When David Austin Roses are blooming, it’s hard not to feel a surge of delight every time you catch sight of their sumptuous flowers in the garden. If you’re new to these extraordinary roses, you’re in for a treat.
David Austin Roses—sometimes called English roses—are in a class all their own. They combine the romantic, nostalgic forms and rich fragrances of Old Garden Roses (a classification of roses that existed before 1867) with the reliable repeat-flowering and disease resistance of modern varieties.
A Brief History of David Austin Roses
David Austin (1926–2018) was a visionary British breeder who set out to create “the perfect rose.” In the 1950s, he was captivated by the charm of antique roses—gallicas, damasks, albas—but felt they lacked the repeat-blooming qualities and wider color range of modern hybrid teas and floribundas.
His answer was to cross Old Garden Roses with modern varieties, blending beauty, fragrance, and vigor into something entirely new. The first success came in 1961 with ‘Constance Spry,’ a stunning pink rose that bloomed once with unforgettable perfume. Over time, David Austin and his team refined their breeding to introduce repeat-blooming, improved health, and a stunning diversity of colors and forms.
Today, the David Austin collection includes over 200 named cultivars, many with prestigious awards and loyal fans around the globe.
‘Lichfield Angel’ is a shrub rose with excellent repeat-flowering.
Why Choose David Austin Roses?
While we have countless reasons to love them, here are a few highlights:
- Exquisite Fragrance: Most varieties have strong, complex scents ranging from myrrh to tea to fruit—some of the finest fragrances in the rose world.
- Romantic Flower Forms: Large, cupped, rosette, or pompon blooms recall the best of heritage roses.
- Repeat Blooming: Unlike Old Garden Roses, many David Austin roses bloom in flushes from late spring until frost.
- Color Diversity: From pure white to rich crimson, soft apricot to buttery yellow, there is a rose to suit every palette.
- Modern Vigor: Better disease resistance and more reliable flowering make them approachable for gardeners of all experience levels.
‘Graham Thomas’ is a vigorous, healthy, repeat-blooming rose. It grows to 10′ to 12′ tall and can be trained against walls, trellises, small arches, or rose pillars.
A Rosarian’s Wisdom: Growing Roses Without Fuss
Years ago, we spoke with Michael Marriott, the now-retired senior rosarian for David Austin Roses, who reminded us:
“You Americans, you make it all so hard. Growing roses is like growing any other plant.”
He was pointing out that roses don’t have to be coddled. Yes, they get some black spot or mildew, but that’s not the end of the world. Accepting a few blemishes can be freeing—and you’ll find your garden happier for it.
If you’d like to enjoy your David Austin roses without turning them into divas, here are some special growing tips:
Special Tips for Growing David Austin Roses
1. Site Selection Is Key
Roses love full sun—at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is especially important to dry dew from foliage, which helps deter fungal diseases. Good air circulation is equally important, so avoid cramming plants too closely.
2. Soil Preparation
These beauties thrive in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Before planting, loosen the soil to at least 18 inches deep and mix in compost or well-rotted manure.
3. Watering Consistency
Roses like consistent moisture, especially during establishment and while flowering. Aim to water deeply once or twice a week rather than shallow sprinkling. Always water the base of the plant rather than overhead if possible, to keep leaves dry.
4. Mulching for Health
A two- to three-inch layer of mulch helps conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Mulch also reduces soil splash, which can carry disease spores to leaves.
5. Pruning With Confidence
Don’t overthink it. In early spring, prune back any dead or damaged wood, then shape the plant to improve airflow. For shrub roses, cut back by about one-third, or more vigorously if you prefer a lower plant. Climbing varieties benefit from tying long canes horizontally to encourage more blooms.
6. Feeding Roses Well
Roses are hungry plants. Feed in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer, then again after the first flush of blooms. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas, which can promote lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
7. Disease Management Without Panicking
Even the healthiest roses may show some black spot or powdery mildew. Keep foliage healthy by watering properly, pruning to improve airflow, and removing any diseased leaves from the ground. If necessary, use an organic fungicide as a last resort, but don’t feel compelled to spray constantly.
Remember… Imperfect leaves still produce perfect blooms.
For some fun, we’re highlighting five shrub roses and five climbing roses we love below. Enjoy!
Five Exceptional Shrub Roses
‘Vanessa Bell’ (Shrub)
‘Vanessa Bell’
A top-performing rose of delicate beauty, ‘Vanessa Bell’ has an alluring freshness and grace. Its soft lemon-yellow flowers are held in large open clusters, accented by rounded buds tinged with rich pink. Blooming with abundance, it’s nearly covered with flowers from early summer till frost. It also has a compact growth habit that’s ideal for planting in front of garden borders. The medium-strength fragrance is best described as green tea with aspects of lemon and, at times, honey.
