Rose Collectors’ Programme – preserving rare cultivars (PharmaRosa®)

In alliance with collectors: experience made visible by name, across Europe

Rose collectors are those who not only know the cultivars, but observe them in the garden for years: flowering, fragrance, growth habit, tolerance and maintenance needs. This multi‑year, practical knowledge is irreplaceable. The essence of the programme is to present this experience in a structured, named form on the rose data sheets, with indication of the country – searchable and updatable.

The real value of a cultivar is often decided in practical details. Collectors’ experience adds particular value where buyers and designers are most likely to make mistakes.

• Tolerance: under heat, rainfall and extremes.
• Growth balance: how reliably it develops and regenerates.
• Reliability of flowering: repeat, intensity, timing.
• Maintenance needs: what it requires and what it will not tolerate.
• Usability in the garden: in which situations it “performs at its best”.

When these observations are added to the cultivar data sheets, better decisions are made, there are fewer disappointments, and high‑quality cultivars find their audience more quickly.

• Block title: “Recommendation by rose collector – [Name], [country]”
• Short, essential points: strengths, sensitivities, recommended uses
• Observation period (optional): e.g. 3–10 years
• Updatable content: with experience from new seasons
• Own photos (optional): images taken in your garden

Editing principle: the content is presented within an experiential framework (not as an “absolute truth”) and is always linked to your name.

• Recognition by name: the recommendation appears with your name and country.
• Fairness: observations are communicated as experiential recommendations.
• Approval: you approve the finalised text before publication.
• Long term: the cultivar–name link is an asset we preserve.

Minimum information (per cultivar)

• Name of cultivar
• Observation period (number of years)
• Site (country/region, type of garden)
• 3–6 short statements: strengths, sensitivities, recommended uses
• Optional: 1–3 good quality photos (flower + growth habit)

Recommended format (example)

• Strengths (3 points): e.g. reliability of flowering, tolerance, growth habit
• Sensitivities (1–2 points): e.g. shade, wet summers, soil
• Recommended use: e.g. border, pergola, public planting, pollinator‑friendly bed