Big Purple – Hybrid tea rose – STEbigpu
This pharmaROSA® NEONATAL own‑root material of Big Purple is developed for professional growers who need reliable, tray‑grown propagation stock for premium hybrid tea production. The cultivar delivers exceptionally large, high‑centred, cut‑rose‑type blooms with an intense mauve‑purple colour and very double, exhibition‑grade flower form, closely aligned to its exclusive finished‑product positioning in the premium container channel. Its fragrance is extremely strong and room‑filling, building clear value for cut‑flower and specimen applications. Own‑root propagation offers durable framework renewal and predictable stand structure over time, supporting homogeneous batches with low replacement in nursery beds and 5–7 L premium containers, and scales well for UK networks supplying thematic rose gardens and public projects, even where winter and wind exposure are significant, while your production plan naturally moves from root establishment in year one, structural shoot build‑up in year two, to full ornamental performance from year three.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L scented hybrid tea line – XL, high‑centred mauve‑purple blooms and extremely strong fragrance in bush‑trained 5–7 L containers, matching exclusive positioning – target audience/channel: retail chains and independent resellers.
- Exhibition‑grade cut‑stem starter blocks – Own‑root, bush‑trained plants in 5–7 L pots for on‑site cutting of solitary, cut‑rose‑type stems with strong scent – target audience/channel: specialist cut‑flower and show exhibitors.
- Mauve specimen feature collection – Grouped 7–10 L specimens selected for colour intensity and remontant flowering, offered as a themed series for show and thematic gardens – target audience/channel: landscape‑oriented nurseries and public‑realm suppliers.
- Large patio statement roses – Upscaled 40–50 L container specimens built from NEONATAL stock, focusing on upright form and room‑filling fragrance for high‑value terraces – target audience/channel: premium garden centres and design‑led retailers.
- Collector and heritage bench range – Clearly labelled 5–7 L plants of this award‑winning mauve hybrid tea, positioned as a reference cultivar within curated assortments – target audience/channel: specialist rose nurseries and collection gardens.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as STEbigpu, traded as Big Purple Hybrid tea rose STEbigpu and Stephens’ Big Purple; exhibition category cut flower and exhibition tea hybrid with English descriptive name. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Patrick N. “Pat” Stephens from an unknown seedling × ‘Purple Splendour’; introduced after 1986 via McGredy Roses International, with formal registration recorded in 1986. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in competition with Rosexpo Montreal Best Mauve Rose, awarded by the Canadian Rose Society in 1999, supporting its positioning as an exhibition‑quality mauve hybrid tea cultivar. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea to around 130–170 cm in height and 100–140 cm spread, with moderately dense, dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms require manual deadheading due to poor self‑cleaning. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, solitary XL blooms over 3.5 inches, with high‑centred, pointed buds of classic cut‑rose type; strongly remontant with an abundant second flush, suitable for premium cut and exhibition use. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Intense mauve‑purple with violet shimmer; buds dark mauve, newly opened flowers violet‑lavender, full bloom vivid mauve‑purple with paler edges, fading in strong sun to smoky lilac with a silvery central sheen. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Extremely strong, room‑filling classic rose scent, primarily ornamental rather than pollinator‑oriented as the very double flowers enclose stamens and limit access, reducing pollinator attractiveness in plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip set generally limited by very double blooms, though occasional small ellipsoid hips 10–14 mm may appear, orange‑red in colour; hip production is not a primary ornamental or production feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate disease resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; requires periodic plant protection. Rated to approximately −21 to −18 °C, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b, with moderate heat and drought tolerance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited for borders, cut flower and specimen use, with moderate maintenance and some plant protection. Recommended as bush‑trained plants with 3–5 strong canes for premium container production, targeting 5–7 L pots. |
Big Purple Hybrid tea rose STEbigpu combines XL exhibition blooms, extremely strong fragrance and robust upright structure on predictable own‑root stock, offering stable, long‑lived stands for premium programmes; we would welcome a discussion on volumes and scheduling.
