Purple roses occupy one of the most elusive and hard-won corners of rose breeding, since no rose in cultivation carries a truly blue or violet pigment, and everything gardeners call “purple,” “lavender,” or “mauve” is technically a diluted, cooler-toned expression of the same red and pink pigments found throughout the rest of the genus. Because of this genetic limitation, purple roses span an enormous and often confusing range of tones, from the softest silvery lilac and dusty mauve to smoky plum, deep aubergine, and near-black violet, and the exact shade a given cultivar displays can shift noticeably with temperature, sunlight, and the age of the bloom. Purple roses are produced across nearly every classification recognized by the American Rose Society, including hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, climbing, shrub, and several old garden classes such as Gallica, Moss, Bourbon, and Hybrid Perpetual, each of which handles the color differently in terms of bloom form, plant habit, and fragrance.
A mature hybrid tea or grandiflora purple rose typically reaches 3 to 6 feet tall with large, high-centered blooms averaging 3 to 5 inches across, while floribundas stay more compact at 2 to 4 feet and carry their purple-toned blooms in generous, repeat-flowering clusters rather than as single stems. Climbing purple roses, whether modern large-flowered climbers or old-fashioned ramblers descended from Rosa multiflora and Rosa wichuraiana, can send vigorous canes anywhere from 8 to 20 feet up a trellis or arbor, and several of the most historically important purple-toned climbers date back over a century to the early European rambler breeding programs. Old garden classes like Gallica, Moss, Bourbon, and Hybrid Perpetual roses, some bred as far back as the 1840s, tend to produce the deepest, most velvety violet-maroon tones in the entire purple rose category, generally blooming in a single dramatic early summer flush rather than repeating throughout the season.
Fragrance runs unusually strong through the purple rose category as a whole, and many rosarians consider purple and mauve-toned roses, alongside deep reds, to include some of the most intensely perfumed cultivars ever bred, often carrying rich, spicy, or citrus-toned notes layered over a classic old rose base. Breeding a stable, disease-resistant purple rose has proven especially difficult, since the genetic pathways responsible for the color have historically been linked to weaker growth and greater susceptibility to black spot and mildew, which is why modern breeders like Kordes of Germany and Tom Carruth of Weeks Roses in the United States have invested heavily in improving the vigor of newer purple introductions. Most modern purple roses are hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9, while old garden purple roses and hardy shrub types such as Rugosa hybrids often tolerate considerably colder conditions.
Purple roses carry a distinct symbolic meaning apart from the rest of the rose color spectrum, generally associated with enchantment, love at first sight, majesty, and mystery, which has made them an increasingly popular choice for gardeners and florists seeking something more unusual than a classic red or pink. Many of the cultivars below were bred by some of the most respected names in the history of rose hybridizing, including Mathias Tantau of Germany, Georges Delbard of France, Sam McGredy IV of New Zealand, David Austin of England, and the long-running Kordes breeding house, reflecting more than a century of persistent effort to expand and refine this uniquely challenging color category. Whether grown for exhibition, trained along an arbor, massed in a shrub border, or prized for its historic pedigree, the following 50 types represent some of the most captivating purple roses across the full range of rose classifications.
Purple Flowering Roses Bushes
Blue Moon
Blue Moon is a hybrid tea bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. in Germany and introduced in 1964, one of the most enduringly popular lavender roses ever produced, winning multiple international gold medals for its clean, silvery lilac coloring and classic, high-centered hybrid tea form. Its blooms carry a strong, sweet fragrance often compared to grapefruit, and the healthy, upright shrub performs best when given a bit of shelter from intense afternoon sun, since harsh, direct heat can scorch its delicate petals and dull its cool, silvery tone. Considered by many rosarians to be one of the truest and most reliably cool-toned lavender hybrid teas ever bred, Blue Moon remains a benchmark cultivar against which newer lavender introductions are still frequently compared.
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver is a hybrid tea introduced in the United States in 1957, historically significant as one of the very first lavender-toned hybrid teas ever brought to market and the parent of much of the purple and mauve rose breeding that followed. Its pale, silvery lavender, high-centered blooms carry a strong, sweet, old rose fragrance, though the plant itself is somewhat less vigorous and more disease-prone than many later purple introductions bred specifically to correct these early weaknesses. Despite its comparatively delicate constitution, Sterling Silver’s historic role in establishing lavender as a viable rose color has kept it treasured among heirloom rose collectors for over half a century.
