Mamy Blue

Full Description:

Mamy Blue is a rose for gardeners who are drawn to colours that refuse to fit neatly into one description. Its flowers move between purple, mauve and cool blue reflections, changing subtly with the light and giving each bloom a sense of depth and mystery.

Created by Georges Delbard, it is often presented as one of the bluest roses in the breeder’s collection. No natural rose is truly blue, yet Mamy Blue comes remarkably close to creating that impression through its unusual violet colouring and cool-toned highlights.

The large flowers have the elegant structure associated with classic hybrid tea roses. Their rich colour gives them a strong presence in the garden, while the resistant petals help the blooms remain attractive through changing weather and after cutting.

Fragrance is one of Mamy Blue’s defining qualities. Its perfume is strong and expressive, adding a memorable sensory dimension to the variety and earning it a Fragrance Medal in New Zealand in 1997.

The plant flowers repeatedly from May until the first frost and can reach approximately 100 to 150 cm in height. Its upright growth makes it suitable for individual planting, rose beds and mixed borders, especially where a taller flowering rose is needed to create structure.

Mamy Blue also offers very good disease resistance, helping the plant maintain attractive foliage and reliable performance throughout the season. Plant it in full sun with good air circulation to support healthy growth and abundant flowering.

Its blooms are especially valuable for cutting. Once placed in a vase, the flowers can remain fresh for approximately 10 to 15 days, making Mamy Blue an exceptional choice for bouquets and floral arrangements as well as garden display.

This is not simply a purple rose with an unusual name. Mamy Blue combines rare colouring, strong fragrance and impressive vase life in a variety that feels distinctive every time it flowers.

Frequently asked questions:

Is Mamy Blue a genuinely blue rose?
No natural rose is truly blue. Mamy Blue is best described as purple or mauve with cool blue reflections, and its exact shade may vary with light, temperature and flower maturity.

How strong is its fragrance?
The fragrance is strong and one of the variety’s principal qualities. Its perfume received international recognition with a Fragrance Medal in New Zealand in 1997.

Does Mamy Blue flower repeatedly?
Yes. It produces successive flushes from May until the first frost, providing renewed colour and fragrance throughout the growing season.

How tall does Mamy Blue grow?
It can reach approximately 100 to 150 cm, making it taller than many compact bush roses and well suited to the middle or back of a rose bed.

Is it suitable for cut flowers?
Yes. Mamy Blue is particularly valuable for cutting because its large flowers can remain fresh for approximately 10 to 15 days in a vase.

Where should I plant it?
Choose a sunny position with good air circulation. Its upright growth makes it effective as a specimen rose, in groups or among lower-growing plants in a mixed border.

What colours combine well with Mamy Blue?
White, cream, silver foliage and pale pink create a soft, elegant palette. For stronger contrast, combine it with deep burgundy, dark purple or fresh green foliage.

Is Mamy Blue difficult to grow?
No. It has very good disease resistance and performs well when planted in full sun, watered consistently during establishment and fed during the growing season.

Why can the flower colour look different in photographs?
Cool-toned roses are strongly influenced by lighting, weather and camera settings. In the garden, the blooms may appear more violet, mauve or blue-toned at different stages of opening.

What does the rose look like on delivery?
Its appearance depends on the delivery season and natural stage of growth. For examples and explanations, see What roses look like on delivery →.

What should I do after planting?
Plant in full sun, water thoroughly and maintain consistent moisture while the roots establish. For detailed instructions, visit our complete planting guide →.