21 Stunning Purple and Lilac Colored Roses

Designers know that shades of blue and purple allow the eye to rest and serve as an anchor for brighter colors in the garden. Purple takes all the peacefulness of blue and adds a bit of warmth. Roses in shades of purple, whether deep mulberry or muted periwinkle, will blend seamlessly with most garden palettes.

 Finding the perfect purple rose can be a daunting task. The color is elusive in the rose family, with most rose varieties leaning toward magenta and pink. Fortunately, years of hybridization in the quest for purple roses have resulted in some gorgeous options.

If you’re after the just-right purple rose, this article will give the details on 21 garden-worthy options in a wide range of darkest fuschias, pretty violets, jammy plums, and the lightest silvery lavender. Let’s dig in!

‘Plum Perfect’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORvodacom’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

This best-selling rose is the subject of much excitement in the rose world, and I’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews! A floribunda with clusters of plush double blooms, ‘Plum Perfect’ will stop traffic.

This variety hits just the right shade of delectable violet plum, fading to lavender. Bred by Kordes, a hybridizer with an impressive roster of healthy and vigorous roses, ‘Plum Perfect’ is a high performer in hot and cold climates.

Bouquets of ‘Plum Perfect’ are pure luxury. The flowers have an antique look and a moderate sweet scent. Part of Korde’s Sunbelt collection, this rose demonstrates excellent black spot resistance for those in hot and humid regions. It’s a nice size to fit well in a mixed border or in patio containers.

‘Quicksilver’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORpucoblu’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Quicksilver’ is an essential rose for purple lovers. It’s a quick-growing mannerly climber that tops out at about 7 feet, an ideal candidate for a pretty trellis or obelisk. It produces non-stop English-style double blooms all summer.

‘Quicksilver’s’ buds begin a bit pink, but open to mauve centers with outer petals in silvery lavender. The plant itself is full, with rich green foliage that resists disease. Allow it to reach its full potential by refraining from pruning the first three years (unless you see diseased or damaged canes).

‘Quicksilver’s’ blooms last for a long time on the bush and in the vase. It has a mild fruity fragrance. Plant spire-like delphiniums and salvia on each side of this for an irresistible group of purple flowers.

‘Easy on the Eyes’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKswechefy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

This rose catches the eye and yields months of garden color for little effort. ‘Easy on the Eyes’ is part of Weeks Roses’ Easy to Love collection, a group of roses designed to be completely no fuss and ideal for beginner gardeners.

While low maintenance, ‘Easy on the Eyes’ is no shrinking violet. The blooms are unusual, with orchid purple petals, deep purple centers, and a golden eye. The stamens are easily accessible to pollinators, making this a beautiful addition to a butterfly garden.

The semi-double wavy flowers grow on a tidy, rounded shrub. They have an attractive citrus and spice fragrance. ‘Easy on the Eyes’ is a good size for the patio but just as at home in a mixed bed. Plant this one and admire the bounty all summer, no green thumb required!

‘Reine des Violettes’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Reine des Violettes’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun- Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

An Old Garden Rose introduced in 1860, ‘Reine des Violettes, or “Queen of the Violets” is a hybrid perpetual climber. This rose group is known for generous bloom production and adaptability.

‘Reine’ has nearly thorn-free canes- a major bonus when you’re training them up a support. Its petal-packed quartered blooms are lilac-pink, with a delicious peppery old rose fragrance. This variety repeat blooms throughout the season but does best with some deadheading to encourage new growth.

‘Reine’ will put up with some shade and appreciates regular fertilization. The foliage is a beautiful gray-green which makes for a lovely plant even when not in bloom.

If you’d rather not train it vertically, it responds well to “pegging” (the process of bending arched canes and affixing them to the ground) and will reward you with even more robust flowering. 

‘Blue for You’

	botanical name Rosa ‘PEJamblu’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Don’t let the title mislead you. This rose produces semi-double flowers in hues of plum, lilac pink, and magenta, each highlighted by a glowing white eye. The color show changes with the weather, so you’ll get to enjoy its evolution all season.

‘Blue for You’ is highly prolific, with plentiful clusters of blooms from spring through frost. It is healthy and robust. Plant this for a steady, dependable garden performer.

‘Blue for You’ has a candied apple and clove perfume. It performs well in the heat. Try this one with a taller climber in a contrasting color, like pale lemon ‘Teasing Georgia’, or makes things easy with durable sedums in bright yellow hues.

‘Blue Moon’

	botanical name Rosa ‘TANnacht’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 7-10

What’s with all the blue names? Well, no roses (yet) are truly blue. Roses with blue in the name usually indicate a difficult-to-achieve true shade of cooler purple. In this case, ‘Blue Moon’ is a perfect lilac lavender with classic hybrid-tea form.

‘Blue Moon’ is a heavenly-scented gold medal winner. The flowers smell sweet and reminiscent of grapefruit. The shrub is healthy and grows quite upright.

If you have a spot in dappled shade, ‘Blue Moon’ will flourish there. It prefers a bit of shelter from hot sun that can scorch its petals and ruin its delicate coloration. One of the most reliably cool-toned purples out there, you’ll want this one if you love silvery purples.

