‘Honey Blue’는 2006년도에 경기도농업기술원에서 종자친 ‘Pacific Blue’과 화분친 ‘Lovely Blue’ 교배조합으로 인공교배를 통하여 육성된 절화용 장미 신품종이다. 5년 동안 특성검정을 하여 절화특성이 우수한 계통을 2012년도에 최종 선발하여 ‘Honey Blue’으로 명명하였다. 종자친으로 사용한 ‘Pacific Blue’는 향기가 중간 정도이며 주요성분은 germacrene-D과 3,5-dimethoxytoluene이다. 화분친으로 사용한 ‘Lovely Blue’는 향기가 강하며 주요성분은 germacrene-D, geraniol 및 cadinene이다. ‘Honey Blue’의 주요 향기성분은 germacrene-D, citronellol and 3,5-Dimethoxytoluene으로 향기가 강하다. ‘Honey Blue’은 대형 스탠다드 장미로 화색은 보라색(RHS Violet 84C)이며 화폭 9.7 cm, 꽃잎수 50.2매, 절화수명 9.1일이다. 개화소요일수는 49일이며 년간 절화수량은 134본/m2이고 절화장은 75.8 cm이다(품종출원등록번호: 제4866호).
A standard cultivar of R. hybrida ‘Honey Blue’ was selected from the progenies of a cross between R. hybrida ‘Pacific Blue’ and R. hybrida ‘Lovely Blue’ by rose breeding team of the Gyeonggi-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Services (GARES) in 2012. It was finally selected in 2012 after investigation of the characteristics for five years (2008-2012). A standard type rose cultivar ‘Pacific Blue’was used as mother plant and it has medium scented petals. The major volatile compounds were found as germacrene-D and 3,5-Dimethoxytoluene. A spray type rose cultivar ‘Lovely Blue’was used as pollen parent and it has strong scented petals. The major volatile compounds were found as germacrene-D, geraniol and cadinene. ‘Honey Blue’has strong scented petals. The major volatile compounds were found as germacrene-D, citronellol and 3,5-dimethoxytoluene. A standard type with large sized flower, it has violet colored (RHS Violet 84C) petals and 9.7 cm in flower diameter and 50.2 petals per flower. Vase life of this cultivar could be as long as 9.1 days. It takes 49 days from pruning to blooming and cut flower productivity was 134 stems/m2 in a year. The stem length of cut flower was 75.8 cm. ‘Honey Blue’was granted on Korea Seed & Variety Service (KSVS) with No. 4866 on March 17, 2014.