Rosa Rhapsody in Blue or Floribunda Bush Rose

Rosa Rhapsody in Blue is the award‑winning Floribunda Bush Rose that rewrote the rule‑book on purple blooms. Bred by Frank Cowlishaw and launched in 2003, this remarkable variety swept to victory as Rose of the Year 2003 and soon added the coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit to its trophy cabinet. Gardeners love it for its long flowering season, sweet perfume and, above all, the mesmerising colour shift: newly opened buds glow velvety royal‑purple before mellowing through mauve to a smoky, grey‑blue – the nearest any rose has yet come to true blue.

The flowers appear in generous clusters from early summer well into autumn, each semi‑double bloom revealing a halo of golden stamens that catches the light and invites pollinators. Set against fresh, mid‑green foliage that shows good disease resistance, the ever‑changing petals make a living watercolour. Unlike many shrub roses, this Floribunda Bush Rose throws up strong, upright stems that keep the display neatly above the leaves, so every flush is shown to best effect and is perfect for cutting.

Height and Width of Rosa Rhapsody in Blue

Expect a mature height of 1.2 – 1.5 m and a spread of around 1 m. Given its naturally upright habit, it fits easily into smaller gardens yet has enough stature to hold its own in larger mixed borders.

How hardy is Rosa Rhapsody in Blue?

This Floribunda Bush Rose is fully hardy throughout the UK and Ireland (RHS H6). It shrugs off winter cold down to around –20 °C, resprouting vigorously each spring.

Uses in Garden and / or Landscape

• Colour focus – use as a show‑stopping focal point in mixed planting schemes where its purple‑to‑blue palette will contrast dramatically with yellows, limes or silvers.
• Fragrant cutting garden – the long, straight stems make excellent cut flowers; combine with ornamental grasses for modern arrangements.
• Low hedge or specimen – plant in a repeating rhythm along a path, or showcase a single specimen in a large terracotta pot.
• Wildlife friendly – open blooms rich in pollen draw bees and hoverflies all season.

Care Tips

• Plant your Rosa Rhapsody in Blue in fertile, free‑draining soil where it will receive at least six hours of sun a day.
• Mix well‑rotted manure or garden compost into the planting hole and mulch annually in late winter to lock in moisture and feed the roots.
• Prune in February or early March: remove dead or crossing wood, then shorten remaining stems to an outward‑facing bud 20–30 cm from the base to encourage strong new flowering shoots.
• Water thoroughly in the first season and during prolonged dry spells; a weekly soak is better than frequent light watering.
• Dead‑head spent clusters down to the first set of five leaves to keep the floral encore coming until the first frosts.
• Apply a balanced rose fertiliser after pruning and again in June to support continuous blooming.

With its unrivalled colour transformation, reliably healthy growth and head‑turning fragrance, Rosa Rhapsody in Blue remains the connoisseur’s choice for anyone seeking a truly distinctive Floribunda Bush Rose.