Hybrid TeaDelbard, 1981Lilac and purple

Blue Nile

French original Nil Bleu; Médaille d'Or Bagatelle 1981 – one of the best lavender-purple Hybrid Teas for cutting.

'blue' series by Delbard · for cutting

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat-flowering

Awards

Médaille d'Or Bagatelle 1981 · Paris

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 6b–9b. All of Ukraine · north — with light protection.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

100–130 × 70–80 cm

Habit: Tall, upright, spreading
Dimensions: 100–130 cm tall × 70–80 cm wide
Support: No support needed – the bush is self-supporting (support is only needed for climbing varieties)
Shoots: Strong, long – ideal for cutting
Branching: Well branched

Flower

≈ 10 cm

25–30 petals.

Bud shape: Long, elegant, lavender-purple
Open flower: Classic high-cone HT form; diameter about 10 cm
Centre: Dense, no visible stamens
Fullness: Double; the patent describes 25–30 petals plus 0–5 petaloids (petal-like structures)
Flower carriage: The patent describes occasional single flowers, but usually small clusters of 2–4

Fragrance

Strong

Strong – citrus, fruit and tea notes (a signature feature of the Delbard series).

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Powdery mildewmoderate

Good against powdery mildew, moderate against black spot.

Sun

Full sun

Tolerates warmth well, but the colour fades slightly in heat.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Standard for HT.

Foliage

Dark green, leathery, semi-glossy.

Other names

Breeder's code DELnible.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Tea
Breeder: Delbard, 1981
Bud shape: Long, elegant, lavender-purple
Open flower: Classic high-cone HT form; diameter about 10 cm
Centre: Dense, no visible stamens
Colour: Deep lavender with purple and a blue sheen; darker and richer than Blue Moon
Fullness: Double; the patent describes 25–30 petals plus 0–5 petaloids (petal-like structures)
Flower carriage: The patent describes occasional single flowers, but usually small clusters of 2–4
Flowering: Repeat-flowering
Fragrance: Strong – citrus, fruit and tea notes (a signature feature of the Delbard series)
Hips: Rare
Habit: Tall, upright, spreading
Branching: Well branched
Shoots: Strong, long – ideal for cutting
Thorns: Standard for HT.
Dimensions: 100–130 cm tall × 70–80 cm wide
Support: No support needed – the bush is self-supporting (support is only needed for climbing varieties)
Foliage: Dark green, leathery, semi-glossy
Resistance: Good against powdery mildew, moderate against black spot
Variations of the variety: No separate sports have been recorded

Colour scheme

Deep lavender with purple and a blue sheen; darker and richer than Blue Moon

Rose neighbours

Paradiselilac · raspberry

Indigolettalilac-violet

Blue Moonlavender-silver

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Perovskiablue-violet

Catmint (Nepeta)blue

Lamb's earsilvery

Salvia 'Mainacht'violet

Neighbouring roses

A lavender-purple palette holds a rich mood around Blue Nile.

Paradise Indigoletta Blue Moon Iceberg

Perennial companions

The blue haze of Perovskia and silver foliage bring out the depth of the purple tone:

perovskiacatmint (Nepeta)lamb's earsalvia 'Mainacht'

Contrasting accents

For a play of warm and cool tones — terracotta and spotted orange accents:

Achillea TerracottaHemerocallis Frans HalsVerbena bonariensis

More about the variety

Hips: Rare
Variations of the variety: No separate sports have been recorded

How to grow

Where to plant. A rose garden, cutting beds, beside a fence or wall (as a vertical accent), containers.

Climate. Ideal for central and southern Ukraine; in the north, with moderate winter protection.

Care. Moderate pruning in spring; feeding during bud formation; removing spent flowers for a repeat flush.

About the name

Name. Nil Bleu (French for 'Blue Nile') – a reference to the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the River Nile, which rises in the Ethiopian highlands. Chosen for its deep 'river blue' shade.

Breeding. Bred by André Delbard-Chabert (Delbard, France), introduced in France in 1977 and in the USA in 1981. Parentage: [(Holstein × Bayadère) × Prélude] × Saint-Exupéry. Patent code DELnible (US PP 4,671 of 17.03.1981).

Significance. It reflects the breeder's dream of 'blue water' amid a sea of roses. Médaille d'Or Bagatelle 1981 (Paris) – one of the best lavender-purple HTs for cutting. Darker and richer than Blue Moon.

Frequently asked questions about Blue Nile

Does Blue Nile need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6b–9b). Overwintering depends on the conditions.

How many times a season does Blue Nile flower?

Repeat-flowering.

How big does Blue Nile grow?

100–130 cm tall, 70–80 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Blue Nile?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Above average resistance to the main diseases; good against powdery mildew.

How much sun does Blue Nile need?

Sun; full sun; tolerates warmth well, but the colour fades slightly in heat.

What does Blue Nile smell like?