Neptune
Neptune is a hybrid tea introduced in 2003, producing rich, saturated lavender blooms with noticeable purple undertones that deepen further in cooler weather, held on a vigorous, upright plant with the classic high-centered hybrid tea form prized by exhibitors. Its improved disease resistance compared to many older lavender hybrid teas reflects decades of breeding progress specifically aimed at correcting the fragility long associated with the purple color class, making it a more practical garden choice than some of its historic predecessors.
Stephen’s Big Purple
Stephen’s Big Purple is a hybrid tea bred by an amateur British rose enthusiast and released in the mid-1980s, quickly gaining a devoted following for its enormous, beetroot-purple blooms and an intensely powerful, sweet fragrance considered among the strongest of any purple rose ever introduced. Its large, loosely formed flowers and notably vigorous, somewhat sprawling growth habit set it apart from the more refined, formal blooms typical of commercially bred hybrid teas, giving it an appealingly informal, old-fashioned character despite its relatively recent origin.
Blue Nile
Blue Nile is a hybrid tea bred by Georges Delbard in France and introduced in 1981, producing large, fully double, mauve-blue blooms with an intense fragrance that becomes especially striking during cooler weather, when the cool undertones in its petals are most pronounced. Its elegant, high-centered form and powerful scent have made it a long-standing favorite among French and international rose growers specifically seeking a cooler-toned, blue-leaning purple in a classic hybrid tea shape.
Blue Girl
Blue Girl is a hybrid tea bred by Kordes in Germany and introduced in 1964, producing silvery lilac blooms with 30 to 35 petals on very long, strong stems that make it an excellent choice for cutting. Widely regarded as a significant improvement over the lavender roses that preceded it, Blue Girl combines a cleaner, more consistent color with sturdier garden performance, and its long history in commerce has kept it a widely available and dependable choice for gardeners specifically seeking a classic silvery-lavender hybrid tea.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is a hybrid tea bred by Frank Strickland in the United States and introduced in 1991, producing large, cool silvery-lavender blooms with a strong, sweet fragrance on a vigorous, upright plant reaching 4 to 5 feet tall. Its clean, metallic-toned lavender coloring, from which the cultivar takes its name, and its dependable, continuous bloom throughout the growing season have made it a popular choice among gardeners seeking a modern, disease-resistant alternative to older, more delicate lavender hybrid teas.
Heirloom
Heirloom is a hybrid tea bred by Herbert Swim in the United States and introduced in 1972, producing strongly fragrant, semi-double, lilac-lavender blooms about 4 inches across with 9 to 16 petals that contrast beautifully against dark green foliage. Blooming from spring to early fall, this disease-resistant, bushy shrub thrives especially well in mild climates and has remained a popular choice for borders, beds, containers, and cutting gardens thanks to its dependable performance and sweetly scented blooms.
Blue for You
Blue for You is a floribunda bred by Peter J. James in England and introduced in 2001, producing semi-double blooms in a distinctive slate-lavender tone accented by golden stamens and a contrasting silver reverse on the petal underside. Its compact, well-branched growth habit makes it a favorite for small gardens and container culture, and its cool, sophisticated coloring, described by many growers as among the closest a rose has come to true blue, has made it one of the most frequently recommended lavender-toned floribundas of the early 21st century.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is a grandiflora bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2001, named for the singer herself, who was reportedly quite particular about the size, color, and above all the fragrance of the rose that would carry her name. Its single, large, shapely lavender blossoms carry an intensely strong, sweet perfume capable of filling an entire garden, and the vigorous plant produces an abundance of long-stemmed blooms well suited to cutting, showcasing the clean lavender coloring especially well against its deep, glossy green foliage.
Wild Blue Yonder
Wild Blue Yonder is a grandiflora bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2006, winning the All-America Rose Selections award the same year for its rich, saturated mauve-purple blooms and notably strong, spicy-sweet fragrance. Its vigorous, disease-resistant growth habit and reliable, continuous bloom throughout the growing season have made it one of the most celebrated modern purple grandifloras, combining Tom Carruth’s characteristic attention to fragrance with the improved garden performance that later purple introductions have increasingly prioritized.
