Rose Rhapsody in Blue: variety description, planting and growing rules

The variety of roses Rhapsody in Blue interested flower growers with an unusual purple-violet color of the buds, which acquires a blue tint at dusk. Care of the breeding species consists in balanced watering and obligatory feeding during flowering. The benefits of Rhapsody rose are frost resistance, long flowering and immunity to fungal diseases.

The history of the Blue Rhapsody variety

A blue or blue rose is a breeder's dream, like a black tulip. The British breeder Frank R. Couslau came closest to the ideal. He crossed several varieties: Summer Vine, International Herald Tribune, Blue Moon, Montezuma, Violacia.The result is a flower with a rich purplish-violet hue.

A new variety appeared in 1999 under the name Fantasia. But in 2002, a more poetic name was chosen for presentation to the world community of flower growers - in honor of the play of the same name by J. Gershwin. Until now, the Blue Rhapsody rose is considered the closest to the blue palette.

Description and characteristics of the rose Rhapsody in Blue

The variety belongs to shrabs - winter-hardy park shrubs, as well as to hybrid-polyanthus floribundas used in landscape design.

External features of the variety:

• thick bush;
• 80-165 centimeters high;
• 60 centimeters wide;
• shoots are straight, grow vertically;
• sharp thorns;
• light green leaves with a glossy surface.

Bud structure:

• diameter - up to 6 centimeters;
• semi-double petals;
• one bud has 20 petals;
• buds collected in 5-7 pieces;
• petals purple with a purple tint;
• white heart with yellow stamens.

Flowers are evenly spaced on the bush. At the beginning of flowering, they are cone-shaped, and open in the shape of a bowl. Rhapsody in Blue rose petals change color. When the buds first open, they are painted in a gray-blue hue, which changes to purple. Roses look purplish blue in shade and on overcast days.

Main advantages and disadvantages

Rhapsody Blue Benefits:

• withstands frost down to -20-23 degrees;
• not sensitive to powdery mildew;
• blooms long and profusely;
• smells spicy with clove notes;
• easy care.

The variety blooms in two periods with an interval of up to a month. Flower growers consider the rapid fall of the buds and the change in color of the petals depending on the location of the bush to be a disadvantage.

Rules for growing crops

In the care of Blue Rhapsody, it is important to choose moderate lighting and balance the watering regime.

Select location

The geography of cultivation of the Rhapsody in Blue variety extends from the Middle Strip to the northern regions.

For planting roses, a plot with partial shade is suitable - next to a hedge, trees, a gazebo. In the open area, roses fade. After burns from direct sunlight, the petals will not turn blue even at dusk. In a shaded and ventilated place, the bushes will be protected from overheating, and the flowers will retain a blue-purple hue.

Roses should not be planted in low, dark areas. Water collects in cold lowlands. From moisture and cold, a fungus develops on roses. Wetlands with groundwater close to the surface are not suitable for a rose garden.

Minimum source depth is 1 meter.

How to prepare soil and flower for planting

Roses are planted from April to May. In autumn, bushes with developed roots are transplanted. The seedlings must take root before the cold weather, so autumn planting is suitable for the southern regions.

In clay areas, add peat, sand or a mixture of humus and compost to the soil. Sandy soil is poor in trace elements and nutrients, heats up in the sun and does not retain water. Sand must be mixed with clay, peat, compost or humus.

The seedling before planting is kept for 30 minutes in the rooting solution so that the roots develop faster.

Boarding procedure step by step

How roses are planted:

• holes are dug on the site 60 centimeters deep, 40 centimeters in diameter;
• interval between holes - 0.5 meters;
• put 10 centimeters of a layer of pebbles, crushed stone for drainage at the bottom;
• a layer of humus or compost of the same thickness is laid on top of the drainage;
• pour earth mixed with clay, bone meal and superphosphate, form a low hill;
• straighten the roots of the seedling, put it on the earthen layer, holding it with your hand;
• gradually covered with soil.

Planting is completed with abundant watering. If blue roses will make up a hedge, young bushes should be planted at an angle of 30 degrees relative to the support. When planting near the wall of the house, you need to retreat 0.5 meters from it so that rainwater from the roof does not flood the seedlings.

