Rosa Queen of the Musks - Hybrid Musk rose

Rosa 'Queen of the Musks' is an old English variety dating back to 1913 that deserves to be rediscovered by enthusiasts of exceptional roses. It is a healthy and vibrant bush with a powerful musky fragrance that blooms until the first frost. Its very healthy foliage is adorned with large clusters of red buds and pink and white corollas that attract bees. Then small hips which are loved by birds. This delightful rose is almost maintenance-free, drought-tolerant and easy to grow in any type of soil, even in partial shade.

The 'Queen of the Musks' rose is a creation of William Paul, an English rose breeder responsible for wonderful varieties such as 'Mermaid', 'Paul's Himalayan Musk', and 'Tuscany Superb'. It is derived, among others, from the musk rose (Rosa x moschata), a spontaneous hybrid probably originating from Asia Minor or the Middle East. Similar to polyanthas and floribundas, roses in this family produce flowers grouped in clusters, but their colours are more refined and they have a more flexible and graceful habit. 'Queen of the Musks' grows rapidly with a bushy, yet flexible habit. Ultimately, this bush reaches an average height of 1.25 m (4ft) with a spread of 90 cm (35in). Its thorny stems bear leaves divided into dark green, disease-resistant leaflets. Flowering begins in June, and continues until November as long as the soil doesn't dry out too much and the faded flowers are pruned regularly. The flowers are clustered and consist of numerous 3 cm (1in) diameter single to semi-double flowers. They start out light pink and then fade to white. The centre of the corollas, filled with golden stamens, is attractive to bees and other pollinators. If the faded flowers are left unpruned from August onwards, this rose produces decorative small hips at the end of the season. It is very hardy, to -15 °C (5°F). The deciduous foliage is absent during winter.

The delightful 'Queen of the Musks' bush rose is undemanding, reliable, and generous. it will thrive in well-prepared soil and requires minimal pruning, mainly the removal of older branches or dead wood in late winter. It can be planted in flower beds, large rose borders, or low hedges. To accompany it, consider other landscape roses, or perennials such as peonies, iris and catmints. The base of the rose can be adorned with charming herbaceous clematis or easy-care perennial geraniums.