The distinct shade of a purple rose often symbolizes enchantment, majesty, and admiration. This uncommon color, ranging from soft lavender to deep plum, makes purple roses highly sought after for special events and unique garden plantings. Because these hues are not standard in the rose family, finding a reliable source requires knowing where to look for both fresh cut flowers and viable garden plants. The purchase experience varies significantly depending on whether you need an immediate bouquet or a long-term addition to your landscape.
Purchasing Cut Purple Roses
Local, brick-and-mortar sources are the fastest way to acquire a small bouquet of purple roses. Traditional florists are the preferred option for quality and customization, as they can usually source specific shades or create custom arrangements. A local florist may also be able to order a small batch of a specific purple cultivar, though this requires planning ahead.
Grocery store floral departments offer convenience and a lower price point for grab-and-go bouquets, which sometimes include lavender or deep purple roses depending on seasonal availability. While these options are inexpensive, the variety is typically limited to what the large wholesalers supply, and the quality may not be as consistent as a dedicated florist. Specialty pop-up shops, especially around holidays, can also be a local source for unique cut flower varieties, but their inventory is transient and not guaranteed. The main advantage of these local sources is the ability to inspect the freshness of the blooms before purchase and the immediate availability for last-minute needs.
Finding Specialized and Online Retailers
For larger quantities, unique varieties, or guaranteed delivery over a distance, online retailers and specialized wholesalers become the primary source for cut purple roses. Major national flower delivery services offer a wide array of purple and lavender bouquets, often with options for same-day or next-day shipping directly to the recipient. These companies benefit from large distribution networks, making them reliable for standard arrangements featuring colors like ‘Deep Purple’ or ‘Moody Blues’.
For event planners needing bulk quantities, specialized rose wholesalers provide farm-direct options, shipping boxes of 50 to 100 stems with better per-stem pricing for large-scale designs. Wholesalers like Flower Explosion or GlobalRose often list specific varieties and may offer tinted purple roses alongside naturally-colored ones. Subscription services focusing on unique or exotic flowers may also periodically feature purple cultivars, providing a curated selection that can be delivered on a recurring basis.
Sourcing Live Purple Rose Bushes
Acquiring a purple rose bush requires focusing on nurseries and breeders specializing in hardy garden plants. Local garden centers and nurseries are a good starting point, as they stock varieties proven to thrive in the region’s specific hardiness zone. However, their selection of purple roses may be limited to one or two popular cultivars.
Specialized online rose breeders and mail-order plant catalogs offer the widest selection of purple roses, shipping dormant bareroot or potted plants directly to the gardener. Popular cultivars to search for include ‘Ebb Tide,’ known for its smoky deep plum color, and ‘Midnight Blue,’ which offers a darker, velvety hue. These online sources often provide detailed care instructions specific to the cultivar and information on whether the plant is an own-root or grafted variety. When ordering, it is important to check the plant’s recommended USDA hardiness zone to ensure it will survive the local climate.
Understanding Color Authenticity and Pricing
The color purple in roses is a complex genetic trait, and its authenticity influences both availability and cost. True purple roses achieved through breeding are genetically closer to deep mauve, plum, or smoky violet rather than a vibrant, pure purple. These hybrid varieties, such as the floribunda ‘Ebb Tide,’ are the only way to grow the color naturally in a garden setting.
For cut flowers, the intense, vibrant purple often seen in bouquets is typically achieved through a tinting process, where a white or pale rose absorbs a liquid dye through its stem. This process, sometimes referred to as “dyed absorption,” allows florists to offer a non-natural purple or even blue, but it can affect the flower’s vase life. Tinted roses generally cost more due to the added labor and materials involved in the dyeing process. Consumers should expect to pay a premium for any rose that is described as “true purple” or “royal purple,” whether it is a rare hybrid plant or a chemically-enhanced cut flower.