Fragrant Plum
Fragrant Plum is a grandiflora bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in the mid-2000s, producing large, plush, plum-mauve blooms with an intense, sweet fragrance on a vigorous, upright plant. Its rich, deep coloring and heavy petal substance give the blooms an antique, old-fashioned quality despite the cultivar’s modern breeding, and its dependable repeat bloom has made it a popular choice among gardeners seeking a fragrant, richly colored purple grandiflora for both garden display and cutting.
Melody Parfumee
Melody Parfumee is a grandiflora bred by the Meilland family in France, producing rich, deep purple-mauve blooms with an intensely strong, classic old rose fragrance that lives up to the cultivar’s French name, meaning “fragrant melody.” Its vigorous, upright growth and reliable repeat bloom throughout the season have made it a favorite among French rose growers, and its combination of deep color and powerful perfume places it firmly among the more intensely fragrant grandifloras in the purple rose category.
Lagerfeld
Lagerfeld is a grandiflora bred by Herbert Swim and O.L. Weeks for Armstrong Nurseries in the United States and introduced in 1986, named after the celebrated fashion designer, producing large, silvery-lavender, high-centered blooms on tall, vigorous canes clothed in large, deep green leaves. Its classic exhibition form and long, straight stems have made it a favorite among rose show competitors specifically seeking a lavender-toned bloom with the refined, high-centered shape traditionally associated with the finest hybrid teas and grandifloras.
Ebb Tide
Ebb Tide is a floribunda bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2004, producing deep, smoky plum-purple, double blossoms with an intoxicating clove fragrance considered among the strongest and most distinctive of any purple floribunda. The compact, rounded shrub takes a bit of time to fully establish after planting, but once settled it becomes an exceptionally disease-resistant and reliable garden showpiece, with many growers considering it one of the deepest and darkest purple roses ever successfully brought to market.
Angel Face
Angel Face is a floribunda bred by Herbert Swim and O.L. Weeks in the United States and introduced in 1968, winning the All-America Rose Selections award for its ruffled, mauve-lavender blooms carried in generous clusters with a strong, sweet, spicy fragrance. Its rich, ruffled petal texture and reliable, continuous bloom throughout the growing season have kept it one of the most widely planted and beloved lavender floribundas in cultivation, admired for combining classic floribunda cluster production with genuinely intense fragrance.
Burgundy Iceberg
Burgundy Iceberg is a floribunda discovered as a color sport of the famous white rose ‘Iceberg’ by Grant Marston in Australia and introduced in 1996, producing the same vigorous, floriferous growth habit as its parent but in a rich, purplish burgundy-mauve tone that deepens further in cooler weather. Its exceptional disease resistance and near-continuous bloom from spring through frost, inherited directly from its famously tough parent, have made it one of the most reliable and widely planted purple-toned floribundas for mass garden display.
Intrigue
Intrigue is a floribunda bred by William Warriner in the United States and introduced in 1982, winning the All-America Rose Selections award for its deep, saturated reddish-purple blooms carried in generous clusters with a strong, sweet fragrance. Its rich, magenta-leaning purple coloring and dependable, continuous bloom throughout the season have made it a long-standing favorite for gardeners wanting a bold, dramatic purple floribunda with genuine fragrance rather than color alone.
Plum Perfect
Plum Perfect is a floribunda bred by Kordes in Germany, producing plush, double blooms in a delectable violet-plum shade that fades gracefully to lavender as each flower matures, giving a single spray several shades of purple at once. Its antique, old-fashioned flower form and moderate, sweet scent, combined with the strong disease resistance and climate adaptability typical of Kordes breeding, have made it a high performer in both hot and cold climates, and it has quickly become a best-selling choice among modern purple floribundas.
Love Song
Love Song is a floribunda bred by Kordes in Germany, producing large, ruffled blooms in a chic mauve shade that shifts to a muted gray-purple as the flowers age and are exposed to sunlight. An international gold medal-winning variety, it produces heavy, continuous bloom throughout the summer on a healthy, reliable shrub, and while opinions vary on the exact character of its fragrance, some detecting strong citrus notes and others only mild sweetness, its dependable color and vigor have made it a popular garden choice regardless.
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue is a shrub rose bred by Frank Cowlishaw in England and introduced in 1999, producing fragrant, semi-double purple flowers that fade attractively to mauve-gray as they age, revealing prominent golden stamens at the center of each bloom. Blooming from late spring to fall on a tall, bushy plant with a strong, distinctive orange-scented fragrance, its disease resistance and repeat-flowering habit earned it the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, cementing its reputation as one of the most garden-worthy purple shrub roses of recent decades.
