In article , Franz Heymann
writes
In a fit of enthusiasm, my wife and I fell for a specimen of
this rose, and are now considering what to do with it.
We have a very ugly small tree which flowers to an almost
negligible extent, and has barely enough leaves to keep it
alive. It occured to us to just let the Kiftsgate loose on
it, without bothering with any regular training. Is this a
viable or a bum idea?

That depends whether you want to ever go near the ugly small tree again.
Kiftsgate annual growth is phenomenal. And its thorns are the nearest
thing to WMD in a rose that I've ever seen! In fact, if someone could
breed it as a hedging plant, it wouldn't just stop sheep, cattle, dogs
and burglars, but tanks as well. Ours climbs up the wall of an old barn,
with suitable (strong) supports, and regularly sends shoots several feet
into the barn roof by lifting the tiles.

--
Malcolm