Vintage English Roses

60 years of endeavour to create the perfect rose has led us to developing and releasing over 200 new varieties, each beautiful and distinctive in their own right. Many have stood the test of time and although launched many years, sometimes decades ago, are still some of our best sellers and most well-loved varieties, by both ourselves and our customers.

1960 s

CONSTANCE SPRY (Ausfirst)

BEST FOR FRAGRANCE The first English Rose to debut in 1961 and aptly named after the groundbreaking British floral designer Constance Spry. Still our largest climber, reaching up to 20ft (6m), this pioneering climbing rose may only flower once in early summer but her iconic deeply cupped blooms are a luminous mid-pink and she has a wonderfully strong Myrrh fragrance.

SHROPSHIRE LASS

Released in 1968, this once flowering climbing rose is unusual for its delicate yet large single blooms which fade gently from blush white to pure white, displaying a tempting boss of golden stamens. Produced in a big display in early summer, her blooms have a mediumstrong Myrrh fragrance and are followed with a festive crop of red hips come autumn.

1980 s

GRAHAM THOMAS® (Ausmas)

Released in 1983, having been selected by Graham Thomas himself, this rich yellow, repeat flowering rose can be grown as a shrub or a climber and is notable for its role in helping to put David Austin on the map. Named after one of the most influential gardeners of the time, as well as a collector of Old Roses and a great supporter and friend of David Austin, this rose received a huge accolade after its debut at Chelsea Flower Show in 1983.

GERTRUDE JEKYLL® (Ausbord)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR FRAGRANCE Transforming gardens since 1986 and still one of our most popular roses, Gertrude, as she is fondly known, has become a famous plant in her own right. Suitably named after the prolific and highly influential garden designer, Gertrude is a force to be reckoned with. She has come to be the quintessential English Rose, with her perfectly balanced Old Rose scent and spectacular, many-petalled, glowing pink rosette blooms. Grown as either a shrub or a climber, every garden needs at least one Gertrude Jekyll.

1990 s

THE PILGRIM® (Auswalker) Bold in both its colour and bloom size with layers upon layers of petals, this outstanding rose reaches height quickly whilst remaining full and flourishing towards the lower part of the climber. Released in 1991; an early champion of the 90s and aptly named after the pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales this rose remains one of our best climbers today.

SCEPTER’D ISLE (Ausland)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR FRAGRANCE Contrasting elegant pink petals and loud yellow stamens gives this rose a unique character and beauty, complemented with a strong Myrrh fragrance. First admired by rose enthusiasts in 1996 this rose has stood the test of time still flowering with wonderful regularity and a customer favourite. Named for John of Gaunt’s speech, expressing his love for England, in Shakespeare’s Richard II.

GOLDEN CELEBRATION® (Ausgold)

BEST FOR FRAGRANCE Released in 1992, this rose boasts some of the largest blooms in the David Austin collection, which emanate a strong Tea fragrance, developing into notes of Sauternes wine and strawberry. Rich yellow in colour, it is clear to see how this English Shrub Rose got its name. Today, this rose is a customer favourite and is fondly purchased to commemorate golden anniversaries and other celebrations.

2000 s

THE MAYFLOWER (Austilly) BEST FOR HEALTH 2001 brought with it a breakthrough in breeding, creating a particularly healthy and pioneering rose named after The Mayflower, the English ship used to transport the pilgrims from England to America. This resonated with our journey, as we expanded into America and launched our first catalogue. The rose bears mid-pink, medium sized, Old Rose style blooms and is extremely healthy.

MALVERN HILLS

(Auscanary)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR HEALTH Launched at the start of the millennium, Malvern Hills bears fully double blooms in a soft buttery yellow. An exceptionally healthy variety with attractive polished foliage and few thorns, this vision of a rose was named after the range of hills not far from our nursery in Shropshire, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

LADY OF SHALOTT® (Ausnyson)

BEST FOR FLOWERING Released in 2009, this English Shrub Rose has an abundance of rich orange-red buds which open to large chalice-shaped blooms, filled with loosely arranged petals. Favoured for her contrasting and vibrant colours, she certainly stands out from the crowd. Named after one of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poems to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.

