PlantFiles: Floribunda Rose
Rosa 'Ebb Tide'

I have to agree with scutler. But I do find the heavy clove aroma intoxicating.

My plant had only been in the ground for a few months before blooming. These are my initial impressions. Perhaps in subsequent years as my plant matures my impressions of this rose may be altogether different.

On the one hand I found the color to be truly unique. While the buds were a deceptive, bright, cool red (suggestive of American Beauty), the flowers opened to a very dark, smokey, purple - yes, mine were really very purple, not red.

On the other hand, I found the blooms somewhat disappointing. The color was, as someone else here commented, somewhat "flat"; it was not the dk, rich, velvety purple I had expected. In addition, the blooms were smaller than I had expected (approx 3-3.5"D) - but I realize that they may be larger in subsequent years as the plant gets established. The blooms had fewer petals than I prefer, such that the center was clearly visible when fully open - much like old roses. Moreover, the individual blooms did not last more than a day or two as they quickly opened to reveal their centers and then dropped their petals altogether.

I hesitate to say this but in some ways this rose reminds me of Dr Huey (the root stock rose). I DON'T mean that it looks like Dr Huey! It reminds me of Dr Huey in the sense that people are often intrigued by the dark red blooms of Dr Huey when they 1st encounter them but soon realize that the small, dark blooms with the "flat" color leave something to be desired in the long run.

Again, these are only my initial impressions which may be sugject to change in subsequent seasons.