Grandiflora — a NEW CLASS, created specifically for this variety in 1955Dr. Walter E. Lammerts; Germain's Inc., 1954Pink

Queen Elizabeth

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROSES OF THE XX CENTURY; the progenitor of the whole Grandiflora class (the ARS created the class in 1955 specifically for it!); WFRS Hall of Fame 1979 (the first induction) + AARS 1955 + Portland Gold 1954 + ARS Gold 1957 + NRS President's Trophy 1955 + Golden Rose of The Hague 1968 + ARS Best Established Rose 2015; named after Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne in 1952.

WFRS Hall of Fame 1979 (first induction!) · 8 major awards

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

WFRS HoF 1979

First · founder of the Grandiflora class

Winter hardiness

−26 °C

USDA zone 5b–9b. All of Ukraine, no winter protection needed.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

150–305 × 75–90 cm

Habit: Very tall, upright — typical of Grandiflora
Dimensions: 150–305 cm high (5–10 ft) × 75–90 cm wide — very tall; can be used as a hedge, a solo shrub or for cutting
Support: Not needed — self-supporting, despite its height
Shoots: Strong, straight, long — good for cutting and hedges
Branching: Well branched, with strong stems

Flower

9–12 cm

Bud shape: Elongated, pure medium pink
Open flower: The reference Grandiflora-form: high-centred (HT-like), cupped, 9–12 cm, opens slowly
Centre: Densely packed, with a pointed centre
Fullness: 38–40 petals — ideal for the Grandiflora-form
Flower carriage: In clusters of 3–15 — a characteristic of Grandiflora (combining the HT form with Floribunda-clusters)

Fragrance

Moderate; sweet, woody

Moderate sweet scent with woody and fern tones.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Very hardy, 4/5 — revolutionary for its time in 1955; over 70 years of commercial success confirm its reliability. USDA 5b–9b.

Sun

Full sun

Tolerates heat well.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Medium number of thorns — typical of 1950s HTs.

Foliage

Dark green, glossy — healthy, typical of the healthy Lammerts-varieties.

Other names

The Queen Elizabeth Rose

All characteristics in a table

Group: Grandiflora — a NEW CLASS, created specifically for this variety in 1955
Breeder: Dr. Walter E. Lammerts; Germain's Inc., USA, 1954
Bud shape: Elongated, pure medium pink
Open flower: The reference Grandiflora-form: high-centred (HT-like), cupped, 9–12 cm, opens slowly
Centre: Densely packed, with a pointed centre
Colour: Clear medium pink, with a lighter or darker reverse to the petal — the classic 'pink Grandiflora'. Stable in sun
Fullness: 38–40 petals — ideal for the Grandiflora-form
Flower carriage: In clusters of 3–15 — a characteristic of Grandiflora (combining the HT form with Floribunda-clusters)
Flowering: Repeat-flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes
Fragrance: Moderate sweet scent with woody and fern tones
Hips: Noticeable round hips; they ripen well in autumn
Habit: Very tall, upright — typical of Grandiflora
Branching: Well branched, with strong stems
Shoots: Strong, straight, long — good for cutting and hedges
Thorns: Medium number of thorns — typical of 1950s HTs.
Dimensions: 150–305 cm high (5–10 ft) × 75–90 cm wide — very tall; can be used as a hedge, a solo shrub or for cutting
Support: Not needed — self-supporting, despite its height
Foliage: Dark green, glossy — healthy, typical of the healthy Lammerts-varieties
Resistance: Very hardy, 4/5 — revolutionary for its time in 1955; over 70 years of commercial success confirm its reliability. USDA 5b–9b
Variations of the variety: No official code (pre-war era, before the KORxxx system). HMF ID 2.5044. US Plant Patent PP1,259 (23.02.1954). Introduced 1954 in the USA, 1955 in Europe. Parentage: 'Charlotte Armstrong' (HT, Lammerts 1940) × 'Floradora' (Floribunda, Tantau 1944) — the combination of the HT form with Floribunda-clusters gave rise to the Grandiflora class

