MISTER LINCOLN – deep red hybrid tea rose - Swim & Weeks
Imagine stepping outdoors after rain into air filled with fragrance, where a single deep red bloom brings quiet balance to your front garden. Mister Lincoln is a tall, dignified hybrid tea whose velvety flowers hold their colour well even in unsettled coastal weather with frequent wind and rain. Its long, remontant flowering season supplies classic, high‑centred blooms for cutting from summer into autumn, while its robust, own‑root structure supports a long garden life with steady, reliable performance. Once settled, this rose shows dependable hardiness and good resilience to key leaf diseases, helping you enjoy strong growth without fussy routines. In the ground, or in a large 40–50 litre container, Mister Lincoln builds from roots in the first year to confident shoots in the second and reaches full ornamental value by the third, so you can plan a sustainable, low‑waste investment for a small urban plot. Plant it where you pass daily, let the very strong perfume greet you at the gate, and enjoy the reassuring elegance and presence it brings with very little effort.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| London terraced-house front garden, as a statement specimen by the path |
The tall, upright habit and large, high‑centred blooms create an immediate focal point without needing complex pruning, giving year‑round structure and classic form that suits tight urban frontages and time‑pressed householders seeking ease. |
| Cutting patch or mixed flowerbed for home-arranged bouquets |
Long, strong stems and large, double, exhibition‑quality flowers make Mister Lincoln ideal for regular cutting, with continuous production across the season so you can harvest armfuls of intensely coloured, long‑lasting blooms, perfect for creative arrangers. |
| Small family garden bed with simple, low-maintenance structure |
Its moderately dense, dark foliage and vertical growth provide framework planting that needs only basic deadheading and annual feed, keeping maintenance predictable and manageable in busy family spaces designed for relaxed owners. |
| Rainwater-conscious front garden with permeable surfaces |
Planted into improved, free‑draining soil, Mister Lincoln copes well with regular British rain and wind, making it a strong choice alongside gravel or permeable paving where you direct rainwater into planting pockets for eco‑minded gardeners. |
| Deep container (40–50 L) on balcony, patio or roof terrace |
In a generous, peat‑free compost mix, own‑root Mister Lincoln establishes a stable root system and responds well to regular container care, offering tall, architectural presence and luxurious flowers in compact spaces prized by city‑based residents. |
| Feature planting in heavy-clay suburban plots |
Once the planting hole is opened up and drainage improved with organic matter and grit, the rose settles into heavier soils, rewarding that initial preparation with steady, upright growth and enduring ornamental value for practical homeowners. |
| Long-lived focal point near entrances, paths and seating |
As an own‑root shrub, Mister Lincoln ages gracefully, regenerating from its base after hard pruning or weather damage, so the same plant can frame your doorway for many years, appealing to those who value durable, low‑waste planting. |
| Structured rose border with reliable seasonal display |
Medium maintenance and good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot mean a straightforward care routine, while remontant flowering keeps colour coming from summer to frost, suiting gardeners who want predictable, repeat display with minimal fuss. |
Styling ideas
- Velvet-Classic – Pair Mister Lincoln with silver Stachys byzantina to highlight the velvety red blooms and give a soft, “girly” texture along a front path – ideal for terrace-house owners wanting instant romance.
- Formal-Feature – Plant as a single standard or tall specimen against dark railings, underplanted with low lavender for scent layering – suited to urban gardeners seeking a smart, structured entrance.
- Crimson-Curtain – Combine with Clematis ‘Fairy Slippers’ on a shared support behind the rose bed to extend vertical interest – perfect for space-conscious city plots needing height without clutter.
- Shady-Edge – Use Mister Lincoln at the sunnier edge of a north-facing front garden, backed by Hydrangea petiolaris for foliage contrast – good for homeowners dealing with mixed light and limited space.
- Patio-Showpiece – Grow one plant in a 50 L half-barrel with nepeta spilling over the rim to soften the base – appealing to balcony and patio gardeners wanting high impact in one container.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose ‘Mister Lincoln’, ARS exhibition name Mister Lincoln; registered 1965. Commercial type and group: hybrid tea rose, classic cut-flower and garden cultivar for specimen use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in the United States by Herbert C. Swim and O. L. Weeks in 1964 from ‘Chrysler Imperial’ × ‘Charles Mallerin’; introduced 1965 by Weeks Rose Growers via Star Roses and Plants. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holder of the All‑America Rose Selections award (1965), the James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal (2003) and the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, confirming proven garden value. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous, upright shrub reaching approximately 150–200 cm high and 75–105 cm wide, with moderately dense, slightly glossy, dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; best in full sun positions. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double blooms with 26–39 petals, high‑centred and pointed, borne mainly singly on long stems; classic exhibition hybrid tea form with remontant, abundant second flush across the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety blood‑red flowers, rich ruby when opening and slightly violet‑red before fading; colour holds well, though may lighten a little in hot conditions; closed buds dark burgundy and light‑absorbing. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Exceptionally strong, classic rose fragrance, long‑lasting on the plant and when cut; valued for traditional, richly perfumed garden impact and for highly scented indoor arrangements from homegrown stems. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set generally low due to very double flowers; where formed, produces small ovoid hips 10–14 mm across, in red‑orange shades, adding modest late‑season interest without heavy seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); good tolerance of heat and sun with adequate watering; resistant to powdery mildew and black spot, moderate susceptibility to rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny beds as specimen, hedge or small group; plant 55–100 cm apart depending on effect, in improved, well‑drained soil; medium maintenance with deadheading, feeding and occasional plant protection. |
Mister Lincoln offers velvety deep-red blooms, powerful fragrance and enduring, own-root structure for years of reliable display; a thoughtful choice if you would like a single rose with presence and poise.
