This rose is the thorniest in the garden. The entire bush has an armoury of large sharp thorns to try and avoid. I've always pruned it from the base, cutting it with loppers to avoid coming in contact with the thorns. That said, its a very spectacular rose in full bloom - like a giant pelargonium. This photo shows the back of the rose because it was too high for me to reach - I'm just over 5 ft tall and the bush towers over me.