Deep, full crimson-purple, tending towards a slightly bluish tone in sunlight. Darker and velvety in shade. - bedding floribunda rose - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - slightly sweet character
– Deep, velvety crimson‑purple cluster blooms
– Very strongly scented, garden‑filling fragrance
– Compact, bushy habit with dense dark foliage
– Good tolerance of heat and drier periods
– Ideal for beds, borders, containers, cut Special feature: Award‑winning scent from Saverne and Madrid
MINERVA™ – deep purple bedding floribunda rose - Vissers
If You dream of a rose that looks luxury yet behaves sensibly in an Irish family garden, MINERVA™ is an easy-going floribunda that brings colour, scent and structure without demanding constant attention. Its bushy, compact habit fits neatly into beds and front gardens, while the medium maintenance level means You can keep it tidy with simple deadheading and seasonal feeding, even where humidity and rain increase fungal pressure. From its vivid, velvety crimson-purple buds to the softer lavender-lilac tones as the blooms age, it delivers continuous interest all season on clusters of very double, medium-sized flowers. The perfume is remarkably powerful, garden-filling and slightly sweet, ideal where You want fragrance near a path, patio or entrance. Grown on its own roots in a 2‑litre pot, this premium gold-rated variety offers long-term stability and the ability to regenerate if cut back hard, giving You a rose to enjoy for years as it moves from strong rooting in year one, to bushing out in year two, and full ornamental value by year three.
Minerva™ features dense, dark green foliage with a subtle sheen in the light.
Use cases
Target area
Reason
Front garden focal bed
The compact, bushy habit and dense dark green foliage make MINERVA™ ideal for a neat, low front bed that looks cared-for without fussy clipping; medium maintenance mainly means occasional deadheading and a simple spring feed – perfect for the busy beginner
Small groups in mixed borders
Planting 3–5 plants at the recommended spacing creates a rounded, cohesive block of colour that weaves easily into cottage-style borders, pairing well with perennials and shrubs while the own-root structure ensures long-lived, stable bushes that suit the practical homeowner
Patio container or large tub
In a minimum 40–50 litre container, this bushy floribunda flowers generously on medium-length stems without outgrowing small patios or balconies, and with regular watering it copes well with warm, sheltered hardstandings, making it reliable for the urban gardener
Cutting corner for scented stems
The cluster-flowered stems carry very double, medium-sized blooms with a garden-filling, sweet fragrance, so a small cutting patch lets You bring strongly scented purple flowers indoors without sacrificing the overall show in the bed, which appeals to the home decorator
Partially shaded side garden
Suitable for partial shade, MINERVA™ keeps its rich, deep crimson-purple tones and can even develop a velvety effect in lower light, making it a good option for side gardens that miss full midday sun yet still need reliable flowering for the shaded-plot owner
Heat-prone, paved or south-facing spot
Good heat tolerance allows this rose to thrive alongside paving or walls where reflected warmth may trouble more delicate varieties; with thorough watering during prolonged dry spells it remains floriferous and healthy, reassuring the holidaying family
Coastal or exposed suburban border
Well-rooted own-root plants anchor themselves firmly and form balanced bushes that cope better over time with breezier, more exposed suburban or coastal gardens where wind and moisture test less robust roses, a sound choice for the sea-breeze gardener
Long-term low-hedge line or edging
Planted at 50 cm as a low hedge, MINERVA™ creates a structured, repeat-flowering edging with dark foliage and waves of purple blooms; the remontant habit and moderate self-cleaning keep it decorative for many seasons with simple routine care, suiting the time-conscious owner
Decorating ideas
Romantic cottage ribbon – Line a front path with a low hedge of MINERVA™ edged by lavender and soft catmint for a fragrant cottage feel – ideal for lovers of informal, romantic entrances
Purple and gold contrast – Combine with Potentilla fruticosa and Cornus alba ‘Spaethii’ to set the deep purple blooms against warm yellows and variegated foliage – perfect for gardeners who enjoy bold, reliable colour blocks
Evening scent corner – Place a group of roses near a seating area with white hydrangeas and soft grasses so the strong perfume and rich colour stand out at dusk – suited to those who relax outdoors after work
Compact urban container – Grow one plant in a 50 litre pot with trailing thyme and ornamental oregano to soften the rim and create a low-effort, long-lived balcony feature – great for city dwellers with limited space
Structured seasonal bed – Use MINERVA™ in a small square bed framed by box balls, underplant with spring bulbs and summer annuals to enjoy layered interest around a stable rose core – appealing to planners of neat, all-season displays
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Floribunda bed rose registered as VISancar, marketed as Minerva™ Bedding rose VISancar; American Rose Society exhibition name Minerva®; part of the bedding rose collection for garden and exhibition use.
