Thanks for being such a fast responder, Jeri!

:-)

So it's a healthy plant, but doesn't bloom a lot. Do you mean it has only a few flushes, or that the "flushes" consist of only a few flowers at a time?

:-)

~Christopher

One additional question -- are the three HelpMeFind pages below referencing the same rose?

'Indica Purpurea'
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.17282.0

'Purpurea'
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.31368.0

"Winecup"
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.34625.0

:-)

~Christopher

This rose we call Purpurea has also been sold as Winecup, but that is a study name. It appears to be the 1930 Chenault China.

My problem with it is, it never exactly covers itself with bloom. The blooms are not huge (which is OK) and they are not for the most part carried in sprays. Christopher, I'll see what mine is doing right now. But I have never seen it bloom in big volume.

Jeri

To me, the 'Indica Purpurea' in the SJHRG looks very similar to my 'Purpurea' from Vintage, but I have not made a side-by-side comparison of the two. According to the dates given on HMF, the varieties are distinct. but they sure do look a lot like each other.

I have two plants of 'Purpurea'. One has been in the ground about 3 years in a challenging droughty/hot spot. It's about 5' tall and 4' wide. Its flushes are several dozen flowers total, but the flowers, so far, are usually not all open at once. They sort of string out, nine or a half dozen or so open at a time. The other was just planted this summer. It is actually a cutting from a piece accidentally broken off the first plant late last summer and simply stuck in a pot of soil -- it roots easily. It's planted in a better spot and blooms more often, though only about 1.5' tall (as did the other plant while it was in a pot, actually). I have yet to detect a scent (but I can't smell all scents).

My overall impression is that with ample water and good soil, 'Purpurea' blooms more regularly. When conditions are not optimum, it seems to 'hunker down', maintaining flawless foliage and good looks but not blooming as much (which is what the older plant is doing right now -- with very little late winter or spring rains here, it's been difficult keeping its area adequately watered). It does seem a tough variety, as most found roses are.

none of the chinas really 'cover themselves in bloom' for me (I have 4) but nonetheless, they are dainty plants with graceful growth, best planted alongside other perennials or in a mixed border - definitely not 'standalone' specimens.

I have an own-root Winecup/purpurea rose that is currently on my shovel-prune list. It is very healthy and basically thornless, so that is a big positive for growing this rose; however, I find that the beautifully colored blooms are not produced often, nor in enough mass for me to keep it in my garden. My rose is about 4 years old, so I feel I have given it enough time.
Molly

I was amazed at the way it grew from a band this year. I don't mind that it isn't covered in blooms, but that's just my taste. It has bloomed the whole season and I find the plant very attractive with no disease. Here mine is more wine colored than red.

I suspect it depends upon where you're growing it -- but I don't see it blooming in the sort of volume I get from WPIRDM, or Elisabeth's China, or most of my other Chinas. But I think there are situations in which that wouldn't bother me.

OTOH, it's at the bottom of the hill, and removing it isn't a priority.

Jeri