‘Purple Tiger’

	botanical name Rosa ‘JACpurr’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Oh how I wish my winters were warm enough to grow this glamorous rose! Hardy to zone 6, ‘Purple Tiger’ is a complete showstopper with double blooms in dark violet and raspberry striped in white. Each individual flower is an artistic masterpiece, with no two looking quite alike.

This multicolored floribunda rose has appealing old rose perfume and blooms repeatedly from spring through frost. It’s compact enough for containers, perhaps on either side of your entry where visitors can admire it. 

I won’t lie to you- this kind of beauty comes with a bit of a diva attitude. ‘Purple Tiger’ is slightly prone to black spot and powdery mildew, and I don’t recommend it for humid areas.

For optimal health, prune this rose into a vase shape for maximum air circulation through the center, and always water at the base rather than on the foliage to avoid fungal disease. If you have time to pamper her, you won’t regret it!

‘Indigo’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Indigo’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Indigo’ is a luscious blackberry-violet, with sweet fluffy blooms and an adorable button eye. This rose is an heirloom introduced prior to 1845. It’s a Portland Rose, characterized by short stems that make blooms look like they’re nestled right atop the foliage. Portland roses generally stay compact and are versatile in the garden.

‘Indigo’ is divinely scented with old-fashioned damask rose perfume. Its antique look makes charming bouquets. The foliage is a nice fresh green that perfectly complements the rich purple color.

Plant this rose where it can spread out a bit. It likes to slowly widen via suckers (shoots near the bush that turn into new baby plants). If you have the space, this is an asset as it can develop into a small, stunning hedge all on its own. If you don’t like where the suckers appear, simply transplant them to a different area or gift them to lucky friends!

‘Pretty Polly Lavender’

	botanical name Rosa ‘ZLEpolthree’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Now this is a robust rose I can get behind! Prolific and hardy to -25 ℉, ‘Pretty Polly Lavender’ is a workhorse in the garden. This rose is a polyantha, known for their copious small blooms and low-growing groundcover attributes.

 ‘Pretty Polly Lavender’ has clusters of adorable flowers in pinkish lilac on a remarkably healthy bush. Part of Star Roses and Plants BloomablesⓇ series, you can count on it for consistent color all season.

This variety is excellent for filling a small bed or as a ground cover in front of taller plants. Each spray can be cut for a cute bouquet of pompon flowers. Lightly fragranced and reliable, this lavender bloom machine looks good anywhere in the garden! 

‘Love Song’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKstameda’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’– 5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Love Song’ has large ruffled blooms in a chic mauve shade. As they fade in the sun, the color changes to a muted gray-purple. This is an international gold medal-winning variety with heavy bloom production throughout the summer.

Opinions vary on ‘Love Song’s’ fragrance, with some claiming it has a strong citrus smell and others detecting only mild sweet notes. Either way, it’s a healthy shrub that will appeal to anyone looking for just the right shade of lavender.

‘Love Song’ prefers the cooler temps of spring and fall, producing the best and largest flowers during this time. Flowers are slightly smaller in the dry heat, but stand up well to scorching sun and keep their color beautifully. 

‘Life’s Little Pleasures’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKswenchev’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Now, I’m a bit biased, but I think this is the best miniature rose out there. Several of my roses experienced some dieback after our harsh Zone 5 winter, but diminutive ‘Life’s Little Pleasures’ still looks great! I’m watching and waiting for temps to warm up so I can enjoy its cheerful lilac blooms.

I planted this beauty after receiving it as a gift in its original supermarket pot. Five separate roses were in the container (many individual roses are often potted together for a fuller look), so I planted them individually in the ground. Each year, I appreciate my charming hedge of low-growing double blooms in this unusual hue.

‘Life’s Little Pleasures’ is a sturdy and generously blooming little rose. Perfect for small bouquets or used alongside larger blooms for interest in arrangements, it has an appealing light scent. It stays about 2 feet tall and looks beautiful in containers or in the front of the bed.

‘Cardinal de Richelieu’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ is a gallica rose, the oldest known class of roses in cultivation. This variety introduced in 1847 is an excellent representative of the class. Its blooms are full-petaled and deep amethyst with a lighter reverse.

Named for Louis XIII’s chief minister, this Old Garden rose has a lot to offer. It has a nice mounding growth habit with gently nodding blooms. It produces flowers in one long-lasting spectacular flush in late spring to early summer.

‘Cardinal’ will spread slowly via suckers, so give it some space to expand or relocate its offspring for more garden color. This depth of purple is hard to find.

‘Minerva’

	botanical name Rosa ‘VISancar’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 6-10

‘Minerva’ is an alluring shade of mulberry. The buds start dark burgundy and open to heavy ruffled blooms. This variety is a liberal bloomer and produces clusters of flowers from spring through frost.

‘Minerva’ is named for the Roman Goddess of Wisdom. It has a dignified look and fetching olive green leaves. When blooms open fully,  silvery white streaks and centers sometimes appear. This variety has won several awards for its strong and sweet scent.

