Kinda Blue
By Paul Smith, pemdasgarden.com
Some roses you grow for the neighbors. Kinda Blue you grow for yourself.
A Kordes introduction, Kinda Blue is a violet-lavender shrub rose prized for holding its cool purple tones as summer heat arrives — something many so-called blue roses fail to do.
And here's the thing about purple roses: most of them lie. They promise violet and deliver magenta the moment summer heat arrives.
Not this one.
In this guide: what makes Kinda Blue stand out, how it holds its color in heat, and how to grow it well.
The Princess of Saigon
Violet-lavender · True to color · The honest purple
Kinda Blue — our Thạch Lam — is a bushy shrub rose reaching 100–150 cm at maturity, with a naturally elegant, upright habit that needs little shaping to look intentional.
The 7–10 cm blooms open in that elusive shade every purple-rose lover chases: a shimmering, understated violet-blue, serene and unassuming. Not pink pretending to be purple. Not magenta in a lavender costume. Actually purple.
And she holds it. Spanning continents from temperate zones to tropical heat, each Thạch Lam bloom maintains a steadfast petal structure — like a pledge of eternal fidelity in violet hues.
What truly captivates us is her unique shade of violet amidst the realm of purples and lavenders. Despite the challenges of hot southern climates, where deep-colored roses usually reign, Thạch Lam proudly displays her shimmering violet-blue — serene, unassuming, unmistakable.
This is for you if… you've been burned by "purple" roses that turned pink by July. This one keeps her promise.
A Note on Photographing Her
Fair warning: Kinda Blue is famously camera-shy. Purple roses — and this one in particular — photograph differently under different light. Shots taken at night, with or without flash, can shift her color in ways that don't match what your eyes see in the garden.
Don't trust the photos. Trust the bloom in front of you at golden hour — that's the real Thạch Lam.
Growing Kinda Blue from Seed
A gentle heads-up before you sow: rose seedlings are genetically unique individuals. Seeds from Kinda Blue will grow into vigorous violet-lavender shrub roses in her family — but no seed-grown plant is an exact clone of the named parent. Each seedling is its own little surprise.
The Cold Treatment
Like all roses, her seeds need winter before spring. Mix seeds with damp vermiculite, refrigerate 6–8 weeks, then sow ¼ inch deep in spring at 65–70°F. Germination takes 3–6 weeks — don't give up on them.
Where She Thrives
Full sun — 6+ hours — with rich, well-drained soil. Space plants 60–90 cm apart for airflow. She reblooms in flushes every 3–4 weeks through the growing season, so deadhead spent blooms to keep the violet coming.
Feeding and Care
Roses are hungry. Feed in spring and after each flush with a balanced rose fertilizer. Mulch 2–3 inches deep. Water deeply at the roots — wet leaves invite blackspot, and nobody wants that on these perfect petals.
Bloom timing shifts with your climate — sow dates and flush schedules shift with your USDA zone, so adjust by a few weeks for your region.
The Symphony of Scent
Together, let's imagine planting a Kinda Blue stem and reveling in the symphony of scents she echoes. There's no room here for overpowering fragrances or bold French perfumes.
With Thạch Lam, it's all about the delicate essence — Mediterranean lavender on the breeze, a deep breath, perhaps subtle herbal notes with a hint of sea salt, culminating in the rich, intertwined aroma of black tea drawn from a deep violet-blue stream.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. That's her.
Where to Plant Your Violet Princess
Kinda Blue's cool violet tones are a designer's secret weapon. Pair her with the warm apricot glow of Effie for a sunset garden, or let her lead a purple collection alongside the smoky beauties in our Junko Kawamoto purple rose guide.
She's also a natural companion to the fragrant stars of our Fragrance Is the Heart of the Rose collection — imagine violet blooms backed by the honey-jasmine perfume of Ebb Tide. Evening garden, glass of something cold, done.
Cut a few stems for the vase, too — the 7–10-day blooms hold beautifully, and that violet-blue is a color florists charge a fortune for.
Kinda Blue FAQ
Why is she also called Tiny Blue?
Tiny Blue was one of her original names from the Kordes breeding program in Germany, where she was developed before her 2015 introduction in Japan. Same rose, same violet soul.
Does Kinda Blue really keep her purple color in heat?
That's her signature trait — unlike many purple roses that fade or shift pink in hot weather, Kinda Blue holds her true violet-lavender tone across climates, from temperate zones to tropical heat.
How often does she bloom?
In repeat flushes roughly every 3–4 weeks through the growing season, with each bloom lasting 7–10 days.
Will seeds grow the exact Kinda Blue?
Seed-grown roses are genetically unique, so your plants will be violet-lavender shrubs in Kinda Blue's family — each one its own individual. That's the adventure of growing roses from seed.
Why do photos of Kinda Blue look different?
Violet pigments are tricky for cameras — night shots and flash can shift her apparent color. See her in daylight for the true violet-blue.
Wrapping Things up!
Elegant form. Delicate fragrance. A violet that doesn't lie.
Thạch Lam — our Kinda Blue — is the rose for gardeners who've waited for a purple that keeps its promise, from the first cool bloom of spring to the last flush of fall.
Ready to grow your own violet princess? Find Kinda Blue rose seeds here — and give her the sunny spot she deserves.
And as always, if you ever need help choosing, planning, or growing… we're here!
Free planning tools: put this guide to work with the When to Prune and Planting Calendar on our Gardening Tools hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kinda Blue really stay purple in heat?
It holds its violet-lavender tones better than most so-called blue roses, which often fade to gray-pink in hot sun. Some softening in extreme heat is normal.
Is Kinda Blue fragrant?
Yes — it has a pleasant, moderate fragrance, stronger in cool morning air.
How big does it get?
A compact to medium shrub, typically around 3 feet, which makes it versatile for borders and large pots.
What growing conditions does it prefer?
Full sun for the best color, fertile well-drained soil, and good air circulation like all roses.