I've determined that the plant I received from Pickering is actually not 'Gloire de France'. (See photo in Photos section.) Last year when I became suspicious that I might have a mislabeled plant, I purchased another 'Gloire de France' from Amity Rose & Garden Nursery. That plant bloomed this year, and it is different from Pickering's. Amity's 'Gloire de France' has the larger, fuller blooms that I was expecting and matches The Old Rosarian's photo. Another frustrating part of this mystery is that I have three plants that are supposed to be different cultivars, but seem identical in all aspects:
'Gloire de France (not)' from Pickering
'Blush Hip' from Pickering
'President de Seze (not)' from High Country Roses
You can see my photo of 'President de Seze (not)' at http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?i=A35227&tab=32
If this is a new rose in your garden, you have a young plant. Some roses take a few years to come into their own. Often the plant is putting energy into establishing itself rather than into making blooms. Give your rose time to grow up and you may find the large blooms you are seeking.
I have Gloire de France in my garden and Lyn is right, give this rose 3 years without pruning, and you will have flowers like the photo. Gloire de France also enlarges by stolons which means the canes put out about 3 inches of horizontal roots and then these roots put up new canes. This is not the same as a sucker. My Gloire after 8 years is now 10 feet wide.
