The world's largest rose.

Hi folks. I have just returned from a holiday to the USA. While i was there, i visited Tombstone AZ. I went there for two reasons.
Firstly, i wanted to tread the boardwalks where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had walked all those years ago. Secondly, and more importantly, i wanted to see the world's largest rose bush...err...tree after following a link on Rosetalk some time ago. I found the rose in the backyard of the Rosetree museum. Below are some photos

DO they have to prune it

Get a load of that trunk !!!

I believe they do prune it as it keeps getting bigger every year. At the moment it covers 8000 sq. ft. I also believe they sell cuttings at certain times of the year. They must water it as Tombstone is in a semi-desert.

Fantastic shots! That's what I call a shady place. Imagine it in full bloom.
What is the width of the trunk? Over a metre I bet.

How amazing is that?

It would have been close to a metre in dia. i guess. I have a post card here of it in full bloom and it's covered in thousands apon thousands of flowers. I first read about this rose after following a link on Rosetalk some time ago. Seeing as how i wanted to visit Tombstone while i was in the USA, i decided to go and see the rose. I'm glad i did !!

That is amazing! You are lucky to have been to visit it Dave!

Do you reckon if they took the support away now it would support it's own weight?

I certainly would not want to be under it if they took away the posts.

I WAS lucky to have visited there Val. It really was an amazing sight to see !! Just being in Tombstone was amazing as well. There was the Tombstone Epitaph, OK Corral, Nosey Kate's (Doc Holliday's girlfriend) saloon. I had only left LA the day before and my driving skills on American roads were a bit scarey, but i was game enough at that stage to get off the interstate hwy and travel down to Tombstone. All up, i travelled through to Texas before i turned north to the old Route 66 and then headed west. I saw the Grand Canyon, Zion Nat. Pk., Page in AZ (amazing!!) Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite Nat. Pk., Sequoia Nat. Pk., and Kings Canyon and then back to LA. I was the last car to get through Tioga Pass while entering Yosemite due to the heavy snowfall. After that it rained heavy for over a day and Yosemite Falls, which are normally dry this time of the year, were thundering !! All up, a very memorable trip !!

Simon, i don't know if it could support it's own weight if the trellis supports were taken away, but there were some very large branches inside the canopy. In the backyard was a viewing platform that you could walk up to view the top of the canopy. It would have been amazing to see the canopy when the rose was in full bloom.

There's a few roses that can be grown this way. I've always loved his photo on HMF too http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.37474