Flowers called Elizabeth

Flowers called Elizabeth could equally be named Plants called Elizabeth, but it seems we tend to firstly look for flowers named for a person, so flowers it is. And of course, the person in question here, is Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

We have a list of ten shrubs, including three roses; one herb; one climber; one pond flower and one conservatory or houseplant. All in alphabetical order first, and then split into relevant sections with some care notes and interesting facts.

Camellia japonica ‘Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’
Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’
Dendrobium ‘Queen Elizabeth II’
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Elizabeth’
Magnolia × brooklynensis ‘Elizabeth’
Nymphaea ‘Princess Elizabeth’
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Elizabeth’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Dwarf Red’
Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’
Rhododendron ‘Queen Elizabeth II’
Rosa ‘Elizabeth’
Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’
Rosa ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Rose’

With a reign spanning seventy years, a small number of these plants have been around a long time, whilst others are recent additions.

Flowers called Elizabeth – Shrubs

Of our ten shrubs, at least three have scented flowers, which I always feel is a bonus, particularly out of the season of high summer when it’s so easy to have fragrant flowers.

Camellia japonica ‘Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’

One of the early plants called Elizabeth, this Camellia was introduced in 1954 by the Longview nursery of Crichton, Alabama. They named it, but the original was a seedling from seed planted by Robert O. Rubel, Jr and originally sold by him as “Lot #396”. Rubel considered camellias “the most valuable ornamental plants in commerce”.

An evergreen shrub with loose, paeony type flowers in spring, it is pretty and relatively small, growing to about 2 metres in 15 years. As you’d expect with a Camellia, ’Elizabeth’ prefers an acid soil and partial shade, which makes it ideal for a woodland or woodland edge garden.

Magnolia × brooklynensis ‘Elizabeth’

One for a larger garden, this is a deciduous Magnolia tolerant of most soils and aspects so long as the soil is moist and well drained. It should be pruned in summer when it’s in full leaf.

Magnolia × brooklynensis ‘Elizabeth’ is a hybrid, a cross between Magnolia acuminata the cucumber tree, and Magnolia denudate, the Yulan Magnolia. It was hybridised at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1956 by Eva Maria Sperber and was the first yellow flowered hybrid Magnolia to be introduced to the UK. It was named in 1978 in honour of Elizabeth van Brunt who was a patron of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

‘Elizabeth’ has scented primrose yellow flowers in spring.

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Elizabeth’

This is such a pretty evergreen shrub, big enough for a mixed border, yet small enough to be happy in a pot.

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Elizabeth’ has narrow oval, wavy-edged grey-green leaves that are edged with cream, flushed pink. And from early summer it has small, scented, dark purple star-shaped flowers.

Tolerant of most soils and aspects, drought tolerant too, Pittosporum are not always hardy in very cold or exposed locations. But you can take cutting when the plant is young as a precaution. Minimal pruning is needed which makes it an easy maintenance shrub too.

Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’

Potentilla, also known as shrubby Cinquefoil, is one of those shrubs which is often considered old fashioned. Which is a shame, as it is a reliable plant which will flower from late spring through to mid-autumn. Potentilla ‘Elizabeth’ has masses of beautiful bright yellow flowers; it will tolerate partial shade, although you’ll get more flowers in sunnier spots.

A fully hardy deciduous shrub, its compact size, 1 metre high and wide, makes ‘Elizabeth’ suitable for smaller gardens. Try it in a mixed border, container garden or as an informal flowering hedge.

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’

These next two are both members of the ‘Elizabeth’ group of Rhododendrons. They both prefer an acid soil and partial shade, which makes them ideal for a woodland or woodland edge garden. If you’re growing them in a container, use peat free ericaceous compost.

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Dwarf Red’

An evergreen Rhododendron, with a compact habit and slow growth. It produces, bright red funnel-shaped flowers in late spring.

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’ also has red flowers, with, as you’d expect, burgundy red foliage. It often has a second flowering in autumn.

It is also known as ‘Ostbo’s Red Elizabeth’, ‘Ostbo’s Red Foliage’ and ‘Ostbo’s Elizabeth’, as it was bred by E Ostbo in America. But the correct registered name is ‘Elizabeth Red Foliage’.

Rhododendron ‘Queen Elizabeth II’

Rhododendron ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ another hybrid, was bred by the Crown Estate Commissioners in 1969.

