Complete Guide to Rose Varieties at Queen Mary's Gardens, Regent's Park

Queen Mary's Gardens, located within the Inner Circle of Regent's Park, is home to London's largest collection of roses, with 12,000 roses in bloom each year across 85 different varieties. This world-famous garden was named after the wife of King George V and opened to the general public in 1932, with the rose planting renewed by landscape architects Colvin and Moggridge in the 1990s.

The gardens feature a circular layout surrounded by a pagoda-style structure, allowing climbing roses to show off their colours. Beyond roses, the gardens also contain about 9,000 begonias and carefully planned shrubbery that provides a sense of seclusion from busy London.

Garden Layout and Design

The rose collection is organized into two main categories:

• 84 numbered single-variety flower beds - each dedicated to one specific rose variety

• Mixed variety borders - featuring various roses planted together in garden borders

Single Variety Rose Beds (Numbered 1-84)

These beds each showcase one specific variety of rose, making it easy to appreciate the unique characteristics of each type:

Beds 1-20

1. Ingrid Bergman - Deep red hybrid tea rose

2. Rock & Roll - Striped variety with dramatic coloring

3. All My Loving - Named after the Beatles song

4. Song And Dance - Colorful floribunda variety

5. Garden Glory - Classic garden rose

6. Pink Perfection - Soft pink blooms

7. Nostalgia - Vintage-style rose

8. Belle Epoque - Elegant historical variety

9. Keep Smiling - Cheerful yellow rose

10. Precious Time - Delicate variety

11. Lovely Lady - Pink hybrid tea

12. Pride of Cheshire - Regional commemorative variety

13. (Unnamed variety)

14. Just Joey - Popular apricot-colored rose

15. Creme Caramel - Cream and caramel tones

16. Tintinara - Australian-named variety

17. Silver Shadow - Silvery-toned blooms

18. Inspiration - Uplifting variety

19. Rachel - Named variety

20. Donatella - Italian-inspired name

Beds 21-40

1. Champagne Celebration - Celebratory cream variety

2. (Unnamed variety)

3. Tiamo - Romantic variety

4. Saffie Rose - Named variety

5. Adrianna - Named variety

6. Westminster Pink - London-themed rose

7. Charisma - Charismatic variety

8. Chandons Beauty - Beautiful variety

9. Especially For You - Gift-themed rose

10. Pride of England - Patriotic variety

11. Linzi's Smile - Named commemorative rose

12. Silver Anniversary - Commemorative variety

13. Take it Easy - Relaxed variety

14. Double Delight - Red and white bicolor

15. Blessings - Spiritual variety

16. (Unnamed variety)

17. Golden Anniversary - Golden commemorative rose

18. Heart Felt Thanks - Gratitude variety

19. Claret - Deep red wine color

Beds 41-60

1. (Unnamed variety)

2. Jack's Wish - Named commemorative rose

3. Diamond Jubilee - Royal commemorative variety

4. Blue For You - Blue-toned rose (rare coloring)

5. Perception - Yellow-orange variety

6. Caroline Victoria - Royal-named variety

7. Golden Anniversary - Another golden variety

8. (Unnamed variety)

9. (Unnamed variety)

10. Singing In The Rain - Musical variety

11. Octavia Hill - Named after social reformer

12. Princess Alice - Royal variety

13. Harper Adams - Educational institution variety

14. Arctic Blue - Rare blue-violet coloring

15. Iceberg - Pure white variety

16. Burgundy Ice - Deep burgundy color

17. Gorgeous - Self-explanatory beauty

18. Twilight Zone - Mysterious variety

19. Annick - French-named variety

20. (Unnamed variety)

Beds 61-84

1. Lucky! - Fortune variety

2. Your Lovely Eyes - Romantic variety

3. Free Spirit - Independent variety

4. Free Spirit - Duplicate planting

5. Champagne Moment - Celebratory variety

6. Living Wish - Hopeful variety

7. Gordon's College - Educational commemorative

8. Red Abundance - Rich red variety

9. Tickled Pink - Cheerful pink rose

10. Absolutely Fabulous - Pop culture reference

11. Robert Winston - Named after scientist

12. Belmonte - Spanish-influenced variety

13. Britannia - Patriotic variety

14. Apple Jack - Fruit-inspired variety

15. Colorific - Multi-colored variety

16. You're Beautiful - Complimentary variety

17. Dorothy's House - Wizard of Oz reference

18. Eternity - Timeless variety

19. Southern Belle - American South variety

20. Hot Chocolate - Rich brown tones

21. Easy Going - Low-maintenance variety

22. Doris Day - Named after the actress

Mixed Variety Borders

These areas feature diverse collections of roses planted together, showcasing different types and historical periods:

English Roses (David Austin Varieties)

• Anne Boleyn - Historical figure variety

• Cariad - Welsh for "love"

• Crown Princess Margareta (Auswinter)

• Elegantyne (Ausmak)

• Golden Celebration

• Grace (Auskeppy)

• Graham Thomas (Ausmas) - Famous yellow variety

• Harrow Carr

• James Galway (Auscrystal) - Named after flutist

• Lady Emma Hamilton (Ausbrother)

• Lady Salisbury

• Lichfield Angel (Ausrelate)

• Molineux

• Susan Williams Ellis

• Tea Clipper (Ausrover)

• The Mayflower

• The Pilgrim

• Wisley 2008 (Ausbreeze)

• Young Lycidas (Ausvibrant)

Historical and Old Roses

• Celsiana - Old rose variety

• Charles de Mills - Old-fashioned rose

• Ipsilante - Historical variety

• Portland Rose - Historic type

• Queen of Denmark - Royal historical variety

• Rosa Mundi - Ancient striped variety

Wild and Species Roses

• Rosa Californica Plena - Wild California variety

• Rosa Longicuspis - Climbing species

• Rosa Setipoda - Asian species

• Rosa Sweginzowii - Wild variety

• Rose Virginia - American wild rose

Climbing and Rambling Roses

• Adelaide D'orleans - Rambler variety

• Mme Alfred Carriere - Classic climber

• Mme Gregoire Staechlin - Spanish Beauty

• Silver Moon - White climber

• Stella Gray - Noisette climber

Shrub Roses

• Fighting Temeraire - Strong shrub variety

• Prosperity - Hybrid Musk

• Roseraie de l'Hay - Rugosa variety

• Scarlet Fire - Modern shrub rose

Best Time to Visit

The optimal time to see the roses is from late May through September, with peak blooming typically occurring in June and July. Late May has been noted as a superb time to visit as the roses are coming into their best.

Additional Garden Features

Beyond roses, Queen Mary's Gardens also features:

• A Japanese-style garden on an island accessible by bridge

• Water features with ponds and small waterfalls

• About 9,000 begonias

• Carefully planned borders and shrubbery

• The nearby Open Air Theatre

Practical Information

• Location: Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London

• Access: Free entry

• Nearest Tube: Regent's Park or Baker Street

• Total roses: 12,000 roses

• Varieties: 85 different varieties officially, though actual count may exceed 100 when including all planted varieties

Tips for Visitors

1. Bring a camera - The garden is exceptionally photogenic

2. Visit multiple times - Different varieties bloom at different times

3. Check the weather - Roses are best after rain when their fragrance is strongest

4. Take time to read the labels - Many roses have interesting stories behind their names

5. Combine with other attractions - The gardens are near London Zoo and Camden Market

The garden represents "a flower lover's paradise" and stands as one of London's most beloved horticultural treasures, offering visitors the chance to experience both classic and contemporary rose varieties in a stunning historic setting.