Characteristics and care of the Queen Elizabeth rose

The Rose «Queen Elizabeth» thanks to its impressive beauty, is perhaps the best known rose in the world. It is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family, it has multiple stems, vertical and spreading growth that despite its glamorous appearance, it is a rose resistant to diseases. Its beautiful pink flowers appear from spring to fall, making it an excellent choice for both seasoned and novice gardeners, to the point that it adapts to even the most inhospitable places.

Origin

The Queen of England rose as it is also known, is a beautiful pink grandiflora. The rose was created by the American scientist Dr. Walter Edward Lammerts in 1954, hence its name, since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth took place the year before. The work developed by Dr. Lammerts is considered the main foundation that led to the creation of the Grandiflora class of roses. The species used for their hybridization were the Floradora and Charlotte Armstrong. The first is a dark pink tea rose and the second is a floribunda rose with an orange blend.

Description of the Queen Elizabeth rose

The Rose «Queen Elizabeth» is an attractive rose with large flowers approximately 10 centimeters wide, with a number of petals that can range from 26 to 40. The flowers have high centers and a discreetly sweet and subtle rose fragrance, these go from single petals to double flowers.

The blooming flowers generally vary slightly, with some being slightly darker pink, while others are paler. Its flowers usually sprout solitary or in long-stemmed clusters. This rose blooms from mid-spring to fall, when its abundant flowers are visible.

This plant can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 meters and a width of approximately 1 to 1.2 meters. It is a vigorous plant, it has few thorns on its stems; like its flowers, its leathery leaves are large, bright and intense green that serves as a frame for its splendid floral display; ovate, with delicately serrated edges and flexible to the touch.

Plantation

This rose grows best in environments of medium humidity, slightly acidic soils, in full sun and with good drainage. A good circulation of the air currents favors its vigorous and healthy development ; In addition, it helps in the control of diseases. You must cultivate in the open field, and then remove them when you are sure that the weather conditions are the most appropriate between the months of October and November. Keeping the plant in pots helps keep its root system well hydrated and in perfect condition.

You can keep your roses in pots during the winter period, as long as you make sure to keep them well fed and under adequate watering, however, ideally, you should plant them as soon as possible. You can start its pruning at the end of the winter following its cultivation. Through a test you can check the levels of nutrients in the soil.

If you decide to plant in winter, then make sure the soil is not frozen. Since this is a plant whose roots are deeply rooted in the ground, dig a hole that is deep and wide enough, then add a good amount of compost of organic matter. If you wish, you can apply a specific fertilizer around it to promote better plant growth.

Proceed to carefully remove the plants from the pots and gently expand their roots before placing them in the hole. You must make sure that where the shoots meet is at ground level. To check this, you can place any flat object on the top of the hole and once it is at the indicated height, begin to fill the hole and settle the earth gently before proceeding to water it.

Apply abundant watering regularly in the mornings, until the plant is properly established and apply the proper fertilizer for roses, following the instructions on the package to the letter. The placement of a summer mulch favors the retention of humidity, keeps the roots fresh and protects it from the formation of weeds. Avoid using fertilizers at the end of the plant’s growth period, as this, far from favoring, can force an excessive vegetative growth without the possibility of strengthening before the arrival of the cold.

Young stems produce better flowers, so if you notice that the plant has become congested, cut one or two stems from the older ones, and then prune the most vigorous stems 10 to 12 inches from the base. Remember that it is important to prune deciduous flowering species for two reasons; first, removing old, damaged or dead stems; increases air flow, which prevents the plant from diseases and b; the plant is rejuvenated through new growth that promotes the appearance of abundant flowers.

Applications

This grandiflora rose is the first of its kind and since its introduction, it has become a favorite thanks to its abundant clusters of beautiful flowers. In addition, this rose is a very versatile species, which looks good in various environments and styles of gardens, whether in those country-type or more formal gardens.

If it is a small space, you can plant or place a single plant or also use small groups. Looks splendid as a border plant or low hedge. However, as this rose is one of the largest species, slightly pruned you can use it as a divider in your garden.

The «Queen Elizabeth» rose, for its beauty and attractiveness, is ideal for making flower arrangements, such as bouquets or centerpieces. The bright frame that offers its bright green leaves to the beautiful pink of its flowers, blends easily with other surrounding plants and flowers, giving an unparalleled showiness to your garden.

Diseases and pests

The Queen of England Rose is a very resistant species to diseases, which does not mean that you neglect it, so it is important that you take the necessary care to increase its ability to fight possible infections. To do this, you can start by removing leaves and other debris around the plant and eradicating weeds from the growing area.

You can apply fungicides preventively to avoid fungal diseases that can damage the plant, such as black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. The use of fungicides becomes more important in those regions with a humid climate. For the health of the plant, it is important that you carry out regular inspections to detect and eliminate possible pests such as aphids and arachnids. You can spray water under pressure or apply specific insecticides for rosaceae.