Mauve and purple roses

November is a great time for rose enthusiasts as the first blooms start to appear and by the end of the month. There is a great display over much of the country which extends into December for parts of the South Island.  It is certainly great to see all the new blooms appearing, especially on those new plants that we have planted over the last few months.

In past columns, I have featured roses by colour and this month I am featuring some in the mauve and purple shades. Note I have not said blue as there are no such things as blue roses as roses lack the gene to develop the blue pigment. Genetic engineering has led to the development of true blue roses but that is another article someday.

Purple and mauve coloured roses seem to be quite polarising, at least in New Zealand. People either love them or loathe them and compared to pinks, whites, red and yellows, they are a harder colour to sell.  Yet an informal survey of different coloured roses and how fragrant they are I read a few years ago revealed that mauve/purple roses had the highest proportion of fragrance of all colours, although it was not by much.

Some well-known and less well known (but still can be brought) mauve and purple  roses are:

Blackberry Nip: The first release from Rob Somerfield, this fragrant deep purple rose is still popular 20 years later. Also available as a climber.

Blueberry Hill: Scented, semi double blooms are a feature of this variety and in full bloom, the flowers just cover the plant.

Big Purple: The name says it all, the large blooms of deep purple are highly fragrant and good for picking.

Charles de Mills: A heritage rose with large flat full petalled bloom of crimson purple once flowering in summer.  Healthy with dark green foliage and few thorns.

Ebb Tide: Low growing, this variety has clusters of deep purple blooms that are strongly scented. Healthy and another variety with few thorns.

Hi Ho Silver: The silvery lilac blooms have a tinge of pink in the buds. Highly fragrant, healthy and repeats well.

Honky Tonk Blues: Another striking rose with lavender blue semi-double blooms fading to an icy white as they age. Striking in full bloom.

Rhapsody in Blue: A real novelty when first released and still attracts attention today. Fragrant plum purple blooms age to slate blue with yellow stamens. Fragrant.

Sugar Plum: A Patio climber with small, well-formed blooms of magenta purple. Strong, vigorous healthy growing plant.

Veilchenblau: Once flowering, but a fantastic display of small purple violet blooms that are produced in large clusters. Very healthy, thornless and will even tolerate some shade.

November is when many of the rose shows are on up and down the country including this year’s National Spring Rose Show in Woodend, North Canterbury. Click here for details.

In the rose garden for November:

• Roses will be coming into flower throughout the month so enjoy the spring blooms, especially those of any new varieties you have planted.
• Watch out for strong winds damaging new growth, especially basal shoots which appear from the base of the plant. Stake these or pinch the tips out
• Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat as appropriate.
• If you get a dry spell, water your roses to keep them going.
• Get along to your local rose show and visit your local public rose garden to see what is in flower.

By Hayden Foulds

Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours. 

Read more from Hayden here.