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How to Grow Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth

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Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth

Rosa × 'Queen Elizabeth'

shrub

Queen Elizabeth is a classic Grandiflora rose featuring large, elegant pink blooms on long stems, making it exceptional for cutting. This vigorous, upright shrub rose was hybridized in 1954 and won the prestigious All-America Rose Selection award. It remains one of the most reliable and floriferous rose varieties available to home gardeners.

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Example Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth

    Around Jul 16

    ≈ 90 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Grandiflora Rose Queen Elizabeth dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (minimum 6 hours for optimal blooming)
💧
Water: Deep, consistent watering at the base; 1-1.5 inches per week. Water early morning to reduce fungal diseases. Avoid overhead watering and keep foliage dry.
📏
Spacing: 36 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 90-120 (first blooms appear within 8-12 weeks of planting)
🌱
Planting depth: Plant grafted roses so the bud union is 1-2 inches below soil surface in cold climates; at or slightly above in warm climates

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.5
Amendments:
Aged compost or composted bark Peat moss or coconut coir Bone meal for phosphorus Perlite or coarse sand for drainage

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-9, with best performance in zones 6-8

5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

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Growth Stages

1

Establishment

3-4 weeks

Newly planted roses focus on root development with minimal top growth. Leaves may appear dull or sparse as the plant acclimates.

Water consistently but avoid fertilizing heavily. Pinch off any flower buds to encourage root establishment. Keep soil evenly moist for 3-4 weeks.

2

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

The shrub develops sturdy, upright canes with glossy green foliage. New shoots emerge from nodes along established canes.

Begin light fertilizing with balanced rose fertilizer. Prune out any dead or weak growth. Ensure good air circulation around the plant.

3

Budding & Flowering

8-12 weeks (recurrent through season)

Terminal buds form at the end of canes and along the stems. Large, double pink blooms (25-40 petals) open on long stems suitable for cutting.

Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Cut stems just above outward-facing buds. Apply rose-specific fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during bloom season.

4

Peak Bloom & Maintenance

12+ weeks (seasonal)

The shrub produces abundant flowers from early summer through fall. Canes mature and harden as the plant reaches its full height (5-8 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide).

Continue deadheading and regular watering. Monitor for pests and diseases. In late summer, reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage hardening for winter.

5

Winter Dormancy

12-16 weeks

Leaves yellow and drop as temperatures cool. Canes become woody and dormant.

Stop fertilizing in fall. In cold climates (zones 5-6), apply 8-12 inches of mulch around the base after the ground freezes. Prune damaged canes in spring after forsythia blooms.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Lavender Catmint (Nepeta) Salvia Allium Delphinium Clematis Geranium Boxwood

Avoid planting near:

Walnuts (toxic juglone) Fennel (inhibits rose growth) Potatoes (disease susceptibility) Brassicas in very close proximity

Common Pests

  • Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil for heavy infestations. Introduce ladybugs or parasitic wasps.

  • Increase humidity by misting; spray with neem oil or sulfur-based fungicide. Remove heavily infested leaves.

  • Improve air circulation; apply sulfur dust or baking soda solution (1 tbsp per gallon water). Remove infected leaves.

  • Remove infected leaves immediately; avoid overhead watering. Apply sulfur or copper fungicide. Mulch to prevent soil splash.

  • Hand-pick beetles in early morning; use pheromone traps away from roses. Apply neem oil or spinosad for severe infestations.

  • Remove and destroy infected plants immediately; control eriophyid mites that spread the virus. No cure available.

Uses

🍳

Rose Water & Petals

Culinary

Queen Elizabeth petals can be crystallized for decorating desserts or used to make aromatic rose water for culinary applications. Always ensure roses are grown without pesticides if using for food. [source]

🏠

Cut Flowers & Arrangements

Household

This variety's long stems and large blooms make it exceptional for floral arrangements, wedding bouquets, and cut flower displays. It's a florist favorite due to its longevity and elegant form. [source]

💊

Rose Hip & Herbal Remedies

Medicinal

Rose hips from Queen Elizabeth contain high levels of vitamin C and have been traditionally used for immune support and herbal teas. The petals can be dried for teas with potential anti-inflammatory properties. [source]

🎨

Dried Flowers & Potpourri

Craft

Petals dry beautifully while retaining color and fragrance, making them ideal for potpourri, dried arrangements, and crafts. The blooms have a delicate rose fragrance. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

The double flowers attract bees and beneficial insects, supporting garden pollinators. Leaving some spent blooms will produce rose hips that provide food for birds in fall and winter. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Cut blooms in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Cut at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing 5-leaflet leaf node. Remove lower leaves from the stem before placing in water. Recut stems under running water and place immediately in a vase with floral preservative. Blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Queen Elizabeth was chosen as the first winner of the All-America Rose Selection (AARS) award in 1955 and remains one of the most celebrated roses ever bred, with over 70 years of proven garden performance.
  • 🌱 The variety was created by crossing Charlotte Armstrong and Floradora roses by the legendary rose breeder Walter Lammerts, and it revolutionized the rose industry by proving Grandiflora roses could be both beautiful and disease-resistant.
  • 🌱 Queen Elizabeth roses can grow up to 8 feet tall in ideal conditions and some specimens have been documented producing over 100 blooms per plant during peak season in Mediterranean climates.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid Mulch
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