	All Time Classics AARS Winning Roses	*Return to Front page* *Return to Roses - Descriptions and Photos page*
What makes an AARS award-winning rose a classic? That all depends on who you ask. Even so, these five winners are mentioned again and again as gardeners' all time favorites.
*Peace* *1946 AARS winner*	*Queen Elizabeth* *1955 AARS winner*	*Tropicana* *1963 AARS winner*
*Mr. Lincoln* *1965 AARS winner*		*Double Delight* *1977 AARS winner*

Peace, 1946 AARS winner

1995 marked the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Also celebrating its 50th anniversary was the Peace Rose -- a true symbol that beauty and hope can survive even in the face of destruction. Widely regarded as "the rose of the century," Peace was the only AARS award winner in 1946. This rugged, leathery foliaged rose bears huge, yellow shaded flowers with a pink edge that last forever.

Queen Elizabeth, 1955 AARS winner

Tall, stately plants are the epitome of grandifloras -- and Queen Elizabeth is truly the queen of this rose classification. This could be considered an instant rose -- all you have to do is plant it and add water. Often used as a shrub, this rose can produce enormous candelabras of coral shaded pink blooms if dramatically pruned. Lightly pruned it will provide a vast display of cutting size sprays. Queen Elizabeth is extremely hardy and disease resistant.

Tropicana, 1963 AARS winner

This extremely popular hybrid tea rose has been described as ranging from coral orange to red orange. Its brilliant colors are offset with dark green, small foliage. Not only do Tropicana's large colorful blooms last forever, but so does its intense fruity fragrance. Big pointed buds are borne on long stout stems - making Tropicana an excellent choice for cutting gardens.

Mr. Lincoln, 1965 AARS winner

For more than 30 years Mister Lincoln has been the gardeners' rose of choice. Large, well-formed, dark red flowers bloom with an intense fragrance. This tall, robust hybrid tea is highly productive, especially once the weather warms. The long-stemmed, beautiful blooms are set off by dark, matt green foliage and last through fall.

Double Delight, 1977 AARS winner

Double Delight is nicely formed and features creamy white blooms with bright strawberry markings on the outer petal edges. This hybrid tea is very free blooming, intensely fragrant and certainly one of the most popular varieties since it won the 1977 award. Double Delight is highly prized as a cut flower during the summer's heat when its colors are most intense.