Kim, 'Old Smoothie' so far suffers from the same problem I've encountered with many smooth roses, including many of the early ones I've created on my own. The growth habit tends to be lax.

It took me awhile to figure out why this happens. .

Prickles act like individual buttresses to give support to the plant. They are an architectural feature as well as acting as protection.

Fortunately this tendency for floppiness in smooth roses can be overcome through selection in offspring. It takes while but I've made quite a bit of progress.

Thanks, Robert