Origin and breeding
Bred in Belgium by Martin Vissers from ‘Sharon’s Love’ × ‘Marie -Louise Velge’; breeding and registration date 2004, commercial introduction in 2010 via Viva International BVBA, distributed across European garden markets.
Awards and recognitions
Highly regarded for fragrance, with a scent award at Saverne rose trials in 2008 and the “Pere Dot” scent award in Madrid in 2011, confirming its strong, appealing perfume in international competitions.
Growth and structure
Bushy, medium-height shrub reaching about 75–105 cm tall and 65–95 cm wide; moderately thorny shoots with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage, forming a well-filled, compact plant suited to beds and borders.
Flower morphology
Cluster-flowered floribunda with very double, cup-shaped blooms bearing over 40 petals; medium-sized flowers approximately 1.5–2.75 inches across, remontant with abundant repeat flushes and a particularly generous second flowering wave.
Colour and phenology
Deep crimson-purple flowers that open vivid violet-purple with a bluish edge; buds are glossy dark purple; blooms gradually fade through lavender-lilac with a slight silvery tinge, sometimes showing a bluish cast in strong sunlight.
Fragrance and aroma
Very strongly scented floribunda with a garden-filling, slightly sweet fragrance character; the intense perfume is noticeable at a distance in still air, making it suitable for sensory plantings near paths, seating areas or entrances.
Rose hip characteristics
Occasionally forms small, spherical red hips 8–12 mm in diameter; hips are not the main ornamental feature but can provide discrete late-season interest and may attract some wildlife when left untrimmed.
Resistance and hardiness
Hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); disease resistance medium for black spot, powdery mildew and rust, benefitting from basic preventative care in wetter seasons; good heat tolerance with watering in drought.
Horticultural recommendations
Suited to beds, borders, containers and cutting; for mass planting space 55 cm, hedging 50 cm, solitary about 90 cm; plant 3.2–3.7 plants/m² depending on pattern; medium maintenance with deadheading and occasional plant protection where needed.
MINERVA™ offers rich purple colour, strong fragrance and compact, bed-friendly growth in an own-root form that stays long-lived and stable in Irish gardens, making it a reassuring choice if You prefer planting once and enjoying for years.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
MINERVA™ – deep purple bedding floribunda rose - Vissers
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Full Bloom:
Uniform crimson purple, becoming slightly lighter towards the centre.
Pre-Fading Flower:
Fading lavender-lilac with a slight silvery tinge.
Colour Fading Description:
As the bloom opens, the vivid crimson‑purple gradually fades to lavender‑lilac, and in strong sunlight a bluish tone may become more pronounced.
Pollinator Attraction:
Very double (40+ petals) flowers attract pollinators only to a limited extent, because the very double flower form and reduced stamen accessibility impede pollinator access.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating:
Double-flowered, with over 40 petals, primarily ornamental; pollinator-friendliness limited.
Our product is a rose grown with unique pharmaROSA® cultivation technology!
2 litre, own-root, potted rose.
With shoots appropriate to the season.
With roots thoroughly interwoven through the growing medium.
Quality in line with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
In unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-type rose plant with an individual 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.
Stock: several varieties and several stages of development in a short stock section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: presentation of the strong root system interwoven through the growing medium with the pot removed.Balance: mature plant where the development of the root system and the shoots is in harmony.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”, but makes the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root production tangible: how the plant is built, what the root system is like and how the shoots renew themselves. The footage was therefore taken at different times, showing plants at different stages of development, so mixed leaf coverage or differing growth stages may appear in the videos. This is not a “sample” of the batch delivered, but an illustration of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical of the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown at the top 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.
