I am so enjoying my bluish purple roses this year! I think they are my husbands favorite. I am too torn to have a favorite among my 8 different varieties of roses. These roses are called Veilchenblau or Blue rose. They are ramblers that can reach out ten to fifteen feet. Their fragrance is wonderful with a hint of orange that is very appealing. It is a nearly thornless hybrid multiflora bred in Germany in 1909 by Johann Christoph Schmidt.

The Veilchenblau is a hybrid of Rosa Hybrid “Crimson Rambler’ x ‘Erinnerugn an Brod’. The Name Veilchenblau means Violet-blue in German. It is also know by the names Blue Rambler, Blue Rosalie and Violet Blue. It is good from zone 7-9 and is a David Austin recommended variety.

I enjoy the small simple ruffled flowers that come in clusters. The colors range from bluish purple to magenta with white streaks in the center and bright yellow stamens. It seems different years the colors are either more bluish or more pinkish. I have not figured out why. I planted old roses that might have been planted  around my house in the early years. My house is a 1905 folk Victorian probably build by one of the craftsman that worked one of the grand houses that used to line Height Boulevard.

As the blooms age, they fade from dark violet to almost purplish gray. It grows rather fan-like with new stems coming from the base. I think they would look lovely on a trellis. Strong afternoon sun can fade the blooms so morning sun is best. It is quite hardy and has done well these past 10 years in my zone 9a garden, even through the drought. This last cold winter, with more rain, has it covered in blooms. I planted two of them one in each corner of my front garden to climb along the wrought iron fence.

As I look out my office window, while working on designs, I see passersby stop and take a long look at these striking roses. I was outside the other day and a woman asked the name. I had to say it a few times : )

Happy Gardening!