The only down side is Gallicas are once bloomers. Many are not fragrant at all. I always allowed a few spaces for them because of that color and their hardiness and I can't smell anything anyway. But they are generally large plants and most gardeners don't want or have room for a large green shrub the rest of the summer. My Cardinale de Richelieu is an absolute JB magnet, the leaves having been totally eaten to lace by the very first bugs.

For how long do they bloom? A once-bloomer with a long period of bloom is, to me, as good as a repeat bloomer, but I want to avoid roses that have only one, very short, flowering.

I also don’t mind once blooming but I do need fragrance. What are the best “true” purple with scent, do ya think?

My favorite roses! Love Gallica's! My bloom isn't as long as someone with cool spring temperatures, but it's long enough for me to grow more gallicas and hybrid chinas then anything else. I am in love with them..more than any roses I have. I have one tea, that finally prompted me to try some more, but I've had so many die. And alit of chinas die. I have really started liking polyantha's too :)

Take a look at my spring thread from last year on the Antique forum. It has some on it.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/spring-dsvw-vd~5253809

There is a link for it. Enjoy!

Alana the pics in your thread are gorgeous (and so is your kitty)! Glad they are doing well for you.

This is not a Gallica but a hybrid Setigera and is purple.. Erinnerung an Brod is my favourite purple OGR. Once blooming but loads flowers and a strong fragrance.

OK Where is the other photo. I am losing patience with Houzz!!

How about Belle de Crecy. It is a shaded purple and a small bush.

Then there is this other smaller Gallica. One always has room for a small rose. Crams Picote

It depends on the soil but Rose du Maitre d' Ecole, goes more purple.

Rose du Maitre d' Ecole is one I missed out with palitine this year. I had to wait on money and by the time it came, they were sold out :( ...So will have to try again next year!

Glad you enjoyed the photos perennialfan!

Erinnerung an Brod is going on my list to research. That looks beautiful!

lkayetwvz5, I am surprised that you do not find gallicas fragrant. I know that different noses react differently to scent. I grow 36 varieties and they are all well-scented. Their scent is different from the damasks with their sweet and powdery scent and different again from the moderns that often have a hint of lemon and other fruits, pepper and other spices, etc. Some Austin roses smell of musk, not a smell I like. Many but not all of my gallicas are purple. One favourite is Cosimo Ridolfi:

But there are purple roses in other classes, too. L'Éveque and Tour de Malakoff are two purple centifolias.

I meant myrrh scent, not musk!

Love your Cosimo Ridolfi mariannese!