If you have been searching for a rose with genuinely blue-toned blooms rather than the pale lavender often sold as "blue," the Blue Moon Stone Rose is worth a close look. It is a Japanese shrub rose bred in 2018 by Kawamoto Junko, the third-generation head of Kawamoto Rose Garden. Before you order one, here is what the nursery data actually tells us about its color, fragrance, growth, and the care it needs.
What Is the Blue Moon Stone Rose?
The Blue Moon Stone Rose (English name Blue Moon Stone) is a repeat-flowering shrub rose, not a climbing or tree-form plant. It was bred in Japan in 2018 by Kawamoto Junko. Its defining trait is a blue-purple gradient in the petals: when the flower first opens, the center reads blue-purple while the outer petals carry a pinkish-white cast with a greenish tinge, and the color gradually softens as the bloom ages.
Because it is a shrub rose, it suits borders and containers rather than arches or walls. If you came looking for a standard "tree" rose or a climber, this is not that plant, so set expectations accordingly before purchase.
Quick Facts at a Glance
- Type: Shrub (bush) garden rose
- Breeder / origin: Kawamoto Junko, Japan, 2018
- Bloom color: Blue-purple gradient; center blue-purple, outer petals pinkish-white with green tinge, fading over time
- Flower size: About 6–8 cm across
- Petal count: 75+ petals, shallow cup form
- Fragrance: Strong; old-rose blended with fresh lemon
- Mature size: Upright shrub, roughly 120–130 cm tall with a spread near 90 cm
- Blooming: Repeat flowering through the season; several blooms per stem
- Hardiness: Listed for USDA zones 5–9 in the product description
What the Blooms and Fragrance Are Like
The flowers are densely petaled at 75 or more petals per bloom, forming a shallow cup shape roughly 6–8 cm across. The color story is the main draw: a blue-purple center that shifts to pinkish-white outer petals with a greenish cast at first opening, then fades lighter as the bloom matures.
Fragrance is a strong point. The scent is described as old-rose blended with a fresh lemon note, and it carries well, so a cut stem can perfume a room. That makes it a reasonable candidate for bouquets if you want color and scent together.
Growth Habit and Where It Fits
This is an upright shrub reaching roughly 120–130 cm in height with a spread of about 90 cm. It branches well and carries relatively few thorns, which makes handling and cutting easier than many roses. The branching habit supports several blooms per stem, and it repeats through the season.
Given its upright, branching form and moderate size, it works in a mixed border or in a container large enough to support a shrub of this scale. It is not a compact patio miniature, so plan for its full spread.
How to Grow Blue Moon Stone Rose
The care guidance below combines the supplied product notes with standard rose-growing practice. Treat the cultivar-specific details as the reliable part; adjust the general advice to your own climate.
Light and Location
Give it full sun with good airflow. The product notes stress that it does not tolerate shade well, so a balcony or garden spot needs reliable direct light through the day. Good ventilation matters because damp, still air raises disease pressure.
Soil and Watering
Use a loose, well-drained soil; the notes specifically call for good aeration, so a quality potting mix is recommended for containers. Water deeply and regularly while avoiding wet foliage, which is standard practice for roses and helps limit foliar disease.
Managing Heat and Rain
Heat tolerance is rated mid-to-upper, so the plant can get through summer, but hot weather tends to fade the color and loosen the flower form, making summer blooms less showy. In rainy regions, the notes flag a moderate-to-good disease resistance overall but caution that damp conditions can bring black spot, so monitoring and good airflow are the sensible first line of defense.
Is It a True Blue Rose?
No rose is truly blue in the way a delphinium is, and the Blue Moon Stone Rose is no exception. Its petals carry a blue-purple tone rather than a pure blue, and that tone shifts with bloom age and conditions. Appearance may vary with temperature, light, and how mature the flower is, so expect a range from blue-purple to softer lavender-pink rather than a single fixed color.
If you are comparing "blue" roses, treat color claims with care and look at how each variety behaves as blooms age and in summer heat, since most blue-toned roses fade in warm weather.
Who Should Grow It (and Who Should Pass)
Based on the supplied notes, buyers report it is worth growing for its distinctive, airy color, refined fragrance, generous repeat blooming, and disease resistance that is comparatively good within the Kawamoto line.
On the other side, several cautions appear consistently: growth is slow, summer heat fades the color toward pink-purple, rainy seasons can invite black spot, and some growers find it harder to shape or see bud drop under stress. If you are in a hot, humid region, plan for shade during the worst heat and preventive attention to airflow before the wet season arrives.
Beginners may prefer to start with a smaller plant to learn its habits at lower cost rather than investing in a large specimen immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Blue Moon Stone Rose a true blue rose?
No. Its blooms are blue-purple rather than pure blue, and the tone fades and shifts as the flower ages and in summer heat. No rose produces a true blue pigment.
How big does the Blue Moon Stone Rose get?
It is an upright shrub reaching roughly 120–130 cm tall with a spread near 90 cm, according to the product notes.
Does the Blue Moon Stone Rose have a strong fragrance?
Yes. The scent is described as strong, blending old-rose with a fresh lemon note, and it carries well indoors.
Is the Blue Moon Stone Rose a repeat bloomer?
Yes, it repeats through the season with a generous flower count, producing several blooms per stem and reblooming fairly quickly.
Is the Blue Moon Stone Rose disease resistant?
Resistance is rated moderate-to-good, with some tolerance for black spot and powdery mildew, but damp conditions still call for monitoring and good airflow.
Does the Blue Moon Stone Rose tolerate heat?
Heat tolerance is mid-to-upper, so it can survive summer, but high heat tends to fade the color and make blooms less true to form.
Where to Find It
If the Blue Moon Stone Rose fits your garden, you can explore the Blue Moon Stone Rose listing to check current availability and details. Cultivar details in this article are based on supplied product data and nursery reference materials.
