Queen Elizabeth® Fortuniana Rootstock Grandiflora Rose

Majestic, elegant, and historically significant, Queen Elizabeth® is one of the most influential roses ever introduced. Widely recognized as the rose that established the Grandiflora class, this award-winning variety has remained a garden favorite since its introduction in 1955. When grafted onto Fortuniana Rootstock, Queen Elizabeth® combines its legendary beauty and remarkable vigor with enhanced Southern performance, making it an exceptional choice for gardeners in warm climates.

The flowers begin as long, pointed buds before opening into large, perfectly formed blooms of clear silver-pink, carried in elegant clusters atop tall, strong stems. The classic high-centered blooms possess a refined beauty that has made Queen Elizabeth® a benchmark for modern rose breeding and a treasured addition to gardens around the world.

Its upright, stately growth habit creates an impressive landscape presence, while its repeat blooming nature ensures months of continuous color. Whether planted as a specimen, hedge, or focal point in a rose garden, Queen Elizabeth® delivers exceptional performance and timeless sophistication.

When paired with Fortuniana Rootstock, this iconic rose develops stronger growth, larger blooms, and increased flower production while thriving in sandy soils and Southern growing conditions where traditional rootstocks often struggle.

Key Features

Feature	Details
Rose Type	Grandiflora Rose
Breeder	Dr. Walter Lammerts
Variety	Queen Elizabeth®
Flower Color	Clear Silver Pink
Bloom Size	Large
Bloom Form	High-Centered, Fully Double Grandiflora Blooms
Petal Count	25–30+ Petals
Fragrance	Light to Moderate Sweet Rose Fragrance
Flowering Habit	Repeat Blooming Throughout the Season
Growth Habit	Tall, Vigorous, Upright Shrub
Foliage	Glossy Deep Green Leaves
Cut Flower Quality	Excellent Long-Stemmed Blooms
Special Feature	The Original Grandiflora Rose with Enhanced Southern Performance on Fortuniana Rootstock

Growing Information

Requirement	Details
Light Needs	Full Sun (Minimum 6 Hours Daily)
USDA Hardiness Zones	8–10
Mature Height	5–8'
Mature Width	3–5'
Plant Spacing	4–6' Apart
Rootstock	Fortuniana Rootstock
Soil Preference	Sandy, Well-Draining Soils
Climate Preference	Warm, Frost-Free Climates
Winter Protection	Required in Areas Subject to Hard Freezes
Cold Tolerance	Not Recommended for Regions with Prolonged Heavy Freezes

Fortuniana Rootstock Advantages

Fortuniana Rootstock is widely recognized as the premier rootstock for Southern rose gardens and offers exceptional benefits for long-term garden success.

✔ Up to 20% Larger Blooms
✔ Up to 30% More Flowers
✔ Exceptional Vigor & Longevity
✔ Superior Performance in Sandy Soils
✔ Outstanding Resistance to Root-Knot Nematodes
✔ Resistance to Crown Gall
✔ Stronger Root Development for Increased Plant Health
✔ Proven Success in Warm, Humid Southern Climates

Ideal Uses

✔ Formal Rose Gardens
✔ Specimen Plantings
✔ Rose Hedges
✔ Cutting Gardens
✔ Estate Landscapes
✔ Foundation Plantings
✔ Historic Rose Collections

Recommended Growing Regions

Queen Elizabeth® on Fortuniana Rootstock performs exceptionally well in:

Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Texas Gulf Coast
Southern California
Arizona
Other Warm USDA Zones 8–10

Particularly recommended for regions with sandy soils, high nematode pressure, and long growing seasons, where Fortuniana Rootstock consistently delivers superior vigor and flowering performance.

Awards & Recognition

🏆 World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame Rose
🏆 All-America Rose Selections (AARS) Winner – 1955
🏆 Named "World's Favorite Rose" by the World Federation of Rose Societies
🏆 One of the Most Decorated Roses in Modern Rose History

Why You'll Love Queen Elizabeth® on Fortuniana Rootstock

The iconic rose that created the Grandiflora class
Elegant silver-pink blooms borne on long, strong stems
Repeat blooms throughout the growing season
Outstanding landscape presence with tall, stately growth
Excellent cut flower performance
Enhanced vigor and flower production on Fortuniana Rootstock
Exceptional performance in sandy Southern soils
Superior resistance to root-knot nematodes and crown gall
One of the most awarded and beloved roses ever introduced

Add timeless beauty and historic significance to your garden with Queen Elizabeth® on Fortuniana Rootstock. Combining graceful silver-pink blooms, exceptional vigor, and the unmatched strength of Fortuniana Rootstock, this legendary Grandiflora rose delivers decades of proven performance, elegance, and Southern garden success.