I'd go ahead and clip them. EA is new to me too, seems to want to sprawl like a mini-Austin. I have a blind shoot or two as well, but most of my lanky shoots do end in a cluster of buds. I was going to try tying down (making horizontal) one of two of those shoots to see if blooming laterals would form...it seems like it might be that kind of rose.

I was told to clip them also but didn't. All of my canes ended up with clusters of blooms and then filled out. But since I didn't listen, the bushes got very tall and wide very quickly so lesson learned since I wanted short!

just curious lavenderlace, how tall does your EA get?

I planted them in October and they were already four by four in April. I ended up digging them up and giving them away because I was afraid that they were getting too big to move and I decided to go with another color in that area.

So I don't know how tall they are now, or if they just kept filling out, but they took being transplanted back to a pot very well!

Moses, do you have sandy soil or clay? Were you the one that shovel-pruned Savannah? If so, I had to laugh because I had the same experience with her, hard and flat coral blooms and I was planning on replacing, the sooner the better. But the next year was drastically different!

Lavenderlace,

That's me.

About 30" down I have solid yellow clay all the way to China. The top 30 inches are compost rich topsoil from over 60 years of being worked with, and I mean work!

There are no soil challenges here, just: weather, disease, and insect obstacles.

I shovel pruned Savannah mostly because of its ugly full open bloom, next, poor winter survivability here, and finally for its numerous thorns. I didn't expect its full open bloom would repulse me so much. There are plenty of better pink roses that thrive here. Savannah is not one of them.

Moses

Choking back laughter Moses! I had the same reaction last year, thought that she was simply dreadful. Then she stayed evergreen for me over the winter, bloomed in February with soft, big fragrant no longer neon coral blooms and all was forgiven. Glad that EA has worked out so well for you!

4x4 from just October to April!!! Good to know, lavender. I may need to rethink Earth Angel's planned spot. Oh boy. Lisa

I had a feeling we had a vigorous, sprawling bush lurking under those precious little flowers! Thanks for confirming, Moses and Lavenderlace.

Lavenderlace and all the resta' yinz,

I think Earth Angel will definitely be an archangel in a warm/mild winter climate, making quite a presence.

In my climate, zone 5/6, it looks like it will be a 'rank and file,' angel.

In zone 4, probably a cherub.

Moses

My 1st year band grew a lot but only bloomed once, with 3 blooms last summer very late. This year it bloomed like mad. I agree with the 4x4 size.

I photographed this unlabeled rose at the Portland International Rose Test Garden. I've asked for identification from Friends of the Garden, but they're still checking. My inkling is that it's Earth Angel. Anyone care to comment on this?

It looks a lot like E.A. to me. It is quite beautiful!!

Wow, beautiful pics, towandaaz! EA was a large own root bareroot from Edmunds this spring. It took off quickly and just finished its second flush. I can't say I'm crazy about the fading blooms but love the bloom form, amazing fruity fragrance, and has remained clean thus far. Would you consider this, perhaps, an improved Clotilde Soupert?

I hope yours blooms for you soon Va Joh. Other than pruning for shape (and deadheading after it blooms) I would just let it go.

Wow, Towandaaz, it sure does look like mature plants of Earth Angel. I had been wondering what it looks like after a couple of seasons. Very exciting.

Towandazz that certainly looks like EA. If it isn't, I'd be surprised. I absolutely love that test garden. I would hike up the back way with my 4 year old son from the busy downtown Portland street of Burnside. I would climb the mile high stone stairs through the woods for exercise a couple years back. The stairs were insane, but reminded me of some old tibetan stairs to a buddhist temple or something, and then the truck through the trails, to then finally arrive at the test garden at the break of dawn. I did it everyday at around 6:00 am when there was no public or visitors yet. The only ones there were a few workers tending the roses. It was very peaceful eating breakfast up there by ourselves. I am sad they wanted to tear those stairs down, but I only assume the rich people up there probably don't want the homeless having access to their streets so easily. I wonder if they are still there today? I don't know that many people know about them except for city dwellers lol! I will check when I visit on my birthday, because my husband is taking us up there.

Thanks Dave! I hope they bloom too. Both bushes seem very small though and both were ordered from Heirloom Roses. I have a feeling there may be none this year. The canes aren't even thick as pencils yet. I wonder if I got two small specimens from them. Even so, I will be patient because I love those roses!

Towandazz, I bet that is DA's new rose Desdemona, it at least looks like the photos I've seen! I've had my eye on it, it seems promising & beautiful.

Looks like my Earth Angels. I have two. So far, they balled some and the jury is still out on how they do in the balling department here in NJ. I have a Cinderella Fairy Tale left and Pompnella FT. Both are gigantic, healthy plants. Alas, they will be shoved pruned this year as they ball like there is no tomorrow.