2000 s

DARCEY BUSSELL® (Ausdecorum)

Released in 2006 and named after one of Britain’s leading ballet stars, this rich crimson-pink English Shrub Rose rightly takes centre stage in any garden and is a favourite variety amongst rose lovers. In her youth the outer petals of the blooms form a perfect ring around an inner cup which gradually open to form medium-large rosettes, creating a pirouette of stunning blooms around the shrub. Notable for its deep red-pink colouring.

2010 s

PRINCESS ANNE® (Auskitchen) BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR HEALTH New to the collection in 2010, Princess Anne is a notable variety, not just for her remarkable healthiness but also for being a breakthrough in breeding, which led us to being able to create even healthier roses. An interesting rose whose blooms start out as deep pink, almost red, fading to rich pink and occasionally displaying hints of purple. The colour change across the narrow petals creates a dappled effect as the fragrant blooms open in succession. Named after Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.

EMILY BRONTË® (Ausearnshaw)

BEST FOR HEALTH BEST FOR FRAGRANCE Released in 2018 this distinctive rose was a fresh approach to English Roses with her pale pink, rather flat blooms, each sporting a button eye splashed with apricot. Still many-petalled, unlike others, she wasn’t cupped in style but rather proudly displayed her golden centre. With her large blooms, strong Tea fragrance, featuring hints of lemon and grapefruit - and exceptional health, she has all the characteristics we look for in an English Rose. Named on behalf of the Brontë Society to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of novelist Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights.

2020 s

NYE BEVAN® (Auspital) Named in honour of Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, founder of our National Health Service - following the tumultuous Covid-19 pandemic and a year the nation depended on our NHS more than ever. Unlike other new varieties Nye Bevan didn’t get a glamorous release at Chelsea Flower Show due to Covid-19. Instead, it was released in a limited edition blue pot - the only time we have ever changed the colour from our traditional green. This rose played a central role in raising £100,000 for the NHS and other health-based charities.

SILAS MARNER® (Ausraveloe)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR HEALTH One of many roses from the David Austin Literary Collection, Silas Marner was introduced in 2020 and is named after the flawed heroine of Thomas Hardy’s, The Return of the Native. Silas Marner’s buds are borne on red-tinged stems and unfurl into shallowly cupped blooms with button eyes. As they mature, the almost ruffled petals pale softly towards the outer edges.

DESDEMONA® (Auskindling)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR FRAGRANCE Introduced in 2015, Desdemona is arguably one of the most timeless varieties in the David Austin collection. This shrub rose begins to bloom with perfect peachy pink buds which open to crisp white chalice-shaped blooms. There is an Old Rose fragrance with hints of almond, cucumber and lemon zest. The purity of this rose makes it a modern classic.

OLIVIA ROSE AUSTIN®

(Ausmixture)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR HEALTH Since 2014 this variety has been a true people pleaser, liked by everyone she meets and possibly one of the best roses ever produced. Olivia, as she is fondly known, makes the ultimate easy care rose, ideal for anyone starting out on their English Rose journey. An exceptional all-rounder, she flowers profusely and consistently almost until Christmas and will delight with her perfect pink blooms and medium fruity fragrance.

SPOTLIGHT ON GERTRUDE JEKYLL ®

(Ausbord)

BEST FOR FLOWERING BEST FOR FRAGRANCE

English Shrub Rose 3½ft (110cm) 3ft (90cm) English Climbing Rose 8ft (2.5m)

Famous in her own right, she is much loved and quintessentially English in every way.

BLOOM Beloved for her large show-stopping glowing pink blooms she has been a true star of the David Austin Collection since 1986. She confidently flowers early on, repeating throughout the summer as she puts on an impressive display. Her perfectly scrolled bright pink buds opening to display her mesmerising pink flat rosettes that measure an astounding 4 inches wide.

BEHIND HER NAME Gertrude Jekyll was an influential garden designer and author, who has had a profound effect on the style of English gardens right up to the present day. She advocated incorporating roses in mixed borders and created over 400 picturesque gardens in the UK, Europe and America.

FRAGRANCE She is loved for her strong and classic rose fragrance, which is often described as being the quintessential Old Rose scent. Traditional in nature with warm and heady notes, her fragrance promises to please as you pass by, or snip a few blooms for a vase and enjoy the scent indoors.

HOW TO USE HER As versatile as she is beautiful, she is unusual in her ability to grow both as a shrub and a climber. Her vibrant colour makes a great focal point in a mixed bed or place her in a pot to brighten up a patio. As a climber, grow her around a front door or simply display her against a wall or fence in all her glory.