'Mister Lincoln' Rose

Overview

'Mister Lincoln' is THE red rose of gardens - velvet crimson, long-stemmed and drenched in true damask perfume that most modern reds abandoned. Since 1964 it has answered the request florists can't: a red rose that actually smells like one. (Rosa 'Mister Lincoln', hybrid tea.)

Origin & Natural Habitat

Swim & Weeks, USA, 1964; All-America Rose Selection 1965; the standard dark-red garden HT for sixty years.

Appearance

Tall upright HT to 1.5 m; 12 cm velvet deep-red blooms, high-centered opening loosely, on true cutting stems; matte green foliage.

Why People Grow It - Qualities & Benefits

• The definitive fragrant red rose
• Florist stems from your own bed
• Velvet color that doesn't blue badly
• Six decades of proven performance

Care

Light: Full sun - 6+ hours; roses sulk, stretch and sicken in shade.

Water: Deep weekly soak at the base (more in heat); never overhead-sprinkle in the evening - wet leaves overnight breed blackspot.

Soil: Rich, well-drained loam, pH 6.0-6.8, generous compost at planting.

Temperature & Hardiness: Zones 5-9, loves heat - the red for hot summers.

Feeding: Balanced rose feed in spring and after the first flush; stop by late summer so growth hardens before frost.

Pruning & Maintenance: Standard HT regime; keep it to 4-5 strong canes and it towers politely.

Planting & Propagation

Grafted, universally sold.

Common Problems & Pests

• Mildew in cool damp climates (it's a sun-belt star)
• Blooms open fast in heat - cut at loose bud for the vase
• Standard-issue blackspot vigilance

Toxicity & Safety

Roses are non-toxic to dogs and cats - the thorns are the only hazard.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Scent + stem + color trifecta
• Vigorous and tall
• The classic gift-garden rose

Cons

• Prefers warm climates
• Fast-blowing blooms
• Lanky legs (underplant)

Best Suited For

• Cutting gardens
• Hot-summer regions
• Fragrance gardens
• Anyone who's ever smelled one

FAQ

Why does my florist red rose smell of nothing while this fills a room?

Commercial reds were bred for shipping shelf-life at fragrance's expense; 'Mister Lincoln' kept the old damask genes - the trade-off in your favor.

Best red alternative for cool climates?

'Ingrid Bergman' - similar velvet red, better cool-summer health, slightly less perfume.