Dark purple roses have a unique color that is not often seen in gardens.
Make your rose garden stand out against all others with these 9 dark purple rose varieties.
We’ll be going into in-depth detail about these roses as well as helpful care tips so that your roses will be the envy of your neighborhood!
1. Rhapsody In Blue Rose
Rhapsody in Blue rose was bred by Frank R. Cowlishaw in United Kingdom, before 1999.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Spice Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 6ft – 8ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Rhapsody in Blue rose has a cupped bloom form, which reveals its vibrant yellow stamen that contrasts beautifully with the purple-hued petals.
It has a semi-double petal count, roughly 16 petals per flower.
Care Tips:
To achieve the best flowering for this plant, you will need to apply fertilizer twice to your plant.
The first round of fertilizer should be administered in the late winter or early spring, and the second round is in the early summer before the plant begins developing flowers.
Select a balanced fertilizer that is tailored toward roses.
2. Cardinal De Richelieu Rose
Cardinal de Richelieu rose was bred by Louis-Joseph-Ghislain Parmentier in Belgium, before 1847.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: None To Mild Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 6ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Cardinal de Richelieu rose is very full, with each rose containing at least 41 rounded, dark purple petals.
Care Tips:
Because the Cardinal de Richelieu only blooms once per season, it is recommended to give your plant two rounds of fertilizer in order to give it the boost it needs for a bountiful blooming season.
Avoid any fertilizers with a higher content of nitrogen.
Nitrogen is the element in NPK that is responsible for branch and leaf development.
However, nitrogen is actually an inhibitor of flower development.
It’s much more beneficial if your select a balanced fertilizer instead.
3. William Lobb Rose
William Lobb rose was bred by Jean Laffay in France, in 1855.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 6ft – 8ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
William Lobb dark purple roses are large with an old-fashioned, quartered bloom form.
These flowers have a very full petal count, with each flower containing at least 40+ petals.
This shrub is tall with an arching growth pattern.
The leaves of the William Lobb shrub are matte and medium green.
Care Tips:
Due to its tall, arching pattern, the William Lobb rose is an excellent climber.
We recommend fastening this rose shrub to a climbing structure (such as a fence, trellis, or archway).
Prune this plant very sparingly for the first two years of the plant’s life until it becomes established.
In the third year, you should perform a heavy prune on your plant and trim off 1/3 of the branches.
4. Minerva Rose
Minerva rose was bred by Martin Vissers in Belgium, in 2004.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium To Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Sweet Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
Minerva roses grow in small clusters together.
These medium dark purple roses have a cupped bloom form and have a full petal count (26 to 40 petals).
The shrub has a medium, upright growth pattern.
Care Tips:
This plant is very resistant to disease, including the three most common rose diseases: blackspot, mildew, and rust.
It prefers moderate to warm climates and will require spring freeze protection if you live in a colder area.
We recommend refraining from pruning your plant until later in the spring when you are confident that all threats of frost have passed.
5. Ebb Tide Rose
Ebb Tide rose was bred by Tom Carruth in the United States, in 2001.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Spice Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 2ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Ebb Tide has a double bloom form. Each rose contains an average of 35 to 40 petals.
These flowers grow together in small clusters.
The shrub of the Ebb Tide rose has a compact, bushy, and rounded growth habit.
The leaves are semi-glossy and have a dark green hue.
Care Tips:
We recommend planting these roses in a location where you can indulge in its delicious clove-citrus scent.
Ebb Tide dark purple roses are great for borders and beds.
Alternatively, they can be bred for cut flowers.
6. Twilight Zone Rose
Twilight Zone rose was bred by Tom Carruth in the United States, before 2009.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Citrus, Spice Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 5ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Twilight Zone roses are large and grow together in clusters.
These flowers are classified as old-fashioned roses and have double petals (over 40 per flower).
Its shrub is bushy with semi-glossy, dark green leaves.
Care Tips:
Twilight Zone rose bushes are extremely versatile in how they can be planted.
You can grow your roses in beds, containers, mixed hedges, and borders.
If you are mass-planting these flowers in-ground, it is important to give your plants ample spacing.
Crowding your juvenile shrubs can cause them to overcrowd.
Overcrowding plants not only inhibit their development but also increases your plants’ likelihood of developing mildew due to the lack of air circulation.
7. Midnight Blue Rose
Midnight Blue rose was bred by Tom Carruth in the United States, before 2001.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Spice Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 2ft – 3ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The bloom form of the Midnight Blue rose is cupped, which reveals the white centers of the rose.
These roses have double petals, 17 to 25 petals per flower.
When the season comes, these flowers bloom together in small clusters.
The Midnight Blue rose is bushy and compact.
The branches and stems of this plant have very minimal (if any) thorns.
The shrub grows medium leaves that are semi-glossy and medium green in color.
Care Tips:
At the beginning of the growing season, prune this bush to prepare it for the new growing season.
Cut away any dead or damaged foliage, followed by any canes that cross over.
Depending on your climate, you will need to cut away at least 1/3 of the plant.
8. Indigo Rose
The Indigo rose was bred by Jean Laffay in France, before 1845.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
A member of the old rose family, the Indigo rose is abundant with ruffled petals.
It has a flat bloom form with very full petals. Its shrub is bushy and its branches are adorned with prickles and thorns.
Care Tips:
Indigo rose shrubs are capable of surviving in most soil types and pH levels.
However, if you want the best results for your plant, it is best to plant your roses in a soil that is fertile, well-draining, and slightly acidic in pH (6.0 to 6.5).
Mixing compost into the soil prior to planting your shrubs will give your roses the foundation it needs to thrive.
9. Arthur De Sansal Rose
Arthur de Sansal rose was bred by Scipion Cochet in France, before 1855.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Arthur de Sansal rose has a medium, full bloom form.
It has many petals (26-40 per rose) that are beautifully ruffled.
Most of the roses will bloom in the spring and summer, but you may be surprised by a second bloom later in the year.
The Arthur de Sansal rose grows upright and compact with an abundance of foliage.
Care Tips:
The Arthur de Sansal shrub is small enough to be grown in a container.
Growing container roses is not much different from in-ground roses, albeit with some notable exceptions.
One, you will need well-draining soil amended with perlite in order to prevent the soil from becoming compact and waterlogged.
Secondly, container roses require winter protection and should be brought indoors during the winter freeze.
Finally, every two years, you will need to exchange the pot for one that is slightly larger.
Your rose will eventually become stunted in growth if it does not have ample room for its roots to develop.
Conclusion
Roses are one of the most versatile flowers in the plant world.
They come in a variety of colors, one more beautiful than the next, and dark purple roses are no exception.
If you are interested in adding a splash of color to your garden and don’t know where to start, we hope these 9 dark purple roses have piqued your interest.
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