This year’s new roses are something of surprise. Instead of the usual rose colours, Mother Nature has favoured the ethereal colours of mauve, lilac and lavender!
The one colour that has not yet been perfected in roses is blue but breeders are getting close, as can be seen with this newly introduced hybrid tea ‘Roadhouse Blue’.
Its silvery mauve coloured blooms have a deep ‘bluesy’ vibe and exude a subtle, moody fragrance. Its colours intensify in the sun, as each petal is delicately rimmed with purple to ruby-red. Every day there is something new to see and it’s the perfect pickable rose.
‘Roadhouse Blue’ is an Eco Chic disease resistant rose that grows to head height and forms a substantial bush. It is ideal for the back row of a rose bed, where it can rise behind more compact companions.
‘Blue Moon’ is the best known of the blue roses with its silvery-lilac blooms and overpowering fragrance.
It has now been joined by the new ‘Twice in a Blue Moon,’ that offers improved health and vigour. This hybrid tea rose is rarely out of bloom, producing a prolific second flush with small clusters of elegant, spiral-shaped silvery-lilac flowers on tall, upright stems. Its glossy mid-green foliage complements the blooms beautifully, while its rich fragrance makes it a standout in any garden and in the vase.
For lovers of lavender shades, ‘Lavender Lane’ will not disappoint.
The huge blooms exude a sweet, captivating fragrance and the display of flowers is continuous throughout the growing season. ‘Lavender Lane’ grows into a large shrub rose that can stand on its own as a majestic free-standing shrub, or trained up pillars or along fences, or even espaliered to elegantly frame arches and trellises.
For a truly breathtaking effect, plant a lane of this enchanting rose for an unforgettable corridor of colour, scent and texture.
‘La Niña’ (Spanish for “the little girl”) is the name given to the climate pattern that brings rainy and cool weather unlike the dreaded El Nino.
True to its name, ‘La Niña’ showcases a “cool” and oceanic colour palette. The scented blooms are large and striking, with petals tightly packed into a deep cup that opens to reveal a quartered rosette form.
It grows vigorously up to 2 metres and flowers abundantly from top to bottom. In many cases, the blooms are so heavy they arch the stems gracefully downward. ‘La Niña’ is not just beautiful—it’s robust, healthy, and eco-chic, making it a specimen whether planted alone or as a focal feature.
‘Fortune Teller’ offers the best of both worlds, combining the classic appeal of Hybrid Tea roses with the fashionable Antico-style quartered rosette formation. The huge, fully petaled blooms measure up to 8 cm across and the fragrance is strong and delightful. The subtle lilac pink of the blooms gives each flower a serene, painterly quality.
Each large, heavy bloom is proudly displayed on a firm, smooth stem—almost completely thornless—making it ideal for cutting and bringing indoors. The bush itself is vigorous and repeat-flowering, with lush, healthy green foliage providing the perfect backdrop to its blossoms.
These roses and more will be on display at the October Rose Festival this weekend ( 3 to 5 October) at Ludwig’s Rose Farm, north of Pretoria, just off the N1 to Polokwane.
Details: www.ludwigsroses.co.za
Article and images by Alice Coetzee.
