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Wild Blue Yonder (Rosa 'Wild Blue Yonder'), whole plant
  • Wild Blue Yonder — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Wild Blue Yonder — seasonal appearance
  • Wild Blue Yonder in a garden setting

Wild Blue Yonder

Rosa 'Wild Blue Yonder'

Medium · Some experience

About Wild Blue Yonder

Wild Blue Yonder is a unique mauve-lavender grandiflora rose with wine-red edges, producing 4-inch ruffled blooms with strong citrusy-sweet fragrance on 4 to 5 foot stems. A 2006 AARS winner bred by Tom Carruth, it is one of the most popular modern lavender roses in American gardens, beloved for its distinctive coloring and powerful scent.

  • Fragrant
  • Disease-resistant
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Wild Blue Yonder

Watering

  • Springevery 5 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 7 days
  • Winterevery 14 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
Get watering reminders for Wild Blue Yonder — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeNorth America
  • Height4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorPurple
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

Strong citrus and fruit scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight

Unknown toxic principle

Slight

  • Stem
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching stems.

EFFECT Pricks from thorns.

NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Wild Blue Yonder · Native
  • Native
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Wild Blue Yonder

Rosa 'Wild Blue Yonder' is a deeply pigmented lavender-purple grandiflora rose bred by American hybridizer Tom Carruth at Weeks Roses, released in 2004 from a cross involving 'International Herald Tribune' and 'Stephens' Big Purple'. The ruffled semi-double blooms open in rich shades of violet, magenta, and true purple that intensify in cooler weather, approaching the elusive blue rose many hybridizers have pursued. A strong citrus and fruit fragrance adds to the appeal.

'Wild Blue Yonder' won the All-America Rose Selections award in 2006 (the last AARS class ever chosen before the programme ended) and the American Rose Society's James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal in 2013. Tall upright disease-resistant plants produce continuous bloom, and the cultivar has parented subsequent deep-purple introductions. Named after the US Air Force song, evoking the mauve-blue tones of its petals reminiscent of sky and horizon.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Rosa Wild Blue Yonder expresses adventurous spirit, its name lifted directly from the Air Force song and its color reaching for the sky tones that roses traditionally cannot quite manage. Its rare blue-lavender hue carries those sky tones into the garden with hints of magenta and silver. It is often read as a flower of attempted altitude, a grandiflora whose meaning is the cheerful optimism of trying for a color that perhaps does not yet fully exist, and getting close enough to sing about it.

  • Adventurous spirit — Air Force song reference
  • Sky tones — rare blue-lavender rose color

Where the Name Comes From

Named 'Wild Blue Yonder' after the lyrics of the US Air Force song, referencing sky-blue tones in the lavender petals.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Strong citrusy-sweet fragrance from mauve grandiflora blooms
  • Wine-edged ruffled flowers on long stems for bouquets
  • Unusual lavender color anchors mixed borders

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Wild Blue Yonder?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Wild Blue Yonder need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Wild Blue Yonder toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Wild Blue Yonder easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Wild Blue Yonder bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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