Rose ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ ROTY 2003 (Shrub Rose)

Where to Plant Roses

Choose a sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ develops into a substantial upright shrub, making it an excellent choice for adding height and colour through the middle or back of a border.

Planting Bare Root Roses

Before planting, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours. Dig a generous hole wide enough for the roots to spread out naturally without bending or crowding them. Position the rose so the graft union – the swollen point where the stems meet the roots – sits around soil level, then backfill, firm gently and water thoroughly.

Planting Potted Roses

Water the rose well before planting and dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball. Remove the plant carefully from its pot, position it at the same depth it was growing previously, backfill with soil and gently firm around the roots. Water thoroughly after planting.

Watering & Feeding

Keep newly planted roses well watered while they establish. Feed established plants as growth begins in spring and again in early summer to support healthy growth and flowering. An annual mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost will help retain moisture and improve the soil.

Top Tip

The unusual colouring is at its best as the flowers mature, so don't be surprised when newly opened purple-magenta blooms gradually take on those distinctive smoky blue tones.

When to Prune

Prune in late winter or early spring as new growth begins. Start by removing any dead, damaged, weak or crossing stems to keep the centre of the plant open and healthy.

Pruning Shrub Roses

Once established, remove some of the oldest stems where necessary and shorten overly long growth to maintain a balanced shape. Avoid cutting the whole plant back too hard each year; the aim is to retain a strong framework while encouraging healthy new flowering growth.

Keep the Flowers Coming

Remove faded flower clusters regularly to encourage further flushes through the season. Keep plants watered during prolonged dry spells and apply a rose feed during the growing season to support continued flowering.

Top Tip

Give ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ enough room to develop its naturally upright, bushy shape rather than trying to keep it clipped into a small, compact rose.

Make the Colour Stand Out

The unusual purple and smoky blue tones of ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ are particularly effective alongside softer colours. Pale pink, white and cream flowers provide contrast without competing with the rose's distinctive colouring.

Add a Softer Layer

Try hardy geraniums, pale salvias or nepeta around the lower part of the plant, with silver-grey foliage adding another cool tone to the planting.

Create More Contrast

For something bolder, add touches of soft yellow nearby. Used sparingly, yellow provides a striking contrast to the deep purple flowers and makes their unusual colour appear even richer.

Top Tip

Give this rose a little space amongst its companions. At around 1.5m tall it makes a strong feature in its own right, and an uncluttered backdrop helps those extraordinary flowers really stand out.

Your Rose – Shrub

‘Rhapsody In Blue’ is grown as a Shrub rose, developing into a substantial upright bush that brings height and structure to a border. Shrub roses are a varied group, with flower shapes and growth habits differing considerably between varieties.

Other Types of Rose

Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid Tea roses are prized for their large, beautifully formed flowers, usually carried individually or in small groups on strong stems. Many are highly fragrant and their strong stems make them particularly good roses for cutting.

Floribunda Roses

Floribunda roses produce their flowers in generous clusters, creating plenty of colour over a long period. They usually have a bushy habit and repeat flower through summer, making them excellent choices for beds, borders and larger containers.

Climbing Roses

Climbing roses produce long flowering stems that can be trained over walls, fences, arches and other supports. They don't cling by themselves, so their stems need to be tied to a suitable support as they grow.

Rambling Roses

Rambling roses generally produce longer, more flexible stems than climbing roses and are excellent for covering larger structures, pergolas and mature trees. Many produce impressive displays of smaller flowers carried in generous clusters.

Flower Carpet Roses

Flower Carpet roses are a range of ground cover roses bred for their spreading habit, long flowering season and good garden performance. They're particularly useful for creating low-maintenance colour in borders, banks and larger planting schemes.

Persica Roses

Persica roses are instantly recognisable by the contrasting eye at the centre of their flowers, a characteristic inherited from Rosa persica. Modern varieties combine this unusual colouring with repeat flowering and strong garden performance.

Bare Root Roses

Bare root roses are supplied during autumn and winter while they are dormant. Although they may look simple and leafless when they arrive, the plants have stored energy in their roots ready to support fresh growth once conditions warm in spring.

How They Arrive

Your bare root rose will arrive without a pot or compost around its roots. Unpack it promptly and aim to plant it as soon as possible.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away

Keep the roots covered with moist soil in a cool, sheltered place and keep the stems dry. Aim to plant within seven days, avoiding frozen or waterlogged ground.

Planting Bare Root Roses

Soak the roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours before planting. Dig a generous hole, improve the soil with compost or well-rotted organic matter and position the rose so the graft union sits around soil level. Backfill, firm gently and water well.

Potted Roses

Potted roses are established plants supplied ready to plant and can be planted at almost any time of year, avoiding frozen, waterlogged or extremely dry conditions.

How They Arrive

Plants are carefully selected and pruned where necessary to encourage a strong, open framework. The pot is protected during transit to help retain moisture and safeguard the roots.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away

Place the pot in a sheltered outdoor position and water regularly to keep the compost moist until you're ready to plant.

Planting in the Ground

Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball and plant at the same depth as it was growing in the pot. Improve the soil with organic matter where needed, firm gently and water thoroughly.

Seasonal Appearance

The appearance of your rose will naturally vary depending on the time of year. In spring you'll see fresh new growth, while during summer plants may arrive in leaf or flower. In autumn and winter they may have yellowing leaves or be completely leafless as they enter dormancy. Fresh growth will appear again when conditions improve.

Growing On

Once established, ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ develops into a substantial upright rose approximately 1.5m high × 1.2m wide, producing clusters of highly fragrant purple-magenta flowers that fade towards distinctive slate-blue tones.