Mr. Lincoln is a hybrid tea rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. It was bred in the United States in 1964 by Swim & Weeks. Parentage is Chrysler Imperial × Charles Mallerin. This rose grows 3 to 7 feet tall with a 2- to 3-foot spread in an upright, vigorous bushy form. Plant in full sun in amended, well-drained, moist soils. Prune in late winter to early spring and remove dead, diseased and crossed canes. This rose is disease and heat-resistant. The fragrant bright red velvety flowers are fully double and do not fade with repeat blooming from summer to fall. It is considered one of the best red roses. The long stems make this high-centered bloom great for cutting and the dark green leathery leaves make a nice backdrop for the red flowers. Received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, won the 1964 All-American Rose Selection and is included in the Rose Hall of Fame. Use Mr Linclon as a specimen, in the border, in small groups and as a foundation plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Diseases can include black spot, powdery mildew, rose rosette, and rust. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa 'Country Dancer'Rosa Frida Kahlo™ 'WEKcifrabaun'Rosa Ketchup & Mustard® 'WEKzazette'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The foliage emerges dark red maturing to leathery matte green.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Dome
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
The velvety red high-centered flowers on long stems are 4-5 inches across, fragrant and repeat blooms summer to fall. 26-40 petals