If you have seen a blue rose it was probably dyed or a shade of purple because there are no true blue roses. Rose chromosomes do not have a gene for the color blue. Efforts are being made to splice a blue gene from another plant or human liver into a rose chromosome but so far there is nothing but shades of lavender and purple. Some of these are very beautiful but when you want true blue, they just don’t satisfy. Many of them, in fact, tend to get gray as they mature and are not so lovely. There is no shortage, however, of roses with “Blue” in the name as the breeders and growers use the power of suggestion to their advantage.
The following list is a sampling of the roses with name that suggest they are blue. Many more are available but the best blue rose is considered to be ‘Blue Moon’. American Rose Societies ratings are given when available; a rating of 6.7 and below is considered a poor rose.
‘Blue Moon’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: Germany, 1964
Color:Lavender
Petal Number: 40
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating:6.3
‘Blue for You’
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Type: Floribunda
Origin: United Kingdom, 2006
Color: Lilac, lighter reverse; becomes bluer with age
Petal Number: Semi-double
Scent: None to mild
ARS Rating: NA
‘Blue Heaven’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: US, 1971
Color: Mauve or purple blend
Petal Number: Double (17-25
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating: 4.8
‘Blue Mist’
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Type: Miniature
Origin: US, 1970
Color: Light pink to lavender
Petal Number: 23
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating: 7.8
‘Blue Nile’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: US, 1981
Color: Mauve or purple blend
Petal Number: Full (26-41)
Scent: Strong, citrus, fruity, tea
ARS Rating: 6.6
‘ Blue Parfum’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: Germany, 1978
Color: Mauve or purple blend
Petal Number: Semi-double (9-17)
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating: 6.8
‘Blue Peter’
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Type: Miniature, Patio
Origin: Netherlands, 1983
Color: Mauve or purple blend
Petal Number: semi-double (9-16)
Scent: None to mild
ARS Rating: 6.0
‘Blue Ribbon’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: US, 1984
Color: Lavender
Petal Number: 35-40
Scent: Strong, fruity, sweet
ARS Rating: 5.1
‘Blue River’
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Type: Hybrid tea
Origin: Germany, 1984
Color: Lavender-fushia, magenta edges
Petal Number: 35
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating: 5.1
‘Blue Skies’
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Type: Hybrid tea; Buck Roses Collection
Origin: US, 1983
Color: Mauve or purple blend
Petal Number: 35
Scent: Strong
ARS Rating: 6.8
‘Midnight Blue’
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Type: Shrub
Origin: US, 2004
Color: Purple, lighter reverse
Petal Number: 17-25
Scent: Strong, clove, spice
ARS Rating: Being tested
‘Otta the Blue’
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Type: Shrub
Origin:US, 2000
Color: Fushia/magenta, aging to darker
Petal Number: 40-50
Scent: Strong, clove, spice
ARS Rating: 7.9
‘Perennial Blue’
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Type: Large flowered climber
Origin: US, 2000
Color: Mauve or mauve blend
Petal Number: Semi-double (9-16
Scent: Mild, sweet
ARS Rating: Being tested
