Big Purple, Big Keeper

At last my baby Big Purples have bloomed. Not much scent yet, but I know for sure that BP is no slacker in the perfume stakes, and the colour, while still more crimson than purplish, is just gorgeous.

Hey silky, you asked what rose to mix with Parole and/or Fragrant Cloud, and boy have I hit the jackpot with BP for Parole - it throws just enough to a smidge of blue that it ties together Parole, Baronne Edmond de Rothschild and even brings Sweet Intoxication to life in a bouquet. Also has the softer HT form that I like, without reflexed petals.

Yeah, I gather BP is not going to be a bloom factory, but I'm not going to hold that stinginess against it. A superb mixer, and my garden party has some very tricky guests.

Betsy , keep us posted on how your BP's go , i had one which i loved , the colour , the fragrance , but i shifted it and i don't know if it was the shift or the plant but it sulked and didn't do much good after that , never shifting another rose again !!! Thanks Betsy ...

Sure will, maree - of course my experience with it will be limited and for a few years.

When you moved yours, was there a change in position, ie more sun, less sun, different time-of-day sun? Mine will be potted and repotted for this and next season, so it will be a container creature, and can shift without trauma (much).

I shifted it to a sunnier position Betsy , did all the right things , just don't think shifting roses works at all , i shifted Best Friend at the same time and it got dieback after that and wasn't much good either ..

Same happened to mine Maree

Hi betsy, thank you for painting my rose picture with Big Purple and Parole mixed in with some dark reds. Done. BP is now on my list!

Lets see how Betsys BP goes Rosy , might be worth another go next year .

I am waiting to know how it goes, I am hopeful !!

Lol ha ha Rosy , thats two roses now that i'm waiting for Betsy to keep us posted on lol ....

Lol

Is Big Purples colour very alike to Blackberry nip ?.

Big Purple is healthy in Sydney, has good flushes. Would do well most places without spraying.

danny, at the moment I don't have a BN bloom to put alongside Big Purple, but from memory Big Purple has a touch less blue in it, while BN throws to a real blued magenta. Age and weather temp most likely will change things a lot.

From memory when i had it , it was a different colour to BN , it lasted in the vase for ages too , but then it spat the dummie on me and didn't flower much . Ozeboy do you think Melb weather could be too cold for it ?

Maree, I would give one a try before investing in 5 or 6.

Had a friend see BP in Victoria and then had to have it so it left a lasting impression with him. Roses well looked after seem to do well anywhere.

Good thanks Ozeboy !!!!

Headed down to my local Bunnings yesterday and they had a nice Big Purple in a pot for $15. 90.To be honest havent seen at BP my local nurery.Couldn't help myself as I have herd alot of great things about this rose with it's strong perfume and lovely flower.

That's not a bad price from the B shop.

That's awell-spotted terrific price IMO, danny, considering that the best price I found for a bareroot BP was $12.50, not including delivery. And that was the BEST price - several going for $15-18 bareroot. For a very few dollars more, you get a BP fully revealed, where you can better judge the health of the particular specimen.. I must check out my Bunnings rose section some time.

Big Purple remains my favourite new-to-me flower this season. Just lovely, sweet scent and rich colour, pretty form. Holds wonderfully well in the vase, too. If for any reason it doesn't succeed as a long-term proposition (see others' comments here), I would consider replacing it , and growing as a short-term perennial/annual.

Thanks guys.I was suprised to at the price most of his other roses were $26.00 and he had a few normal bush roses he called starting at $15.90.Will keep you guys all updated on the progress and see how she goes.

I'll be real interested too Danny. Betsy has planted this vision of BP and Parole in my head and I'm hooked.

Danny you are the girls into buying more roses

lol. I need some therapy, think I'll go out and smell the roses, and dream my dreams...

Lol ha ha Roseman , i'm afraid it doesn't take much talking into to !!! Danny will be very interested to see how your B.P . goes seeing you're from Melb , will be interesting to see if mine spat the dummie cause i shifted it or it was just the rose . One thing i remember for sure , it had the most wonderful fragrance straight away , and was great in the vase . Blackberry Nip is coming along ,the fragrance is slowing coming , the colour i think is similar but different to B.P. and of course its a floribunda . Of the two i prefer B.P.for colour and fragrance but B.N. seems to be a better performer for sure ....

I know where there is one BP in full flush growing over a low fence at a friends house. The buds look prime for budding.