Rosa x wichuraiana Veilchenblau - Rambling Rose

The Veilchenblau climbing rose has something magical about it. While nowadays roses with blue tones are no longer rarities, this thornless climber, born in 1909, caused a sensation when it was introduced to the market. Crossing trends and years with indifference, it remains today one of the very best in its category, combining stunning colors and outstanding performance in any garden. Its small semi-double roses, not truly violet but rather deep magenta, with a white streak running from the heart to the tips of the petals, change color over the course of days, eventually taking on shades of fuchsia, mauve, and bluish reflections before fading. When grown on its own roots, this non-remontant rose sucker slightly and can live for several decades in the garden.

The Veilchenblau rose, whose name means "violet blue" in German, was bred in 1909 by the German rose breeder Schmidt. It is a cross between the 'Crimson Rambler', a carmine red rose, and 'Souvenir de Brod', a very double purple rose. 'Veilchenblau' inherits genes from Rosa multiflora, as well as from the Wichura rose (also known as Rosa luciae), a robust botanical species native to East Asia. Awarded the Award of Garden Merit in England, this rose comes highly recommended by top rose professionals.

'Veilchenblau' can easily reach a height of 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet) with a spread of around 2.50 metres (8 feet). Its long flexible stems are almost devoid of prickles and covered with small foliage, ranging from a fresh light green to almost matte, which shows decent resistance to rose diseases early in the season, but becomes slightly weaker after flowering depending on the weather conditions. The flowers of this summer-flowering climber appear from late May to July, earlier or later depending on the region. They emerge as raspberry-coloured buds on short second-year shoots. They open into small 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) semi-double roses, clustered in small bouquets along the stems. Dark pink buds and flowers in various shades of violet, garnet, purple, mauve, lavender, and finally bluish fuchsia, highlighted by a beautiful white throat and golden yellow stamens, adorn the plant. Their almost imperceptible fragrance is subtly powdery, becoming more intense in hot and calm weather. This very vigorous and resistant rose adapts to all climates and soils and tolerates partial shade. However, depending on the cultivation conditions, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and especially black spot. The fruits remain decorative until winter, unless the birds eat them all, as they are particularly fond of them.

With 'Veilchenblau', we enter the fabulous world of 'old' climbing roses that are undeterred by anything. Like 'Alberic Barbier', 'Albertine', New Dawn, Felicia, American Pillar , Mme Alfred Carrière or even May Queen, it is particularly interesting for adding lushness and colour to difficult or slightly shaded areas of the garden.  Like other large climbers, it can easily hide an unsightly structure or climb a sturdy tree or wall. Its unique-toned flowers are beautiful alongside the pink pompoms of the vigorous 'The Fairy Liane' or the small yellow-orange dog roses of 'Mme Oakley Fisher'.

Bred by Schmidt in 1909.