HelpMeFind Roses, Clematis and Peonies
Roses, Clematis and Peonies
and everything gardening related.
DescriptionPhotosLineageAwardsReferencesMember RatingsMember CommentsMember JournalsCuttingsGardensBuy From 
'Big Purple' rose Description
'Big Purple' rose photo
Photo courtesy of Mountain of Roses
Availability:
Commercially available
HMF Ratings:
125 favorite votes.  
Average rating: EXCELLENT.  
ARS:
Mauve or mauve blend Hybrid Tea.
Registration name: STEbigpu
Exhibition name: Stephens' Big Purple (Hybrid Tea, Stephens, 1985)
Origin:
Bred by Pat Stephens (New Zealand, 1985).
Class:
Hybrid Tea.  
Bloom:
Violet - mauve.  Deep beetroot purple.  Strong, fruity, old rose, sweet fragrance.  35 to 70 petals.  Average diameter 5".  Very large, very full (41+ petals), borne mostly solitary bloom form.  Blooms in flushes throughout the season.  
Habit:
Tall.  Large, dark green foliage.  

Height: 3' to 6' (90 to 185cm).  Width: 2' (60cm).
Growing:
USDA zone 6a and warmer.  Can be used for cut flower.  Heat tolerant.  Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant.  Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross. In warmer climates, cut back the remaining canes by about one-third. In colder areas, you'll probably find you'll have to prune a little more than that.  Requires spring freeze protection (see glossary - Spring freeze protection) .  
Patents:
Australia - Patent No: 1990/027  on  31 Jan 1991
Application No: 1990/027  on  15 Feb 1990   VIEW PBR PATENT
Synonym: Big Purple. Applicant: Paddy Stephens.
 
New Zealand - Patent No: 457  on  16 May 1989
 
United States - Patent No: PP 6,262  on  30 Aug 1988   VIEW USPTO PATENT
Application No: 895289  on  11 Aug 1986
Rose plant named Stebigpu
Patrick N. Stephens, deceased, late of Te Awamutu, New Zealand
... a large, heavily petalled reddish purple hybrid tea rose... characterized particularly by large, heavily petalled reddish purple flowers borne on a vigorous, disease resistant plant and which are long lasting on the plant and as cut flowers... Parentage: unnamed, unpatented seedling x 'Purple Splendor'... Average bloom size when fully expanded -- about 5 inches... Number of petals under normal conditions -- about 60-70... Fragrance: Rich rose... Hips: None observed... Height: About 6 feet... Resistance to disease: Blackspot -- excellent. Mildew -- excellent. Rust -- excellent... Very winter hardy...
Notes:
Big Purple was removed from the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens (ARBG) Display Trial because its trial period expired.