I blame Peter Beales for my entirely inappropriate planting of 'General Schablikine' lol. I had bought his book and read the "shorter" reference and planted it at the front of a bed. It's now HUGE! I wish I had known back then how big it grows in our climate.

I wish my G. Schablikine in England had grown as tall as 3'! If Beales' plant ever grew to that height in England he was very lucky, and it must be because everything is grafted over here. My own-root plant (imported from Italy, identity indisputable) has never grown to even half that size in England. In fact, it's been growing backwards. Floriferous and always the first to bloom in the first couple of years after import (perhaps it had stored enough energy in Liguria's climate to keep going for that long once relocated to Old Blighty) it has now ben pretty much flowerless and refusing to put out any decent growth for the last 3 years or so. I almost disposed of it today, but then I saw some new roots, so I will give it a few more months... and then out it goes if things don't improve. I think the General simply hates England's long cool (cold) springs and is less than impressed by her short cool summers. Considering that in warmer countries this is a winter bloomer, you'd think it would do well in an English spring; my conclusion is that a Liguria winter must be milder than an English spring.