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

Queen of Sweden

Rosa 'Queen of Sweden'

Medium · Some experience

About Queen of Sweden

Queen of Sweden is a David Austin English rose introduced in 2004, known for its exquisitely formed upright-facing soft pink blooms of classic old-rose cup form on an unusually upright tidy 4 foot shrub. The flowers open as full half-cups of delicate pink fading to blush, carrying a light myrrh fragrance. Its uncommonly neat upright habit makes it ideal for formal borders and small American gardens.

  • Fragrant
  • Long-blooming
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 Queen of Sweden

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
Get watering reminders for Queen of Sweden — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • Height4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorPink, Orange
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

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

Soft pink half-cup blooms face upward, deadhead for repeat

Fragrance

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

Light myrrh and old-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.

History

Illustrated historical scene for Queen of Sweden

Rosa 'Queen of Sweden' is a soft apricot-blush English shrub rose bred by David Austin at Albrighton, England, released in 2004 from proprietary parentage. Austin released the rose to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the 1654 treaty of alliance between Sweden and England signed during the reign of Queen Christina. Unlike the arching or mounded habit of most English Roses, 'Queen of Sweden' is strikingly upright and narrow, suiting formal border use, tight garden designs, and even large containers.

The perfectly cupped rosette-shaped blooms, six to eight centimeters across, open soft warm apricot and fade to clear pale pink with age, carried on the slender upright canes with glossy disease-resistant mid-green foliage. Light old-rose fragrance with myrrh notes.

The plant blooms continuously and shows good disease resistance, and it has become one of the most popular later Austin introductions for its refined habit. Bred by David Austin and introduced in 2004 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the 1654 treaty between Sweden and Great Britain, honoring Queen Christina of Sweden.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Queen of Sweden is royal elegance in the upward-facing rose — pale pink cupped blooms held proudly aloft, like a small crown set on each stem. Another layer is Nordic grace: David Austin named it to honor Queen Christina of Sweden, a seventeenth-century monarch known for it cultivation and learning. The rose carries that same combination of refinement and quiet authority.

  • Royal elegance — upward-facing blooms like royal crown
  • Nordic grace — honors Queen Christina of Sweden

Where the Name Comes From

Named for Queen Christina of Sweden, to mark 350 years since the 1654 Anglo-Swedish Treaty of Uppsala.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Soft myrrh fragrance on upright David Austin pale-pink blooms
  • Tidy upright English rose ideal for formal mixed borders
  • Cup-shaped blush pink blooms used in romantic bouquets

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Queen of Sweden?

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

How much light does Queen of Sweden need?

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

Is Queen of Sweden 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 Queen of Sweden easy to grow?

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

When does Queen of Sweden bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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