Rosa Rhapsody in Blue = ‘Frantasia’ PBR is an award-winning rose that was bred by Frank Cowlishaw and released in 2003.  This tall shrub rose produces clusters of these rather glamorous, semi-double mauve flowers; as each bloom ages, the ashy grey tones of the flowers’ petals become more prominent.

Insects can be forgotten by plant breeders, who tend to focus on double frilly flowers without any pollen; we need more roses with blooms that offer an abundance of pollen to reward our pollinators!  It’s always a blessing to find roses with accessible pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.  Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is a true blessing, as this rose’s flowers have accessible pollen and the blooms produce a powerful, sweet scent.  This is a repeat flowering rose that will bloom from late spring until the frosts arrive, in late autumn or winter.

Grow Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ in any moist but well-drained soil, in a bright and sunny situation.  This is a great rose to grow in beds and borders.  Why not purchase multiple plants and grow Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ as a hedge?  Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ grows to around 120cm (4ft) tall and 80cm (2.5ft) wide, depending of course on the plant’s soil, situation, and growing conditions.

Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ was the winner of the Rose of the Year Competition in 2003.  The Royal Horticultural Society have awarded Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with a prestigious Award of Garden Merit.  This is a naturally healthy, repeat flowering rose with scented, accessible flowers, and many positive attributes to recommend it.