Purple Tiger
Purple Tiger is a floribunda bred by Tom Carruth in the United States and introduced in 1991, producing striking double blooms striped in dark violet and raspberry against a white background, creating one of the most visually dramatic and unusual color patterns in the entire rose world. Its bold, hand-painted appearance sets it apart from every solid-colored purple rose on this list, though it requires a warm climate to perform reliably, making it a specialty choice for gardeners in frost-free or nearly frost-free regions.
Night Owl
Night Owl is a large-flowered climbing rose bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2008, producing large, single, deep violet-purple blooms with bright golden stamens on vigorous canes capable of reaching 12 to 15 feet given adequate support. Its open, informal flower form and continuous bloom throughout the growing season have made it a distinctive and increasingly popular choice for gardeners wanting a purple-toned climbing rose with a more naturalistic, single-flowered appearance rather than the dense, formal double blooms typical of most climbers.
Veilchenblau
Veilchenblau is a rambling rose bred by Jacob Christoph Schmidt in Germany and introduced in 1909, one of the oldest and most historically important violet-toned roses in cultivation, producing small, semi-double, violet-blue blooms with a white central eye and a distinct fruity fragrance. Blooming once in an enormous early summer flush on extremely vigorous canes capable of reaching 15 feet or more, its striking violet coloring, unusual for a rose of its era, has kept it a treasured specimen among collectors of historic European ramblers for well over a century.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a rambling rose bred by Cazet in France and introduced in 1911, producing small, double, violet-purple blooms in large, cascading clusters on extremely vigorous canes well suited to covering a large fence, pergola, or mature tree. Blooming once in a spectacular early summer display, its rich violet coloring and old-fashioned charm have made it a favorite among enthusiasts of historic European rambling roses seeking an alternative to the more widely known ‘Veilchenblau.’
Midnight Blue
Midnight Blue is a shrub rose bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2003, producing deep, velvety, dark purple blooms with an intensely strong, spicy-sweet fragrance on a compact, well-branched plant reaching about 3 feet tall. Its rich, near-black purple coloring and powerful perfume have made it a favorite for gardeners seeking the darkest possible shade of purple in a modern, disease-resistant shrub rose suitable for smaller garden spaces.
Tradescant
Tradescant is a shrub rose bred by David Austin in England and introduced in 1993, part of Austin’s English Rose collection, producing deep, velvety crimson-purple blooms with an intense old rose fragrance considered among the strongest of any English Rose in the darker color range. Its rich, dusky coloring and heavy, arching canes give it an old-fashioned, almost antique presence in the garden, and its strong fragrance has made it a favorite among gardeners specifically seeking a deeply perfumed, moody-toned shrub rose.
Hansa
Hansa is a Rugosa shrub rose bred by Schaum and Van Tol in the Netherlands and introduced in 1905, producing fragrant, double, pinkish-purple blooms about 4 inches across on an exceptionally hardy, upright shrub that blooms from summer through frost. Its outstanding cold tolerance, disease resistance, and ability to thrive in poor, sandy soil, hallmarks of the Rugosa class, have made it one of the toughest and most dependable purple-toned roses available for northern gardens, followed by large, showy orange-red hips in fall.
Lavender Lassie
Lavender Lassie is a Hybrid Musk shrub rose bred by Wilhelm Kordes in Germany and introduced in 1960, producing clusters of fragrant, double, soft lavender-pink blooms on a vigorous, arching shrub that can also be trained as a short climber. Its strong, sweet musk fragrance and reliable repeat bloom throughout the season have made it one of the most beloved Hybrid Musk roses in the lavender color range, valued for its graceful, informal growth habit and old-fashioned charm.
Variegata di Bologna
Variegata di Bologna is a Bourbon shrub rose bred by Bonfiglioli in Italy and introduced in 1909, producing large, richly striped blooms in purple-magenta and white with a strong, classic old rose fragrance, giving each flower a hand-painted, almost candy-striped appearance. Blooming primarily in a heavy early summer flush with some light repeat later in the season, its dramatic striped pattern has made it one of the most visually striking and sought-after historic Bourbon roses still available today.
