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Mister Lincoln (Rosa 'Mister Lincoln'), whole plant
  • Mister Lincoln — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Mister Lincoln — seasonal appearance
  • Mister Lincoln in a garden setting

Mister Lincoln

Rosa 'Mister Lincoln'

Medium · Some experience

About Mister Lincoln

Mister Lincoln is a legendary dark red hybrid tea rose, producing richly fragrant velvety crimson blooms up to 5 inches across on long strong stems. Growing 5 to 6 feet tall with upright form and matte dark foliage, this 1964 All-America Rose Selections winner remains one of the most popular red roses in American gardens for its classic form and powerful damask fragrance.

  • Fragrant
  • Cut-flower
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Mister Lincoln

Watering

  • Springevery 5 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 7 days
  • Winterevery 14 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
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At a Glance

  • NativeNorth America
  • Height5–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorRed, Burgundy
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune to outward-facing buds in late winter

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a rich damask rose scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight

Unknown toxic principle

Slight

  • Stem
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching stems.

EFFECT Pricks from thorns.

NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Mister Lincoln · Native
  • Native
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Mister Lincoln

Rosa 'Mister Lincoln' is a dark red hybrid tea rose created by American rose breeders Herb Swim and O. L. Weeks in 1964 from a cross between the fragrant 'Chrysler Imperial' and the intense crimson 'Charles Mallerin'. Conard-Pyle launched the cultivar in the United States, and the rose won the 1965 All-America Rose Selections award for its exceptional garden performance. The long-stemmed velvety crimson blooms open from classic pointed buds to cupped flowers thirteen centimeters across, and the strong damask-rose fragrance carries across a garden on warm evenings.

Named for President Abraham Lincoln, it has remained among America's top-selling red hybrid tea roses for six decades, a benchmark for dark red rose fragrance. Unlike many modern reds, the cultivar has proven durable and disease-resistant in home gardens, and remains among the top-selling red hybrid teas sixty years after introduction.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

The Mister Lincoln Rose carries deep love and honor, named for a beloved American president whose memory it carries in velvety crimson and strong fragrance. Paired with deep passion, it is one of the great red hybrid teas — the rose people picture when they picture a red rose. To plant it is to keep both an emblem of national reverence and a perfume of long-stemmed devotion.

  • Honor — named for a beloved American president
  • Deep passion — velvety crimson with strong fragrance

Where the Name Comes From

Named for American President Abraham Lincoln, honoring his leadership and legacy.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Velvety dark-red blooms release classic strong damask perfume
  • Long-stemmed deep red hybrid tea ideal for romantic bouquets
  • Tall upright bush with iconic deep red high-centered blooms

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Mister Lincoln?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Mister Lincoln need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Mister Lincoln toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Mister Lincoln easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Mister Lincoln bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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