Scarlet Queen Elizabeth, close-up of the flower

Photo: Georges Seguin, CC BY-SA 3.0

FloribundaPatrick Dickson, 1963Red

Scarlet Queen Elizabeth

Scarlet-red floribunda with exceptional bush health; large globular flower of up to 26 petals, around 10 cm; upright, bushy shrub 105–150 cm tall, repeat-flowering in flushes; a separate variety, not to be confused with the pink 'Queen Elizabeth', which is only its pollen parent.

A separate variety — NOT the pink 'Queen Elizabeth' (which is its pollen parent)

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering, in flushes. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

The Hague (?)

Gold medal, according to secondary sources

Plant size

105–150 × 50–60 cm

Habit: Upright, bushy
Dimensions: 105–150 × 50–60 cm
Support: Not needed; the upright bush stays up on its own
Shoots: No data
Branching: No data

Flower

≈ 10 cm

Up to 26 petals.

Bud shape: Long, pointed
Open flower: Large globular, up to 26 petals, around 10 cm across
Fullness: Up to 26 petals
Flower carriage: No data

Fragrance

Barely noticeable, sweetish

Sun

Full sun

No data on fading.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

No data on the number of thorns; the mark is placed in the middle as a convention.

Foliage

No data.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Floribunda
Breeder: Patrick Dickson, Northern Ireland, 1963
Bud shape: Long, pointed
Open flower: Large globular, up to 26 petals, around 10 cm across
Colour: Scarlet-red with an orange glow; no data on fading in the sun
Fullness: Up to 26 petals
Flower carriage: No data
Flowering: Repeat-flowering, in flushes
Fragrance: Barely noticeable, sweetish
Hips: No data
Habit: Upright, bushy
Branching: No data
Shoots: No data
Thorns: No data on the number of thorns; the mark is placed in the middle as a convention.
Dimensions: 105–150 × 50–60 cm
Support: Not needed; the upright bush stays up on its own
Foliage: No data
Resistance: Very high disease resistance: according to the Montreal Botanical Garden, 0–5% infection; winter hardiness USDA 6b–9b, RHS H6 (≈ −15…−20 °C); in Ukraine, with winter protection
Variations of the variety: Code DICel. Parentage: Korona × seedling (seed parent); Queen Elizabeth (pollen parent)

Colour scheme

Scarlet-red with an orange glow; no data on fading in the sun

Rose neighbours

Mister Lincolndark red

Kardinalbright red

Dame de Coeurcherry red

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlilac-blue

Catmint (Nepeta)blue-violet

Lamb's ear (Stachys)silver foliage

Baby's breath (Gypsophila)white

Neighbouring roses

One colour family of bright red varieties:

Mister Lincoln Kardinal Dame de Coeur Iceberg

Perennial companions

Blue, lilac and silver neighbours set off the scarlet red:

lavendercatmint (Nepeta)lamb's ear (Stachys)baby's breath (Gypsophila)

Features of this variety

What to know about this variety:

DICelvery healthydescendant of Queen Elizabethscarlet

More about the variety

Hips: No data
Variations of the variety: Code DICel. Parentage: Korona × seedling (seed parent); Queen Elizabeth (pollen parent)

How to grow

Where to plant. In beds and borders, in mass groups; the upright, bushy outline and abundant repeat flowering in flushes make it a reliable accent among bright scarlet roses.

Climate. USDA 6b–9b, RHS H6 (≈ −15…−20 °C); in Ukraine, winter protection is recommended.

Care. Full sun; very high disease resistance keeps treatments to a minimum; to encourage a new flush of flowers, deadhead the spent blooms.

About the name

Name. 'Scarlet Queen Elizabeth' translates as 'scarlet Queen Elizabeth'. The name points to its pollen parent, the famous pink grandiflora 'Queen Elizabeth'. This is a separate, independent variety that has only inherited some genes from its well-known predecessor.

Breeding. Bred by Patrick Dickson in Northern Ireland, code DICel. The variety was created in 1963 and introduced in 1964. Parentage: Korona × seedling (seed parent) and 'Queen Elizabeth' (pollen parent).

Significance. A scarlet-red floribunda that stands out for the exceptional health of its bush. According to some sources the variety won a gold medal at a competition in The Hague, but the original source for this is not confirmed.

Frequently asked questions about Scarlet Queen Elizabeth

How many times a season does Scarlet Queen Elizabeth flower?

Repeat-flowering, in flushes.

How big does Scarlet Queen Elizabeth grow?

105–150 cm tall, 50–60 cm wide.

How much sun does Scarlet Queen Elizabeth need?

Full sun; no data on fading.

What does Scarlet Queen Elizabeth smell like?

Barely noticeable, sweetish.