‘Shocking Blue’ is a floribunda rose that truly lives up to its name. It’s an older variety that remains popular for its striking and unusual colour, a vivid shade of lavender-blue to magenta that deepens in cooler weather. The flowers are large, high-centred, and beautifully formed, often appearing in clusters. The most notable feature of this rose is its powerful, sweet, and fruity fragrance that can fill a garden. The plant has a bushy, upright growth habit with good disease resistance, but its colour and scent are its main attractions.
Usage This rose is a fantastic choice for adding a unique colour to your garden palette. Its unusual colour makes it a perfect focal point in a mixed perennial border or a dedicated rose bed. It’s a great choice for planting near a path, a patio, or a doorway so you can fully appreciate its delightful fragrance. The blooms are also excellent for cutting and bringing indoors for a vase, where their vibrant colour and strong perfume will truly stand out.
Care Tips
- Sunlight: Plant in a spot that receives full sun (at least six hours per day) for the best flowering performance and colour intensity. The ‘blue’ tones are often more pronounced in cooler climates.
- Soil: Prefers rich, fertile, and well-drained soil. Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve its structure and fertility.
- Watering: Water deeply and regularly, especially during the dry summer months. It’s best to water the soil at the base of the plant to avoid getting the leaves wet, which helps to prevent fungal diseases.
- Fertilising: To support its continuous flowering, feed ‘Shocking Blue’ regularly throughout the growing season (spring to autumn) with a fertiliser specifically formulated for roses.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to shape the bush and remove any old or dead wood. A light trim after each flush of flowers will encourage the plant to produce more blooms.
- Pests & Diseases: While it has good disease resistance, it’s still a good idea to monitor for common rose pests like aphids and diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew.