‘Minerva’ is prone to fungal issues in humid climates. Plant it in full sun and apply best pruning practices to keep it healthy and full. 

‘Le Petit Prince’

	botanical name Rosa ‘DELgramau’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun- Part Shade
	height 4’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

An absolute must for fans of the classic French children’s tale, ‘Le Petit Prince’ is a special floribunda with to-die-for fragrance and delicate silvery lavender flowers. This rose is captivating when planted with creams and snowy whites in the garden.

You’ll want to cut this one often to enjoy the large (4.5 inches across) citrus and anise-scented blooms indoors. It grows quickly and will produce a succession of flushes all summer. In particularly warm climates, it grows significantly taller than the average 5 feet. 

While this rose can handle a hot summer, it prefers a bit of afternoon shade to protect its delicate color. It has good resistance to pests and disease.

‘Lavender Veranda’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORfloci67’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1.5’ – 2’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Specifically bred to perform in pots and containers, ‘Lavender Veranda’ is part of a collection of roses great for gardeners working with small spaces. This rose has copious blooms on an appealing healthy shrub all season.

The flowers are very full and a pretty shade of light plum. The leaves are deep forest green and attractively pointed. ‘Lavender Veranda’ is a well-behaved rose that looks great in a formal bed as well as on the back patio.

‘Lavender’ imitates the look of an English Garden rose in a smaller variety. While some only detect light fragrance, others say it has a nice medium lemon scent.

‘Rhapsody in Blue’

	botanical name Rosa ‘FRAntasia’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 6’ – 8’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Photos do not do this intriguing climbing rose justice. Its flowers are dark plum and smother the canes in color from spring ‘til frost. Open blooms have white centers and bright golden stamens.

‘Rhapsody in Blue’ grows up to 8 feet tall and will interest garden visitors with its groundbreaking color. Plant one on each side of an arbor for an enchanting garden entrance.

The flowers are contrasted by light spring green foliage and invite you in with intense spicy fragrance. ‘Rhapsody’ was The Royal Horticultural Society’s “Rose of the Year” for 2003.

‘Twilight Zone’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKebtidere’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Mysterious and dusky ‘Twilight Zone’ has large flowers in deep velvety magenta. It’s a crowd-pleaser for long vase life, reliable repeat flowering, and lavish citrus-spice fragrance.

The blooms are fully double and appear in clusters from spring through fall. This grandiflora is healthy and does exceptionally well in rainy climates.

‘Twilight Zone’ is an award winner that puts up with some shade, transforming gloomy garden spots into eye-catching attractions. Plant it with apricot roses or giant orange marigolds for a striking companion planting. 

‘Poseidon’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORfriedhar’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun- Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 6-10

No lavender rose list would be complete without smoky lilac ‘Poseidon’. This rose has large, cupped rosette blooms with outer petals subtly lined in ash pink. The globular blooms shine in old-fashioned style bouquets.

‘Poseidon’ is a robust grower with lots of glossy green leaves that look great in the garden. It has won multiple international awards for great performance and stunning silvery color. Lean in close to appreciate the sweet fruity fragrance!

Plant ‘Poseidon’ with gaura and white cosmos for dreamy, ethereal appeal. With a tendency to fry a bit in the hot sun, this rose performs best when given afternoon shade.

‘Burlesque’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Burlesque’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

A more sultry take on the striped ‘Purple Tiger’, ‘Burlesque’ is a perfect play of light and dark. This dramatic rose has showy blooms in deep wine with light fuschia flecks and stripes.

‘Burlesque’ would look stylish next to dark purple salvia in a mixed bed or as a potted specimen plant. Its scent is like an exotic rose perfume. Good as a cut flower, they will last for a long time in arrangements.

This is a jaw-dropping, healthy rose with loads of style. It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. The best flush is in spring or early summer with occasional repeat blooms. 

‘Veilchenblau’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’ – 20’
	hardiness zones 5-9

If you have a large space to play with, don’t miss out on uniquely blue-violet ‘Veilchenblau’. Breathtaking in full bloom, this is a rambling rose that grows up to 20 feet tall!

When ‘Veilchenblau’ blooms for about 5 weeks in late spring, it’s blanketed in small purple blooms with luminous white centers. The color display is stunning and made even more delightful by a sugared Lily-of-the-Valley fragrance. ‘Veilchenblau’s’ canes are almost thorn-free, a great candidate for a children’s garden. It will bloom profusely even in shade.

Always wait until after blooms are spent to prune once-blooming ramblers to avoid snipping off this season’s flowers. This is a hardy and easy-care rose! 

‘Arctic Blue’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKblufytirar’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Rounding out our list is ‘Arctic Blue’. This rose stands out from the crowd due to lilac-gray petals accented with a glowing ivory reverse.

Buds begin pink, but the icy purple tones become more apparent as the blooms mature. This shrub has an informal habit and abundant clusters of double flowers all summer.

While a bit faint, the citrusy perfume is pleasing and most noticeable in hot weather. Once established, ‘Arctic Blue’ is drought tolerant and will only need occasional watering. Florist-worthy!