Rose Lavender Dream

The rose ‘Lavender Dream’ is an elegant and expressive shrub rose, distinguished by its exceptionally long flowering period, graceful habit, and delicate, shifting coloration. Bred in 1984 in the Netherlands, this variety has earned lasting popularity among gardeners and landscape designers thanks to its reliability, disease resistance, and refined ornamental value.

Its name - ‘Lavender Dream’ - perfectly captures the visual impression of the plant in bloom. As noted by Nico Vermeulen in Roses. Illustrated Encyclopedia, “Its semi-double flowers are like lilac clouds at the tops of the stems.” Other authors describe the flowers as lilac-pink or lavender, with subtle tonal variations influenced by flower age, weather conditions, and light intensity. The coloration blends soft pastel lilac and pink hues, creating a gentle, atmospheric effect in the garden.

The buds of this rose variety are pointed and charming, opening into semi-double, almost flat flowers. At first, they appear bright pink, gradually fading to blue-lilac shades as they mature. The flowers are small, about 3 - 4 cm (1.2 - 1.6 inches) in diameter - simple to semi-double, carrying from 5 to 11 - 15 petals. When fully open, the center brightens and displays a prominent cluster of golden-yellow stamens, framed by distinctive heart-shaped petals, which enhance the flower’s delicate elegance.

Flowers are produced in large clusters of 15 - 20 blooms together, held on smooth stems, almost without prickles, above small, glossy foliage. Flowering occurs in flushes, yet is almost continuous, beginning in June and lasting until late autumn. Thanks to excellent self-cleaning ability, spent flowers drop cleanly, ensuring the shrub remains tidy and attractive throughout the season. The blooms are rain-resistant and retain their ornamental quality even in unfavorable weather.

The fragrance is light, subtle, and pleasant, with gentle honey notes that attract bees and other pollinators, contributing to the rose’s ecological value while creating a soft, romantic atmosphere in the garden.

The bush is compact, rounded, and medium-sized, typically reaching about 120 - 150 cm (3.9 - 4.9 feet) in diameter. In warmer regions, it may expand significantly, attaining 250 - 300 cm (8.2 - 9.8 feet) in width. The growth habit of the plants of this rose variety is arching, airy, and slightly undulating, yet vigorous and densely flowered. The foliage is small, glossy, rich green to dark green, and notably disease-resistant, forming a striking contrast with the delicate pastel flowers.

Visually light and cloud-like despite its vigor, ‘Lavender Dream’ is ideally suited for borders, mixed borders, and mass plantings. Rather than dominating a composition, it often serves as a soft background or “blue haze”, complementing roses with larger blooms and enhancing overall garden harmony. It also performs beautifully as a hedge, in landscape groupings, or as a structural backdrop for brighter floral compositions.

The rose prefers sunny locations or light partial shade; while shade-tolerant, it blooms most abundantly in full sun. It thrives in fertile, well-drained soils and generally does not require a lot of maintenance in cultivation. Sanitary and forming pruning in spring is recommended. Frost resistance is good, it is recommended for climates similar to USDA zone 5b and warmer - and in moderate climates it overwinters reliably with minimal protection.

Disease resistance is good, with notable resistance to black spot and powdery mildew, though preventive treatments are advised under conditions of high humidity for optimal performance. The variety holds the prestigious ADR mark, awarded to roses of exceptional ornamental value and resistance.

In addition to its landscape use, ‘Lavender Dream’ may be grown as a container plant, provided sufficient root space is available. Its soft coloration pairs beautifully with perennials, ornamental grasses, and other pastel-toned roses, making it an excellent choice for refined, romantic garden designs.

Overall, ‘Lavender Dream’ is an effective yet easy to care for Shrub rose, offering long-lasting bloom, graceful form, and exceptional versatility. It is an ideal selection for creating expressive flower beds, elegant borders, and harmonious garden compositions that delight throughout the season.

Unfortunately we do not have information about the origin of the name of this rose.

 Certificate of Quality, Bagatelle Rose Trial, Paris (France), 1988

 "Best Modern Shrub", American Rose Society (AARS), Jackson Rose & Garden Society, USA, 2000

 Shrub Rose, Western Reserve Rose Society, USA, 2000

 Shrub Rose, Loveland Rose Society, USA, 2001

Triploid rose of the following origin: ‘Yesterday’ × ‘Nastarana’.

The parentage of the seed parent are following roses: 'Ballerina' by Bentall, 1937 (Musk Hybrid, diploid rose with pink flowers), a descendant of the Polyantha Climbing roses 'Phyllis Bide' by S. Bide & Sons, Ltd., 1923 (diploid rose with yellow-white flowers) which is also a descendant of rose variety 'Perle d'Or' by Joseph Rambaux, 1875 (Polyantha, diploid rose with yellow-white flowers) and 'Gloire de Dijon' by Henri Jacotot, 1850 (Tea Climber, tetraploid rose with orange-pink flowers) and Floribunda 'Shepherd's Delight' by Alexander Dickson III, 1956 with red flowers, whose parents are hybrid tea 'Joanna Hill' by Joseph H. Hill, 1928, light yellow flowers and a seedling from Floribunda rose 'Masquerade' Eugene S. "Gene" Boerner, 1949 which has red-yellow flowers.

The parents of the pollen parent rose are Rosa chinensis Jacq. and Rosa moschata Herrm.

USDA 6