QUEEN OF BOURBONS – pink historical Bourbon rose – Mauget
Step into the romance of a London front garden with historic charm and a lush pink hedge that needs little more than rain from the sky and thoughtful drainage. QUEEN OF BOURBONS brings tall, upright structure and dense, dark-green foliage, creating an elegant, softly screening backdrop along terraced-house paths. Once-flowering, cup-shaped blooms appear in generous clusters, filling the air with a strong, classic fragrance that lingers after summer rain. As an own-root rose it matures steadily, rewarding you with dependable longevity and a settled look over a natural three-year development arc from roots, to shoots, to full ornamental presence.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden specimen by the doorway |
Tall, upright growth and dense foliage create an immediate focal point beside a front door or gate, while the once-a-year flush of scented pink flowers gives a memorable seasonal “moment” without ongoing deadheading, ideal for busy beginners |
| Informal flowering hedge |
Height up to around 2.6 m and good disease resistance make this rose highly suitable for a relaxed hedge that screens neighbouring properties, with low-input pruning and a long-lived framework supported by its own roots, appreciated by time-pressed homeowners |
| Rainwater-conscious border in heavy soil |
Well-suited to typical UK heavy clay when planted with improved drainage, it copes reliably with wet spells and wind, forming a permanent structure that works neatly with raingarden-style planting, attractive for urban sustainability gardeners |
| Partial-shade side return or narrow path |
Good shade tolerance and upright habit help it flower and hold shape where light is limited along side passages or between houses, keeping paths feeling green and enclosed without demanding intensive care, reassuring for small-space gardeners |
| Mixed historic-rose bed |
As a classic Bourbon rose dating from 1834, it offers authentic character, semi-double mid-pink blooms and graceful form that blend well with other heritage shrubs, adding depth and story to the planting for history-loving gardeners |
| Large container on terrace or balcony (40–50 L+) |
In a substantial 40–50 litre or larger pot with peat-free compost, its own-root system builds steadily year after year, making a long-term potted feature needing only routine watering and light pruning, well suited to balcony and patio owners |
| Low-maintenance family garden backdrop |
Low maintenance requirements, reliable disease resistance and moderate self-cleaning mean it quickly forms a green, flower-topped backdrop for children’s play spaces or seating areas, without demanding frequent attention from busy family gardeners |
| Long-term structural planting in parks or shared gardens |
Strong winter hardiness, robust frame and own-root resilience give it a long service life; even if top growth is damaged, it regenerates from the base, offering stable ornamental value valued by community and estate managers |
Styling ideas
- Romantic-Hedge – run a loose line of QUEEN OF BOURBONS along a front boundary and underplant with Nepeta and low alchemilla for a frothy skirt – ideal for homeowners wanting soft screening with minimal upkeep
- Courtyard-Classic – place a single plant in a 50 L terracotta pot flanked by lavender for scent layers and evergreen structure – perfect for balcony or patio gardeners with limited soil
- Historic-Mix – combine this Bourbon rose with other heritage shrubs and airy perennials like Salvia nemorosa to echo traditional walled gardens – suited to history enthusiasts curating period-style borders
- Rain-Garden-Edge – set it at the back of a raingarden bed with moisture-tolerant perennials, letting its framework anchor the scheme around a downpipe – useful for urban owners managing roof run-off gracefully
- Shaded-Path – plant in partial shade along a narrow side path with ferns and Helichrysum italicum for texture, letting the tall rose guide the eye – appealing to city gardeners greening overlooked passageways
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
QUEEN OF BOURBONS is a historic Bourbon rose sold as a historic, own-root shrub; breeder Mauget, France, 1834. Current trade name: Queen of Bourbons Historic rose Mauget; unregistered cultivar. |
| Origin and breeding |
Originating in France in 1834 as a seedling of ‘Rose Edouard’, this Bourbon rose reflects early nineteenth-century breeding. First distributed by Exotic Nursery in Australia in 1851; precise breeding institution remains unknown. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong, upright shrub reaching about 150–260 cm high and 110–200 cm wide, with moderately thorny stems. Dense, slightly glossy dark-green foliage gives good coverage and a solid backdrop, suitable for hedges and specimen use. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, medium-sized, cup-shaped blooms with around 13–25 petals, carried in clusters. Not remontant, producing one main, generous flush in season. Moderate self-cleaning; spent petals mostly fall, occasional hips may follow. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Fresh mid-pink flowers with a soft mauve undertone; outer petals RHS 58B, inner 65C. Colour lightens as blooms open, with edges sometimes approaching cream before fading, giving a gently nuanced, vintage look across the flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Rich, strong classic rose fragrance, full and enveloping, typical of Bourbon roses. Scent is most noticeable in still, humid air and in enclosed gardens, adding atmospheric value where seating or paths bring you close to the blooms. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces relatively few hips; when present they are pear-shaped, about 15–25 mm, orange-red (RHS 40A). Hips are mainly ornamental accents after flowering rather than a heavy display, offering occasional late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 for hardiness, tolerating approximately −26 to −23 °C and USDA zone 5b. Demonstrates good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust. Handles summer heat fairly well, but needs support under prolonged drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best as specimen, hedge, park or bed shrub at 125–210 cm spacing. Suitable for partial shade and own-root culture. Low maintenance with little intervention required; enrich heavy soils and ensure drainage, especially in wetter regions. |
QUEEN OF BOURBONS offers tall, fragrant historic charm with low-maintenance, disease-resistant growth, and as an own-root shrub it settles in for a long, reliable life in your garden, well worth choosing if you value enduring structure and atmosphere.
