I had heard this rose might get tall, but things don't usually get huge in my climate as it's just not that sunny, so I thought I'd try. However, rather than growing up, my two-year-old GC seems to be growing "out", like a wild thing... I have never quite seen a plant grow in every direction like this. When I stake it, branches tend to grow out sideways, then flop over, or flop, twist and grow upside down. Worse than any raspberry bush. Like a Clematis on steroids. It's in the back of a border, I can't seem to keep it from learning on, or hugging branches around its neighbors, and it grows fast. It's like The Stranger Things vines this year. Some shrubs like this start to grow straight-up better with time, is this one of those? Or will it need its own yard? Is there any kind of pruning that reigns this in? And how to do it? Pruning it after the first flush last year seemed to kill part of it off, which was surprising, so i don't want to go too hard on it.

Lovely! I think photo #6 is my favorite. I love this rose for large blooms, shape of the blooms, delicious fragrance, and orange buds. Those are some good looking leaves on your plant. Mine gets bad bs by the end of summer but I forgive it.

I live just north of Detroit on Lake St. Clair. I probably have very similar conditions to yours. GC is one of my oldest roses, probably 20 years old. Yes, it does black spot, but then what doesn't here in the Great Lakes fish bowl state, lol It will bloom anyway. It does like to get quite tall so I have mine on a trellis. The limbs are very supple and easy to train and tying it up makes it easier to see (and smell) the heavenly blooms that nod down. If you want something more upright you could also try Graham Thomas. Also can spot but still a beauty. A little smaller in size and a brighter yellow but still a good fragrance.

Thanks @librarian_gardner_8b_pnw . Such beautiful photos and colors. I love the ways it fades. I was hoping for that but my plant seems to be stuck on golden yellow. The scent was definitely strong....sweet and maybe tea like? I don't know how to explain scents too well but I enjoyed it. Waiting for her to grow some new flowers to see if they're still yellow.