Further flower care

For the he alth of the rose garden, it is important to maintain moderation when watering. For roses to bloom profusely every year, fertilize during flowering, and prune the bushes before wintering.

Irrigation rules and humidity

Young bushes absorb a lot of moisture, especially in the heat. But you should avoid stagnant water and water the rose garden in the evening, when the sun does not bake. During the day, water drops leave burns on the leaves.

The main rule for watering blue roses is to keep the soil moist and not dry out.

Feeding and soil quality

Roses need dry, light, nutritious soil that allows moisture and air to pass through. Water stagnates in fatty loams. Wetlands are also not suitable. In sandy-loamy soil with an admixture of humus, Blue Rhapsody will easily receive oxygen, nutrition and moisture.

Normal soil ph for roses is 5.6-6.5. With the help of peat and humus, acidity can be increased, and ash and lime can be reduced.

At the beginning of flowering, the bushes need top dressing with nitrogen. From June to August, once every 2-3 weeks, roses are fed with organic fertilizer. When transplanting, humus is introduced, when pruning - mineral fertilizers.

Pruning and transplanting

In late autumn, before sheltering the bushes for the winter, faded buds are cut off that have not had time to form seed pods. In the spring, frozen and extra branches are cut off. On the main shoots, 3-4 secondary ones are left. The main branches are shortened by a third. Pruning increases the duration of flowering and the number of buds.

Features of the wintering of the flower

Rhapsody in Blue variety does not require shelter at temperatures up to -7 degrees. When it gets cold, the bushes are pruned, spudded with garden soil, compost or humus. Sawdust, sand and peat should not be used. Such a coating retains moisture, freezes, and plants get sick.

For shelter, a frame is built, spruce branches are laid and wrapped with insulation. In early spring, holes are made in the coating for ventilation and prevention of early flowering. If the bushes are left closed, the buds will begin to turn green. Due to the lack of nutrients in the cold ground, they will dry out and the bush will not bloom in summer.

Diseases, pests and methods of dealing with them

Insects affecting rose bushes:

• rose aphid - a pest destroys young seedlings, their stems are bent, and leaves and unblown buds fall off. Against aphids use a soap solution, garlic tincture, ash. Also used external and systemic insecticides - Karbofos and Aktara;
• spider mites, gall mite - live on the reverse side of the leaves, leaving cobwebs and powdery coating, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Insects are killed only with insecticides;
• leaflet - a moth-like butterfly. Like a tick, it spoils the leaves by wrapping them and gluing them with cobwebs. With a small lesion, the twisted leaves are cut off, the bushes are treated with Actara. They also use permethrin products to fight;
• Cicada is a very small insect, its presence on the bushes can be guessed from the light specks on the leaves. The plant loses foliage and does not grow. Cicadas carry viruses. Against pests, spraying with soapy water, permethrin insecticide is carried out on the outer and reverse sides of the leaves.

Sferoteka mushroom, the causative agent of powdery white plaque on the leaves, develops at high humidity. Under the threat of infection are young seedlings growing in shady corners of the garden, where sunlight does not penetrate. Black spot appears with a lack of potassium. The leaves are covered with dark spots with a yellow border.

Against fungal diseases, the removal of affected leaves, treatment with a copper-soap solution, Bordeaux liquid will help. With proper care and slight deviations from the norm of watering, Rhapsody is resistant to powdery mildew and black spot.

How to propagate?

The Blue Rhapsody variety is propagated by cuttings. They are cut from young bushes after the first flowering period. An oblique cut is made just above the kidney. The length of the cuttings should be 10 centimeters. Make a straight cut at the top.

Cuttings are kept in a solution of a drug that accelerates the formation of roots. After the roots appear, the twigs are planted in a seedling box or in pots.

The use of roses in landscape design

Next to blue roses, plants that are shorter are planted so that they do not obscure the buds. When forming a rose hedge, three bushes should be planted, at intervals, filling it with other plants. The contrasting combination will be yellow flowers.

Rhapsody in Blue roses are used in summer and autumn compositions, single flower beds and hedges.

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