Rich, velvety deep violet with a delicate slate-grey shading. - historic, portland rose - strongly scented, far-carrying rose - scent description not available
– Rich, velvety violet historic blooms
– Compact upright shrub for beds and borders
– Strong, far‑carrying classic rose fragrance
– Excellent disease resistance, low‑maintenance habit
– Very hardy, reliable in cold winter climates
– Special feature: Colour deepens in cool weather, giving an unusually dusky violet display.
Expert background – Shapes and contours
eleanorROSE® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
19,00 £
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INDIGO – violet historic Portland rose - Laffay
Step into a London front garden after rain and let INDIGO surround you with a sense of balance, its rich violet blooms glowing against mid‑green foliage and strong, far‑carrying fragrance. This historic Portland shrub settles comfortably into small family plots and rain‑aware city borders, coping reliably even where wind and showers meet heavy soils by the pavement. In the first year it quietly builds roots, in the second it pushes confident shoots, and by the third it fills its space with full ornamental character. Low‑maintenance by nature, it needs only simple seasonal care to keep delivering remontant flowering from an own‑root frame designed for long life and steady regrowth.
Closed bud of Indigo with dark violet outer petals.
Closed bud of Indigo, a historic violet Portland rose by Laffay.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Compact London front garden
The upright, 100–150 cm habit fits narrow terraced-house plots, giving vertical colour without overwhelming the frontage. Historic character and scented blooms frame the doorway with minimal pruning needs, suiting the busy city homeowner seeking ease.
Low-maintenance family rose bed
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust means fewer sprays and less worry in changeable UK summers. With basic feeding and deadheading, INDIGO flowers steadily, remaining structurally sound on its own roots for years, ideal for relaxed gardeners valuing reliability.
Rainwater‑friendly urban border
Well suited to slightly heavier front‑garden soils near pavements, it tolerates regular rainfall and typical street‑side exposure when planted with added drainage grit and mulch. It integrates neatly with permeable, sustainable hard landscaping for urban households prioritising resilience.
Historic feature shrub in mixed planting
The velvety violet‑slate flowers read beautifully against grasses and airy perennials, offering period charm without fussy training. Own‑root growth fills out steadily, giving long‑term structure for small city borders where every plant must earn its place for longevity.
Fragrant seating‑area focal point
Strong, far‑carrying scent and repeat flowering make INDIGO ideal beside a bench or patio. Clustered, mid‑sized blooms offer consistent summer presence; simple annual pruning keeps it in bounds, appealing to those who want atmosphere more than intricate gardening.
Partial‑shade side passage or alley
Suitable for partial shade, it still flowers and scents reliably along side returns or between houses, where sun is limited but space is tight. The upright frame guides the eye along paths, suiting homeowners looking to soften awkward passages with character.
Large container on balcony or paved area
In a 40–50 litre pot with quality peat‑free compost and steady watering, INDIGO offers heritage charm where soil is scarce. Its manageable height and strong framework suit balconies, roof terraces and paved courtyards for urban dwellers needing flexible containers.
Informal flowering hedge or boundary
Planted at 90–100 cm centres, it forms a loosely upright, scented line, giving seasonal privacy and colour. Own‑root toughness supports recovery if stems are damaged by pets, children or weather, ideal for family gardens wanting beauty alongside everyday practicality.
Styling ideas
Victorian doorstep – Underplant INDIGO with soft Scabiosa and low euonymus in a narrow front bed for a quietly formal, period look – ideal for heritage‑minded terrace owners.
Rain‑softened ribbon – Thread a line of INDIGO through a permeable gravel strip, interplanted with Stipa tenuissima for movement that copes with wet spells – for urban gardeners managing run‑off stylishly.
Twilight corner – Combine INDIGO with dusky salvias and dark containers near seating so violet blooms and scent linger into the evening – perfect for after‑work relaxation.
Heritage micro‑hedge – Plant a low row along a short front boundary, mixing with clipped euonymus for structure and romantic colour – suited to small plots needing gentle enclosure.
Balcony showpiece – Grow INDIGO in a 50‑litre pot with airy grasses to frame railings and soften brick – aimed at flat‑dwellers wanting classic roses without a ground‑level garden.
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Historic Portland shrub rose from the Heritage rose collection; commercial name INDIGO – violet historic Portland rose - Laffay; unregistered cultivar with American Rose Society exhibition name Indigo.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Jean Laffay in France around 1844–1845, with unknown parentage; introduced by Laffay in 1844 and maintained as a traditional historical rose type without modern patent registration data.
Growth and structural characteristics
Upright shrub reaching 100–150 cm high and 80–120 cm wide, with dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage (RHS 139A) and moderate prickliness; forms a structured, leafy framework over time on its own roots.
Flower morphology
Double, flat, medium‑sized clustered blooms (approximately 1.5–2.75 inches), with 26–39 petals; remontant with a generous second flush, though spent flowers are weakly self‑cleaning and benefit from regular deadheading.
Colour data and phenology
Rich, velvety deep violet blooms (RHS 86A outer, 79A inner) with slate‑grey shading; colour intensifies in cooler weather, softening through lilac‑grey to brownish edges under strong sun as flowers age on the plant.
Fragrance and aroma
Strongly scented rose with far‑carrying perfume typical of historic Portland types; specific fragrance notes are undocumented, but overall effect is powerful enough to mark paths, entrances and seating areas.
Hip characteristics
Hip production is generally low; occasional small spherical hips 10–15 mm may form, coloured orange‑red, adding discreet autumn interest without significantly diverting energy from repeat flowering.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −32 to −29 °C (RHS H7, USDA 4b, Swedish zone 5), suitable for exposed UK sites with normal winter protection in containers.
Horticultural recommendations
Best in moderately fertile, well‑drained soil with sun or light shade; plant 90–100 cm apart for hedges or 1 plant/m² for beds; water in dry spells and deadhead for repeat bloom; ideal as specimen, bed or cut rose.
INDIGO offers a compact, strongly scented historic shrub with reliable disease resistance on a long‑lived own‑root framework, well suited to today’s smaller gardens, and deserves consideration if you value enduring, characterful planting.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
INDIGO – violet historic Portland rose - Laffay
Product Type:
eleanorROSE® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Pollinator Attraction:
The very double flower form and reduced accessibility of the stamens mean it attracts pollinators poorly.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating:
Its double flowers partially cover the stamens, so it attracts pollinators poorly; pollinator-friendliness is limited, primarily an ornamental cultivar.
Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!
2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