‘Munstead Wood’ (Shrub)
‘Munstead Wood’
Here’s one of the most fragrant English roses. ‘Munstead Wood’ has a strong Old Garden Rose scent that’s warm and fruity with notes of blackberry and damson. The large cupped flowers are a very deep, velvety crimson. The growth is quite bushy, forming a broad shrub with good disease resistance. The leaves are mid-green, the younger leaves being red-bronze to form a nice contrast. Grows to 3′ tall x 2.5′ wide. Has earned the RHS “Award of Garden Merit.”
‘Lady Emma Hamilton’ (Shrub)
‘Lady Emma Hamilton’
This particularly vivid English rose is also one of the most fragrant; its scent is strong and deliciously fruity with hints of pear, grape, and citrus fruits. The tight buds are dark red with dashes of orange. When fully open, the flowers reveal petals that are tangerine-orange on the inside and yellow-orange on the outside. ‘Lady Emma Hamilton’ is a repeat-bloomer and performs best in drier conditions. The bush is medium height, 4′ tall x 3′ wide. Has earned the RHS “Award of Garden Merit.”
‘Gentle Hermione’ (Shrub)
‘Gentle Hermione’
An utterly charming English rose, ‘Gentle Hermione’ has beautiful flowers in an Old Garden Rose formation of shallow cups made of perfectly arranged petals. Each flower has approximately 90 petals. It has a pure pink color that pales to soft blush towards the outside edges, and its blooms are very resistant to rain. The attractive shrub is rounded, grows to 4′ tall x 3′ wide, and has slightly arching stems. Its fragrance is a strong, warm, classic Old Garden Rose scent with a hint of myrrh. Repeat-flowering.
‘Darcey Bussell’ (Shrub)
‘Darcey Bussell’
This rose boasts an abundance of fully double, deep rich crimson flowers with a pleasing fruity fragrance carrying a hint of green. A strong, reliable performer, ‘Darcey Bussell’ is compact and low-growing, averaging three to four feet in height. Repeat-flowering. Has earned the RHS “Award of Garden Merit.”
Five Stunning Climbing Roses
Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Climber/Shrub)
‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’
This climbing rose has large, bright crimson flowers with nice, deeply cupped shapes. As the flowers mature, the petals turn back to lend a more informal air. ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ is an excellent rebloomer, flowering from early summer through frost. The medium-heavy Old Garden Rose fragrance is lovely. This is a good rose for cutting bouquets. Grows to 4′ tall x 3 1/2′ wide, or 6 to 8 feet as a climber.
‘Teasing Georgia’ (Climber/Shrub)
‘Teasing Georgia’
A refined English rose, ‘Teasing Georgia’ has yellow flowers of a particularly pleasing cupped formation. Each flower has approximately 110 petals. The central petals are a rich deep yellow, while the outer petals fall back, fading to the palest yellow. Its award-winning fragrance is a medium to strong tea rose. The growth is strong but graceful, and this rose is superb as a bush or as a climber. It is a repeat bloomer with excellent health and disease resistance. Grows to 4′ tall x 3 1/2′ wide, or 8 feet as a climber. Has earned the RHS “Award of Garden Merit.”
“Wollerton Old Hall’ (Short Climber/Shrub)
‘Wollerton Old Hall’
Simply one of the most fragrant of all English roses! ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ has a distinctive strong myrrh scent with a delicious citrus element. It also has plump buds that have attractive flashes of red, and the flowers open to beautiful chalice-shaped blooms in a soft apricot color that eventually fades to cream. There are approximately 43 petals per flower. It forms a particularly healthy and bushy shrub with few thorns. In areas where heat can be intense, you’ll want to position the bush out of the afternoon sun. Grows to 5′ tall x 3′ wide, or 8 feet as a climber.
‘Crown Princess Margareta’ (Climber/Shrub)
‘Crown Princess Margareta’
The apricot-orange flowers of ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ have a strong, fruity, tea rose perfume. This is a vigorous climber with excellent repeat flowering. Grows to 5′ tall x 4 1/2′ wide, or 9 to 11 feet as a climber.
The Pilgrim’ (Climber)
‘The Pilgrim’
One of the most beautiful English climbing roses, ‘The Pilgrim’ produces nicely-shaped double/full blooms that are soft, pure yellow. Its fragrance is a perfect balance of tea and myrrh. Repeat blooming, it grows to 4 1/2′ tall x 3′ wide, or up to 8 feet as a climber. Has earned the RHS “Award of Garden Merit.”
A Friendly—Dare We Say, Rosy—Invitation
Whether you’re tending a sunny slope in Hendersonville or a shaded nook in Black Mountain, there’s a David Austin Rose ready to flourish in your garden.
We believe gardening should be joyful, not stressful—and that embracing the small imperfections along with the beauty makes the experience richer. When you walk among your roses in early summer and inhale that unforgettable fragrance, you’ll know exactly why generations of gardeners have fallen in love with David Austin Roses.
If you’d like help choosing the right variety for your spot, or you’d just like to talk roses, please come see us or reach out. We’re here to inspire, support, and celebrate every bloom with you.
Happy gardening from all of us, and may this season bring you armloads of beautiful, fragrant roses!