Colour scheme

Clear medium pink, with a lighter or darker reverse to the petal — the classic 'pink Grandiflora'. Stable in sun

Rose neighbours

Peaceyellow · pink

Papa Meillandvelvety dark

Pierre de Ronsardcream-pink

Molineuxwarm yellow · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Lamb's ears (Stachys)silver

Gypsophilawhite

Catmint (Nepeta)light blue

Neighbouring roses

WFRS Hall of Fame and twentieth-century classics — create a 'golden collection':

Peace Papa Meilland Pierre de Ronsard Molineux

Companion perennials

A classic companion palette for HT and Grandiflora roses:

lavenderlamb's ears (Stachys)gypsophilacatmint (Nepeta)

Availability worldwide

⭐⭐ Global classic No. 2 after Peace:

🇺🇸 USA: very high · original Lammerts🇬🇧 UK: very high · classic🇪🇺 Europe: very high · benchmark Grandiflora🇺🇦 Ukraine: high · all major nurseries

More about the variety

Hips: Noticeable round hips; they ripen well in autumn
Variations of the variety: No official code (pre-war era, before the KORxxx system). HMF ID 2.5044. US Plant Patent PP1,259 (23.02.1954). Introduced 1954 in the USA, 1955 in Europe. Parentage: 'Charlotte Armstrong' (HT, Lammerts 1940) × 'Floradora' (Floribunda, Tantau 1944) — the combination of the HT form with Floribunda-clusters gave rise to the Grandiflora class

How to grow

Where to plant. As a hedge or a tall backdrop for borders, thanks to its height of up to 3 m; a solo accent in classic HT gardens; a 'monument' of the XX century; a reference cutting shrub for classic pink bouquets.

Climate. All of Ukraine without winter protection (USDA 5b–9b, down to −26 °C); tolerates summer heat well. One of the hardiest classic varieties.

Care. Full sun, a well-ventilated spot; moderate disease prevention; feed 3× a season; prune by ⅓ in spring; for cutting — the reference long-stemmed Grandiflora.

About the name

Name. 'Queen Elizabeth' — after Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the British throne in 1952. It was a tribute to the new queen in the United States: Lammerts named the variety before her coronation (June 1953), at a time when the whole world was discussing the young queen. Synonym: 'The Queen Elizabeth Rose'.

Breeding. Bred by Dr Walter E. Lammerts (1904–1996) at Germain's Inc. (USA) — one of the leading American breeders of the mid-XX century. Bred by 1951, introduced in 1954 in the USA and 1955 in Europe. Parentage: 'Charlotte Armstrong' (HT, Lammerts 1940) × 'Floradora' (Floribunda, Tantau 1944). The combination of the HT form with Floribunda-clusters gave rise to a whole class. US Plant Patent PP1,259 (23.02.1954).

Significance. THE PROGENITOR OF THE WHOLE GRANDIFLORA CLASS — the American Rose Society (ARS) specially created the new 'Grandiflora' class in 1955 to classify Queen Elizabeth. She fitted neither HT nor Floribunda, combining features of both. WFRS World's Favourite Rose / Hall of Fame 1979 — THE FIRST INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF FAME (chronologically the first chosen in history; Peace received the Hall of Fame 3 years earlier through a separate 'World's Favourite' process). 8 major international awards: AARS 1955, Portland Gold 1954, NRS President's Trophy 1955, ARS Gold 1957, Golden Rose of The Hague 1968, WFRS HoF 1979, ARS Best Established Rose 2015 and others. Continuously popular for over 70 years — a symbol of post-war rose breeding. Together with Peace, it is the most important rose of the XX century.

Frequently asked questions about Queen Elizabeth

Does Queen Elizabeth need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −26 °C (USDA zone 5b–9b). Overwintering depends on the conditions. All of Ukraine, no winter protection needed.

How many times a season does Queen Elizabeth flower?

Repeat-flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes.

How big does Queen Elizabeth grow?

150–305 cm tall, 75–90 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Queen Elizabeth?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Very hardy; over 70 years of evidence.

How much sun does Queen Elizabeth need?

Sun; full sun; tolerates heat well.

What does Queen Elizabeth smell like?