Rosa x moschata 'Rosy Purple' - Shrub Rose

The 'Rosy Purple' shrub rose is an obscure, original hybrid of the musk rose that has many advantages. From late spring to early autumn, this variety produces a multitude of small flowers gathered in large scented bouquets. Their color is a nuanced deep red with hints of pink, surrounding a bouquet of well-presented golden stamens for bees. From late summer, the bush is adorned with sought-after small orange hips for birds. Planted in isolation, in a hedge or in a bed, this rose is perfect. Its flexible stems can also be trained along a trellis, obelisk or pyramid.

The Rosy Purple 'LENdora' rose is a creation by L. Lens dating back to 1995. It is derived, among other things, from the musk rose (Rosa (x) moschata), a spontaneous hybrid probably originating from Asia Minor or the Middle East. A bit like polyanthas and floribundas, roses in this family produce flowers gathered in bouquets, but their colors are more refined and they have a more flexible and graceful habit. 'Rosy Purple' exhibits rapid growth and a slightly spreading bushy habit, fanning out. Ultimately, this shrub reaches a height of 1m (3ft) to 1.25m (4ft) with a spread of 1m (3ft). Its flexible and thorny stems are brownish. They produce brown young shoots. The leaves are divided into dark green leaflets. Flowering begins in June, and continues until October if the soil does not dry out too much and if care is taken to remove faded flowers as they appear. The flowers form pyramidal clusters composed of hundreds of small 3cm (1in) diameter single flowers. The pedicels that bear the flowers are brownish and adorned with tiny prickles. The flower color transitions from lilac red to deep pink to rose. The center of the corolla is occupied by yellow stamens with a sweet and aromatic fragrance. They are highly visited by bees and other pollinators. If faded flowers are not removed from mid-July onwards, this rose produces small decorative fruits from September. Its hardiness is estimated at around -15 °C (5°F). The deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

The 'Rosy Purple' shrub rose will delight gardening enthusiasts who appreciate beautiful plants that align with an ecological approach. It thrives in well-prepared soil and requires no pruning except for the removal of older branches or dead wood at the end of winter. Its natural appearance and colorful flowering will be welcome in a small flowering hedge or in a bed with other landscape roses, along with perennials such as peonies, iris and tall phlox. If used as a small climber, it can be paired with a small double clematis such as 'Diamantina' or 'Multi Pink', for example.