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Heirloom vs. Stephen's Big Purple

14 years ago

I own Heirloom and have sharked around the internet for Stephen's Big Purple for a few days and found it at, of all places, Heirloom Roses website.

Now I am pondering if it is worth the purchase. How does Stephen's Big Purple size up to the likes of the Heirloom rose? I also own Lagerfeld, Fragrant Plum, Sterling Silver, Neptune, Shocking Blue, Angel Face, and Sweetness if anyone has Stephen's Big Purple and one of the aforementioned rose bushes.

Thanks for taking the time to ponder an answer to my dilemma!

Adrian.

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Comments (14)

artemis_pa
14 years ago
I also pondered Stephen's Big Purple. I found it listed at Rose's Unlimited. I spoke with RU's owner Pat and after discussing my zone 5 and her experience with it, I decided to pass. Too tender for zone 5.
susan9santabarbara
14 years ago
Hi Adrian,

I have a bunch of the fragrant mauves you mentioned, plus several others. I am extremely fond of Big Purple, but if I were to have to choose between it and Heirloom, I'd choose Heirloom. I understand that's not the choice you're making, but you asked us to compare those two. But their color and habit are very different. Many people say Big Purple is magenta, but I find it pretty darned purple (compared to that realm of roses). It's no Ebb Tide in terms of purple, but pretty good purple. Ultra-fragrant. My Big Purple stays pretty medium sized. I definitely think it's worth getting. Fragrant lavenders and purples are one of my big loves. There are many others to consider...

Susan
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bewitched
14 years ago
Big Purple is a good rose.Healthy,fragrant,of moderate plant size,and with large,heavily petaled blooms that last and cut well.

It holds up pretty nicely in our summers.It's most toward the cool side of purple in the autumn or moderate temp times of the year,though still a beautiful deep warm purple in the heat.

It's flowers are darker and more toward the red side(though not red,but still purple)in color than Heirloom's.I like both very much and Big Purple is well worth having in my opinion.

Beautiful roses you have,Adrian.Like susan,I love purples and lavenders.
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
14 years ago
I have them both in the same bed. Heirloom blooms more and seems more vigorous. How that translates to zone 10 is anyone's guess.

Why not just buy both?

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pauline-vi-8
14 years ago
Wow, the opposite to Harry here! I prefer the colour of Heirloom, but Big Purple is a large extremely healthy rose bush here (which I cannot say about Heirloom) - BIG in every way.
Pauline

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sunnishine
14 years ago
I prefer big purple in a big way. Here heirloom is a 2 cane wonder that is struggling to survive and might get a run in with a shovel if it doesn't straighten out this year.

BP is a gorgeous vigorous rose that seems to glow from within. I will take some pics tonight for you.
pauline-vi-8
14 years ago
Sorry Adrian, I did not label the pictures. They are ALL "BIG PURPLE" and I have to agree with Sunnishine. My Heirlooms have been very weak, though lovely blooms. But big black spot magnets.
Pauline
mendocino_rose
14 years ago
Stephen's Big is a big thing. The purple is striking. Heirloom is more graceful. Mine took a while to build. For a couple of years I thought it wasn't a good vigorous rose, but now it is beautiful.
kublakan
Original Author
14 years ago
Looks like I'll be ordering SBP when next Heirloom Roses has their end of the season sale.

YOU BUNCH OF ENABLERS!!! (lol)

Thank you all for your input. I have two Heirlooms and they are, at best, temperamental. I also don't care for the fact that, like my Melody ParfumÃ© and Wild Blue Yonder, the flowers don't last in a vase.

I'll keep all posted on the outcome of my experience when I plant her.

Thanks again,

Adrian.
judith5bmontreal
14 years ago
I am SO glad I ordered SBP this spring. He is coming along beautifully, but it will be another month before I see those gorgeous blooms. Pauline, your photos are lovely! Thanks for the preview.

Judith
pauline-vi-8
14 years ago
Thanks Judith. You will not be disappointed, and neither will Adrian. Actually, when you come to think of it, it is probably the best shrub in that colour range that I know of. I have to admit, my first blooms did not seem to have such a great colour, hard to describe it, but I finally fell in love as the subsequent blooms did change to a nicer shade!
P
rochesterroseman
14 years ago
The pics of BP look just like Heirloom to me. It has that old rose form. I don't have BP, but I do have heirloom. It took a few years to take hold, but once it did, it's one of the most ridiculously healthy roses in my yard. It reblooms constantly, more than any other rose. It's bushy and vigorous. Yes, Black spot is a problem if I don't spray, but don't all mauve roses have that problem?
rochesterroseman
14 years ago
This is an old pic of Heirloom. It is more than twice the size now, about 4'x4', and it's only May! It's covered with buds already. Very cold hardy, too. Love it!
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texaslynn
14 years ago
Wow........I have SBP -just received it last month as a small plant from Heirloom Roses. It is doing well and has several tiny buds on it. I hope mine does as well as some of the pictures above!

I may have to try Heirloom too; the pictures above are stunning and right up my alley!

Lynn

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