Indigoletta

Where to plant. Tall arches, pergolas, south and east walls of houses, themed 'blue' beds with delphiniums and lavender; excellent paired with white climbers (Iceberg climbing) for dramatic white-and-purple contrast; partial shade keeps the characteristic blue tint.

Climate. Down to −20 °C. In Ukraine, moderate winter protection in northern regions; in the south, no protection needed.

Care. Pruning of climbers is minimal; it is important to train the main canes horizontally for abundant flowering; seasonal black spot prevention.

Name. 'Indigoletta' comes from 'Indigo' (indigo, a blue-violet colour) plus the diminutive suffix '-letta', meaning 'little indigo' or 'delicate indigo'. The name emphasises the variety's characteristic blue-violet palette. This is a trade name that caught on commercially; the official registered name is 'Azubis'.

Breeding. Bred by G.L.M. Van de Laak in Limburg, Netherlands. Bred 1981, commercially introduced 1985. Patent codes: Belgium 305, Germany ROS 297, Netherlands 5325. IMPORTANT: Indigoletta is a sport mutation of 'Mainzer Fastnacht' (Tantau 1964, the famous 'blue' Hybrid Tea). A sport mutation means a cane on a Mainzer Fastnacht bush appeared with changes in colour and habit. Van de Laak isolated this cane and propagated it as a new climbing variety. This is the second 'blue' line alongside Mainzer Fastnacht (HT) and Indigoletta (climber).

Significance. One of the few 'blue' climbing roses in the world. 'Blue' varieties are usually Hybrid Teas (Blue Moon, Blue Nile, Mainzer Fastnacht), while climbing forms are extremely rare. Indigoletta fills that niche. Sold in different countries as Azubis (official), Morvana, Blue Lady and Blue Queen, which are commercial marketing names. In popular culture it is a collectors' variety for lovers of 'blue' roses and vertical designs. In our catalogue it belongs to the thematic group of 'blue' varieties, alongside Blue Moon (Tantau 1964), Blue Nile (Delbard 1981), Ebb Tide (Carruth 2004) and Big Purple (Stephens NZ 1985).