Purple Roses?

8 years ago

I've been doing some research and have my list narrowed down to these four:

Angel face, Barbara Streisand, Big Purple, and Fragrant Plum.

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me about these roses? Disease resistance, black spot, growth habit? Are there better purples out there? I'll be propagating these for resale so I'm looking for expired patents. I know I'll have to wait a few years to propagate the Barbara Streisand, but it seems worth it.

Thanks for your time

Featured Answer

bethnorcal9

8 years ago

I've tried ANGEL FACE a few times. Always seems to die on me. Lovely blooms tho. BARBRA STREISAND also has been tough to keep her going. Been thru 3 plants over the yrs. Stingy, gets blackspot in the spring, stay really short for some reason. I get a nice bloom once in awhile. STEPHENS BIG PURPLE is not exactly what I would call "purple." It's a lovely deep magenta that sometimes can get a purple-y tinge to it. Mine is going on 20yrs old, and still produces decent blooms. FRAGRANT PLUM is even older. Grows tall and has decent repeat. Interesting blooms that can get a two-tone look in certain temps.

This was ANGEL FACE #3 or 4. Got it bagged bareroot from our local Grocery Outlet store last winter. Promptly died after blooming. I think this time it was due to that damn wax they dip the canes in when they dig them up in the winter. Got too hot and fried it. Nice color tho....

Guess this was the only bloom on Babsy last season. Only pic I have from '17. Like I said... she's stingy... for me..

This is the most "purple" my STEPHEN'S BIG PURPLE got last yr. Still a good rose tho. Tall.. over 4ft.

FRAGRANT PLUM looking pretty decent...

Here's that two-toned look. This pic is a little off colorwise. Must've been around dusk. The lighting is a little red here. It's probably the best of these 4 roses, for me anyway.

If you can get your hands on LILA VIDRI/LEILA VERDE, she's one of the best "real" medium purples. Good repeat and beautiful blooms. Does get a little b/s tho in the spring, as you can see...

Another good one is MACHO MAN. Nice huge blooms and gorgeous form. Dumb name tho! I think Regans still offers this one.

BLUE NILE is also a really gorgeous one. Good repeat and nice long-lasting blooms. I believe it might have a nice scent as well. I always forget to record what they're like. I gotta start doing that this yr! (STAINLESS STEEL in the background just FYI... and a really good pastel lavender!)

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Comments (9)

rosecanadian
8 years ago
Aaron - my area doesn't get blackspot...except for two roses (of all of the roses I've grown in all of my yards...only these two). They were Barbra Streisand and Royal Amethyst. If they get disease here....they'll get disease anywhere. Here (maybe better other place) Big Purple didn't bloom very much.

Good luck,

Carol
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I grow Angel Face and Barbra Streisand. For me Barbra is far better, healthier , far more free blooming and vigorous, equally fragrant. It is one of my most productive and dependable roses. My only complaint is that for much of the hot summer it is barely mauve, more like an ‘orchid pink’. Then again, in the hot summer Angel Face turns to ‘dusky rose’, too. The more desirable mauve tones return in spring and fall.

I grew Big Purple many years ago, wasn’t impressed with it, but perhaps I did not take care of it properly, it blackspotted into nothingness.

How about Heirloom? Very productive and easy to grow. Or Love Song...under patent, I don’t grow it, but I’ve been super impressed by some I’ve seen in rose gardens.
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BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
8 years ago
Beth

Love the way those lavender blues look in your garden. I’m on a waitlist for Lila Vidri, the color looks amazing.
SoFL Rose z10
8 years ago
Angel Face was always a black spot magnet for me. I gave up on her after 3 failed attempts. Great fragrance though.
kublakan
8 years ago
Angel face - Very BS prone and although it can be a good bloomer, I've never been a fan of the blooms.

Barbara Streisand - Can't get her to grow for me and the blooms have had a great scent but haven't been out of this world.

Big Purple - I'm on my fourth try with this one and I'd have to echo a previous statement, it's not very vigorous/florific.

Fragrant Plum - Great scent, blooms lacked petals for me to be impressed, and it didn't last a year in my garden before going the way of the Do-Do.

My suggestions: Melody Parfume, Largafeld, Heirloom, and Paradise (also love Paradise Found).

-Adrian.
Aaron Gottlieb thanked kublakan
rosecanadian
8 years ago
I love Paradise Found too!! The fragrance is incredible. I have a picture of it as my avatar.

Carol
Jennifer (7b)
8 years ago
I have Angle Face (pretty when it blooms but leaves dropped often). Big Purple (slow rebloom). Fragrant Plum (black spot). In my garden Violet"s Pride, Love Song and Poseidon are much better.
Aaron Gottlieb thanked Jennifer (7b)
Aaron Gottlieb
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for the advice. I ended up going with 6 different purples. I originally only planned on getting three, but you guys know how that goes. So I ended up going with:

Heirloom, Intrigue, Purple Tiger, Reine Des Violettes, Paradise, and Angle Face.

Thanks again.