It is a bushy, evergreen shrub with pale yellow flowers from mid to late spring, reaching about 1.6 metres after 10 years. Rhododendron ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ needs a free draining acid soil in a relatively sheltered spot. It’s a vigorous shrub for all that and would look lovely in the dappled shade of a woodland edge garden, or shadier urban garden. It should need little if any pruning, making it easy to look after on the right spot.

Flowers called Elizabeth – Roses

These roses were introduced and officially named for her late Majesty. The first on honour of her ascension to the throne and coronation in 1953, and continuing through to her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’

Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is a tall floribunda with pink flowers. Growing to 1.5 metres it could double up as a wall shrub in a courtyard garden, although there is a climbing variety too. The fragrant flowers are carried on long stems which makes them excellent for cutting. A repeat flowering rose, giving plenty of blooms.

This rose was created by Walter Lammerts at Armstrong’s nursery in California in 1954. Rather than crossing closely related roses to create a hybrid, Lammerts crossed a floribunda rose called ‘Floradora’ with his own hybrid tea, ‘Charlotte Armstrong’. Ther result was Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’, the first Grandi-flora rose, with plenty of hybrid vigour. Its still a popular rose in gardens today, for its health as much as the name association.

Rosa ‘Elizabeth’

This is an English Shrub Rose bred by David Austin

Another repeat flowering rose with fragrant pale pink blooms that fade to blush white, growing to 1.4 metres.

Tolerant of all soil types and aspects, it will flower best in sunlight.

Rosa ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Rose’

Bred by Harkness roses and launched in 2022, Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ was created to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. It was officially selected by Queen Elizabeth II.

Unlike the two roses above, this is a hybrid tea rose. However, it does repeat flower with softly coloured pink, light amber and cream blooms that have a sweet rose fragrance. Harkness’s rose is also shorter at 1 metre high, making it easier to fit into smaller gardens.

Roses are by far the most popular of the plants named for royalty, but I haven’t included those named for the various Jubilees here. There is also another Queen Elizabeth rose, by British rose breeder Peter Beales. A scarlet rose dating from 1963, I haven’t actually been able to find it listed in a catalogue, although I did track down the photo below, so I’d be interested to know if you have one or find one.

Herbs

Admittedly, I was disappointed to find only one herb called Elizabeth available in the UK, but this is a lovely one with multiple uses in the garden both ornamental and productive.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Elizabeth’

A superb English Lavender with large fragrant spikes of dark purple flowers above grey foliage. It was introduced by Downderry Nursery in 2007.

Lavender likes a free draining soil, so if you’re planting on clay, add some organic matter. In very winter wet regions, it may be an idea to take cuttings as a backup.

The nectar rich flowers are attractive to pollinating insects and they’re good for drying too.

Flowers called Elizabeth – Climbing Plants

Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’

Often referred to as the ‘mile a minute clematis’ as it’s a fast growing, dense climber. The mass of pale pink flowers produced in late spring and early summer give off a subtle vanilla scent.

As Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’ can grow to 8 metres if not pruned, its not a plant for a small garden (unless you have a tall wall to cover!) The young leaves are bronze tinged, ageing to mid-green.

Like the majority of Clematis, it performs best with its roots in moist, well-drained soil. Try shading the roots with groundcover plants or mulch. It will tolerate all aspects and does well even in exposed sites, but obviously flowers best where it can catch the sun.

Pond Plants

Nymphaea ‘Princess Elizabeth’

Also found as Nymphaea Odorata ‘Princess Elizabeth’ this is one of the Latour-Marliac patriotic series of water lilies that were introduced during World War II. This one was named for the then Princess Elizabeth in a gesture of solidarity.

Flowering from June to September with a pleasant fragrance, it has bright orange stamens that contrast rather well with its coral-pink petals. It can be planted directly into clay soil or into a basket, with 30-45 cm water over the top of the rhizome. The leaf spread is 30 – 60cm.

Conservatory and House Plants

Orchids to be precise! And I can think of two friends who need this particular one.

Dendrobium Orchid ‘Queen Elizabeth II’

An evergreen, tropical orchid, it produces long, upright, cane-like stems with leathery green leaves, arranged alternately along the canes. Arching flowering stems up to 40-50cm long carry up to twenty fairly large yellow flowers.

Dendrobium Orchid ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ was named after Her Majesty during her 1972 tour with Prince Philip to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

And finally

For garden and planting inspiration for special occasions, check out the blog links below and downl

If you would like help with designing a celebration or memorial garden, be that small or large, do get in touch. We can help you with suitable plants, somewhere to sit and reflect, a space for entertaining, depending on your needs, budget and garden.

And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.