Mme Isaac Pereire
Mme Isaac Pereire is a Bourbon shrub rose bred by Garçon in France and introduced in 1881, producing enormous, deeply cupped, magenta-purple blooms widely regarded as among the most intensely fragrant of any rose ever bred, with a rich, raspberry-scented old rose perfume that can be detected from a considerable distance. Its vigorous, somewhat sprawling growth habit, often trained as a short climber against a wall, and its extraordinary fragrance have made it one of the most celebrated and frequently recommended historic Bourbon roses for gardeners prioritizing scent above all else.
Reine des Violettes
Reine des Violettes is a Hybrid Perpetual rose bred by Millet-Malet in France and introduced in 1860, its name translating to “Queen of the Violets,” producing flat, quartered, violet-purple blooms with a strong, classic old rose fragrance on a notably thornless, upright shrub. Its rich violet coloring, considered one of the truest and deepest of any 19th-century rose, combined with its unusually smooth, nearly thornless canes, has made it a long-standing favorite among collectors of historic Hybrid Perpetual roses.
Cardinal de Richelieu
Cardinal de Richelieu is a Gallica shrub rose bred by Jean Laffay in France and introduced in 1840, producing small, densely double, deep purple-violet blooms so dark they can appear nearly black in low light, with a light, sweet fragrance. Blooming once in a dramatic early summer flush on a compact, upright shrub reaching about 4 feet, its extraordinarily rich, dark coloring has made it one of the most celebrated and widely planted Gallica roses in the entire purple color range.
William Lobb
William Lobb, also known as Old Velvet Moss, is a Moss shrub rose bred by Jean Laffay in France and introduced in 1855, producing loosely double, violet-purple blooms that fade attractively to a soft lavender-gray as they age, covered in the fragrant, resinous moss-like growth characteristic of the entire Moss rose class. Blooming once in a vigorous early summer flush on tall, arching canes reaching 6 to 8 feet, its unusual textured buds and shifting purple-to-gray coloring have made it one of the most distinctive and widely admired historic Moss roses.
Nuits de Young
Nuits de Young is a Moss shrub rose bred by Jean Laffay in France and introduced in 1845, producing small, extremely dark maroon-purple blooms, among the darkest of any rose from the 19th century, accented by prominent golden stamens and a light, sweet fragrance. Its compact, twiggy growth habit and unusually somber, near-black coloring have made it a favorite among collectors of historic Moss roses seeking the darkest possible color within this fragrant, textured old garden class.
Belle de Crecy
Belle de Crecy is a Gallica shrub rose of French origin, believed to have been introduced before 1848, producing loosely double, violet-purple blooms that fade dramatically to a soft grayish-lilac as they age, giving a single mature bloom several distinct shades of purple at once. Blooming once in an abundant early summer flush on a compact, thornless shrub, its shifting, multi-toned coloring and intense old rose fragrance have kept it one of the most treasured and frequently recommended historic Gallica roses.
Cardinal Hume
Cardinal Hume is a shrub rose bred by Jack Harkness in England and introduced in 1984, producing clusters of small, semi-double, deep purple-plum blooms with a distinct musk fragrance on a low, spreading, exceptionally hardy shrub. Its dense, twiggy growth habit and reliable, continuous bloom from summer through fall have made it a popular groundcover-style choice for gardeners wanting deep purple color spread across a larger area rather than concentrated in a single upright bush.
Quicksilver
Quicksilver, part of the Arborose collection, is a climbing rose bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States, producing large, lavender-mauve blooms with a strong fragrance on vigorous canes well suited to a trellis, arch, or pillar. Its combination of modern disease resistance, repeat bloom throughout the season, and genuinely cool-toned lavender color have made it a popular choice for gardeners wanting the vertical impact of a climbing rose without sacrificing the fragrance and color quality typical of Weeks Roses’ shrub and grandiflora introductions.
Veranda Lavender
Veranda Lavender, part of the Veranda series bred by Kordes in Germany, is a floribunda producing clusters of lavender blooms on a compact, well-branched shrub bred specifically for container culture and small garden spaces. Its manageable size, continuous bloom, and the strong disease resistance typical of Kordes breeding have made it a popular choice for patios and balconies where a full-sized purple shrub rose would be impractical.
Arctic Blue
Arctic Blue is a floribunda bred by Kordes in Germany, producing clusters of silvery lavender-blue blooms on a compact, disease-resistant shrub reflecting the Kordes breeding program’s continued pursuit of a genuinely cool-toned, blue-leaning purple rose. Its reliable, repeat-flowering habit and strong resistance to black spot and powdery mildew have made it a dependable modern choice for gardeners specifically drawn to the coolest end of the purple rose spectrum.
