive clematis Princess Diana, who can eat most roses for lunch and the wimpy canes of Scepter'd Isle can't compete. Even with my wire cages around SI, I have to have one cage for the rose and one for Diana or she gets pushy and too big for her britches. You can see that this one is temporarily no higher than my A/C unit, and this photo is taken 3 years after the previous one.

The one thing you didn't ask about is scent, and dang, because this is one of the few roses I can smell. Unfortunately, I really don't like its scent and it's a musky smell with distinct edges of burning rubber/gym socks to my nose. I would rather like an anise kind of scent, but that's not what my nose detects from Scepter'd Isle. Granted, my judgment of scent is not usual, but I only like SI for its very reliable all summer bloom and excellent hardiness, not its scent, or ability to hold itself upright for that matter.

Hope that helps. Be prepared to support this one as it gets older is my advice.

Cynthia

I have one coming own root this spring Moses! So good luck for both of us! I think I'll just get a tomato cage right away for it . As well a clothespin for my nose just in case! Haha Cynthia your photos are beautiful. Would you consider it for a centerpiece of the garden or is it best in the background?

I can echo Cynthia's observations. Mine is kind of floppy, like a big peony. It forms a loose open shrub, def not upright like a hybrid tea. It's not a wimpy grower, it just doesn't seem to be able to form stiff canes that form a good 'scaffolding" for a firm shrub. It's a good rose, and I enjoy it a lot, don't get me wrong. I think the best words to describe it are relaxed and lounging..:-) Not a bad quality, just something to keep in mind.

Thank you, Cynthia, Lilyfinch and Marcindy. The more I find out about Scepter'd Isle the more I believe it will be a winner for me.

Cynthia, since its scent, as you described it, is not particularly appealing, that point may not matter too much. The various scents of other varieties in bloom at the same time in my garden should blend very nicely.

Your heads up on S'dI's flopping tendency is well noted, thanks. Sharing your lovely shots was very helpful, too.

Years ago in my hybrid rugosa/OGR rose bed (transitioned to modern fragrants presently), wafted out a combination of spicy clove from the hyb. rugosas, mixed with sweet standard rose, mostly from an abundance of Marie Pavies. It was memorable.

Strong scent, any kind, is primary to me. If it's not scented I don't want it...with some exceptions.

Glad it looks like it'll work for you, Moses! Sounds like you have a good sense of its pros and cons. Marc, glad to hear that floppiness isn't just me (smile). Lily, I tend to think of this one as more of a background rose than a specimen rose in the center of things. Scepter'd Isle blooms well but not all the way down to the base, more at the ends of the floppy canes and their laterals. When I think of a specimen rose, I think of a well-branched self-supporting bush like Savoy Hotel that makes a large statement of bloom all the way around and down most of the way to the ground (because of the branches coming off lower on the bush). Scepter'd Isle is more of a pillar type rose that needs its own fencing (or tomato cage as you're planning) and blends in with other roses. The loose blooms aren't particularly substantial (though enough petals) and the color is mild, so it's better as a blending effect than a show piece. Glad you liked the pictures.

Cynthia

S'dI is set to go at the back of a three rose deep bed. Its floppiness can be averted since it wll be against a 4' fence and can be fastened to it with no problem. Lacking blooms low down is good, since if it did bloom lower down, they would be hid by the roses in front of it.

Hi Moses, that's perfect. Here's mine grown in a raised bed and fastened against a fence which it's really taken a liking to. I've trained mine laterally so I get blooms from top to bottom:

Thanks for the photo, CC. Yours looks great, healthy foliage!

Such a helpful thread Moses ! I'm glad you started it !!

Wowwwwweeee pat !!! That's what I'm talking about . Please say it's own root lol . What amazing roses you grow! Also is that just one or more than one ?

That's one plant & it is grafted on Dr. Huey, but I believe it would be a vigorous grower own root, too.

Pat, if I will be able to get my S'd I to look half as good as yours I will be overjoyed!

Please share with us your rose care program: fertilizing, spraying, pruning........

Thanks for your invaluable input!

I love my Scepter'd Isle. It grows somewhat laxly in part semi-shade for several hours. Perhaps that is why she tends to have longer arms stretching out (arching) so gracefully. It is about 3 years old at most (maybe only 2 years)--I forget.

Beautiful bloom--my camera makes it look more vividly pink than it really is. It shows its golden center only when the bloom is fully mature. I think it is quite charming!

Here is a pic from a year earlier--notice the nodding blooms. I don't remember that they nodded that much last summer--but the arms sprawled a bit more as the plant got older.

Thought I had a couple more pics, but if I do, they are hiding. : (

You should love this rose. I know I do mine.

Kate

@pat_bamaz7 is that just one rose in the picture? it looks incredible!