A David Austin rose is an English rose bred to blend old garden charm with modern repeat-flowering power. The man behind the name spent decades creating this new class of bloom. You get the best of both worlds in a single plant that looks classic and flowers all season long.
When I first smelled one at a garden show in Portland, it stopped me in my tracks. The scent was rich and layered in a way no hybrid tea had ever hit me before. These roses come in five fragrance types: Old Rose, Fruity, Musk, Myrrh, and Tea. Each one smells different from the rest. I tested several in my own garden and the Myrrh type won me over fast. It has a warm, spicy note you won't forget once you catch it.
The English roses David Austin bred came from his nursery in Shropshire, England. He started his work in the 1960s by crossing old types like Gallicas and Damasks with modern hybrid teas. Old roses had gorgeous shapes and scents, but they only bloomed once per year. Modern roses bloomed all season but lacked that classic look. Austin solved this by merging the two groups into something brand new. The result changed rose growing for gardeners around the world.
You'll find dozens of David Austin rose varieties to pick from, and a few stand out from the rest. Here are some of the best ones for your garden.
Gertrude Jekyll
- Fragrance: One of the most fragrant roses ever bred, with a strong Old Rose scent that fills your whole garden area.
- Bloom style: Rich pink petals form large, flat rosettes that look stunning in a vase or on the bush.
- Best use: Perfect for you if scent is your top priority when choosing a rose for your beds or borders.
Graham Thomas
- Awards: Holds a spot in the World Rose Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor any rose can earn.
- Bloom style: Deep golden yellow cups that repeat through the growing season from late spring to fall frost.
- Best use: Great as a climber on your wall or fence, reaching up to 10 feet in warm climates.
Lady Emma Hamilton
- Color: Striking orange and tangerine blooms that darken to copper, giving you a bold pop of warm color.
- Fragrance: Strong fruity scent with hints of pear, grape, and citrus that you'll smell from several feet away.
- Best use: Works well in mixed borders where you want a David Austin rose that grabs your eye right away.
Getting the most from your David Austin rose starts with good planting habits. Put them in full sun with at least six hours of direct light per day. Use rich soil that drains well so the roots don't sit in water. Space your plants about 3 feet (0.9 meters) apart to let air flow between them and cut down on disease risk.
Deadhead spent blooms throughout the season to push your plant into making more flowers. Feed your roses with a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again after the first big flush of blooms fades. Good food and steady water keep the growth strong and the petals looking their best all summer. You'll notice bigger blooms and richer colors when you stay on top of the feeding schedule.
A well-cared-for English rose will reward you with waves of blooms from late spring through fall. You'll pay more for these plants than budget types at your local garden center. But the fragrance and beauty make them worth every cent once you see them fill out in your garden beds. In my experience, even one bush can change the whole feel of a yard.
Read the full article: Rose Flower: Types, Meanings and Care