International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune is a floribunda bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV in New Zealand and introduced in 1965, producing deep purple to lilac, semi-double blooms in generous clusters on a compact, bushy plant, named for the international newspaper of the same name. Its rich, saturated color and reliable, continuous bloom throughout the season made it one of the more historically significant purple-toned floribundas of the mid-20th century, helping establish McGredy’s reputation for pushing rose breeding into unusual and challenging color territory.
News
News is a floribunda bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV in England and introduced in 1968, producing large, deep magenta-purple, semi-double blooms with a light fragrance on a vigorous, bushy plant, winning recognition from the Royal National Rose Society shortly after its release. Its bold, saturated color and dependable garden performance have made it a long-standing favorite among British gardeners specifically seeking a dramatic, richly colored purple floribunda.
Shocking Blue
Shocking Blue is a floribunda bred by Kordes in Germany and introduced in 1974, producing silvery lilac, double blooms with an exceptionally strong, sweet fragrance on a compact, bushy plant, considered by many rosarians to be among the most fragrant floribundas ever bred regardless of color. Its cool, silvery tone and remarkable perfume have kept it a favorite among fragrance-focused gardeners for half a century, valued as much for its scent as for its distinctive lavender coloring.
Twilight Zone
Twilight Zone is a floribunda bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States and introduced in 2009, winning the All-America Rose Selections award for its rich, velvety deep purple blooms carried in generous clusters with a strong, spicy-sweet fragrance. Its dramatic, saturated coloring and dependable disease resistance reflect the continued refinement of purple rose breeding into the 21st century, offering gardeners a genuinely dark, richly perfumed purple floribunda without the fragility that plagued many earlier purple introductions.
Blue Bajou
Blue Bajou is a floribunda bred by Kordes in Germany, producing clusters of lilac-purple blooms with a light fragrance on a compact, disease-resistant shrub well suited to borders and mass plantings. Its reliable, continuous bloom and the strong garden performance characteristic of Kordes breeding have made it a dependable modern choice for gardeners wanting purple floribunda color without demanding maintenance.
Purple Splash
Purple Splash is a climbing rose bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in the United States, producing striking, striped blooms combining purple and white on vigorous, repeat-flowering canes well suited to a trellis or arch. Its bold, hand-painted color pattern sets it apart from solid-colored purple climbers, offering gardeners a dramatic, eye-catching alternative for vertical garden spaces.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh is a shrub rose bred by David Austin in England and introduced in 1988, named after the celebrated Scottish architect and designer, producing soft, lilac-pink, cupped blooms with a strong, classic tea rose fragrance on a compact, well-branched English Rose shrub. Its refined, softly muted purple-pink coloring and reliable repeat bloom have made it a popular choice for gardeners wanting a gentler, more subtle purple tone than the deeper, moodier shades found elsewhere in the class.
Prospero
Prospero is a shrub rose bred by David Austin in England and introduced in 1982, producing small, deeply cupped, crimson-purple blooms that darken further as they age, carrying a strong, classic old rose fragrance reminiscent of the historic Gallica roses that influenced much of Austin’s early breeding work. Its compact size, generally under 3 feet, and richly perfumed, dark purple-crimson blooms have made it a favorite among English Rose collectors seeking an old-fashioned character in a relatively modern, repeat-flowering shrub.
The Prince
The Prince is a shrub rose bred by David Austin in England and introduced in 1990, producing deep, velvety purple-crimson blooms that darken to an almost black-purple as they mature, with a strong, rich old rose fragrance. Its compact growth habit and extraordinarily dark, saturated coloring have made it one of the moodiest and most dramatic English Roses in the entire purple-crimson range, prized by gardeners seeking the darkest possible tone within Austin’s extensive shrub rose collection.
Souvenir du Docteur Jamain
Souvenir du Docteur Jamain is a Hybrid Perpetual rose bred by François Lacharme in France and introduced in 1865, producing deep, velvety maroon-purple blooms with an intense, classic old rose fragrance on a notably shade-tolerant shrub, unusual among roses for its ability to perform reasonably well against a north-facing wall or in partial shade. Its rich, dark coloring and strong fragrance, combined with its rare tolerance for reduced sunlight, have made it a valued historic choice for gardeners with shadier spots who still want the deep purple-maroon tones typical of the finest 19th-century Hybrid Perpetual roses.