Alba Rose 'Queen of Denmark': Booth's 1816 Regal Bloom

Introduced in 1816 by Booth, 'Queen of Denmark' (also known as New Maiden Blush) is an alba rose that carries the grace of its ancient lineage. Alba roses, the "white roses of Shakespeare," are among the oldest garden roses—tall, arching, once-blooming, and intensely fragrant.

Botanical Profile

The flowers are fully double, quartered, a soft, clear pink—not white, despite the alba classification. They open in small clusters in early summer, a single glorious flush that lasts three weeks. The fragrance is the classic alba perfume: rich, sweet, and spicy, carrying on the air. The plant forms a tall, arching shrub 6-8 feet, with grey-green foliage and bristly stems. 'Queen of Denmark' has graced gardens for over two centuries, its Regency-era breeding still delivering aristocratic beauty. A rose that doesn't need to repeat—its once-a-year performance is a coronation.