In the last week people from all around the world have been paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Many gardeners have been looking for a tree or shrub to plant in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II. What many gardeners might not know is there is a Queen Elizabeth Rose? This Rose is regarded as the World’s Favourite Rose and has been grown in Central Queensland for over 50 years.

And with all plants there is a story to tell. This is about the extraordinary man that developed the Queen Elizabeth Rose. The Queen Elizabeth Rose or Rosa Queen Elizabeth was introduced in 1954 and named to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation in 1953. This Rose was bred by famed rose breeder Dr Walter E. Lammerts of California. 

Dr Walter E. Lammerts has a history as impressive as the Queen Elizabeth Rose. Dr Lammerts earned both an Undergraduate Degree and Doctorate in Horticulture from the University of California, Berkeley. He then in 1935 established a Plant Research Facility with Armstrong Nurseries for the breeding of plants like Roses. From 1940-1945 as a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles he establish a Berry program at the world renowned Knott’s Berry Farm.

Between 1940 and 1981 Dr Walter E. Lammerts is credited with introducing 46 new rose varieties including the famous Rosa Queen Elizabeth and Rosa Chrysler Imperial. A quarter of the Roses he bred were chosen by the All-American Rose Selection for their year’s top Rose variations. 

The Rosa Queen Elizabeth is a Grandiflora Rose and is a cross between a Hybrid Tea and a Floribunda Rose. It features flowers similar to the Hybrid Tea Roses in clusters of three to five blooms similar to the Floribunda Roses. Grandiflora Rose forms a larger and somewhat sturdier shrub than the Hybrid Tea and a Floribunda Roses. 

The Queen Elizabeth Rose is a tall upright bushy shrub that is highly disease resistant. It bears delicate pure pink blooms on long stems that have a light fragrance. This rose is almost thornless making it perfect for flower arranging. In the garden it is great in mass plantings though it is also ideal positioned at the back of a Cottage garden. 

Another feature which makes the Queen Elizabeth Rose a feature in the garden is that its canes and stems are red and contrasting perfectly with its dark green tough leathery foliage. The Queen Elizabeth Rose is best planted in full sun in a well-drained position and once established it will require little maintenance.

After the flowering the Queen Elizabeth Rose like all Grandiflora Roses can be pruned back to a respectable length, about one third of its height is recommended. At the same time as pruning it is suggested to replace the Mulch around the Rose to a depth of 50-75mm.

The Grandiflora class of Roses created in the middle of the last century for those show standard Hybrid Tea and a Floribunda Roses that could not fit either category for show judging. The name Grandiflora is Latin for large-flowered. The Grandiflora Roses were quite popular with Rose enthusiasts between 1954 into the 1980s. In recent times the Hybrid Tea and Floribunda Roses have become more favoured by Rose enthusiasts. 

The Queen Elizabeth Rose has been very highly awarded since it was first bred. Winning the Portland Gold Medal in 1954, All-America Rose Selections Award in 1955, American Rose Society Gold Medal in 1957 and Golden Rose of The Hague in 1968. It was inducted into the World Rose Hall of Fame and World’s Favourite Rose in 1979. Then in 2015 the Award of Excellence for Best Established Rose.

The other great Rose that has been so popular in Central Queensland developed by Doctor Walter E. Lammerts is the Chrysler Imperial Rose. This Rose has a totally different history as the Chrysler Imperial Rose was one of the first roses to be involved in the promotional marketing of a consumer product, the Chrysler Imperial car in 1952.

The Rosa Chrysler Imperial or the Chrysler Imperial Rose is a hybrid tea Rose producing lovely long pointed buds and dark velvety red flowers. The blooms contain a strong citrus scent and are a must in any floral arrangement. The foliage is a dark green in colour glossy with finely toothed edges.