What are David Austin English Roses?

In the world of roses, David Austin roses have long been a popular flower choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Known for their classic beauty and fragrant blooms, these hybrids combine the best characteristics of old garden and modern shrub roses. The result is a plant with large, fragrant blossoms that also feature repeat blooms in a variety of colours. With so many shapes and sizes available, there is a David Austin rose for every landscape — whether you’re looking to create a vibrant border or add some elegance to your patio or balcony. In this article, we discuss the most important things you need to know about David Austin roses and how to grow them in your own garden.

David Austin Pat Austin

What is a David Austin Rose?

David Austin roses are some of the most well-known and popular varieties of roses, but many beginner gardeners wonder: What is so special about David Austin roses? As the name suggests, David Austin began creating this rose variety in the 1960s & 1970s by cross-breeding old garden roses, specifically gallicas, with more contemporary varieties like hybrid teas and floribundas. The result was a unique hybrid with intensely fragrant, deeply cupped double blossoms in a variety of different colours. Nowadays, David Austin’s legacy of flowers continues to be cherished among garden enthusiasts and rosarians, with some of his roses becoming the most beautiful ever introduced.

How to Grow David Austin Roses in Your Garden

Gardeners often have many questions when growing delicate flowers such as roses, and David Austin roses are no different. Some of the most common questions include, When do David Austin roses bloom? And Are David Austin roses disease resistant?

To achieve optimal rose growth and gorgeous healthy blooms, there are several steps you should take during the planting process in your own garden. First, select a planting location that receives at least five hours of sunlight each day. Experienced David Austin rose growers recommend planting in an east, west, or south-facing area, since morning sun is ideal. Ideally roses should be planted away from trees as they do not thrive when competing with other plants at the root level, however the David Austin roses can be planted in groups of two or three so each bush appears fuller. Most varieties bloom from spring and through till autumn, so it is important to prune the plants in winter before new growth starts.

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What are David Austin Roses?

In the world of roses, David Austin roses have long been a popular flower choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Known for their classic beauty and fragrant blooms, these hybrids combine the best characteristics of old garden and modern shrub roses. The result is a plant with large, fragrant blossoms that also feature repeat blooms in a variety of colours. With so many shapes and sizes available, there is a David Austin rose for every landscape — whether you’re looking to create a vibrant border or add some elegance to your patio or balcony. In this article, we discuss the most important things you need to know about David Austin roses and how to grow them in your own garden.

What is a David Austin Rose?

David Austin roses are some of the most well-known and popular varieties of roses, but many beginner gardeners wonder: What is so special about David Austin roses? As the name suggests, David Austin created this rose variety in the 1970s by cross-breeding old garden roses, specifically gallicas, with more contemporary varieties like hybrid teas and floribundas. The result was a unique hybrid with intensely fragrant, deeply cupped double blossoms in a vibrant medium pink colour. Nowadays, David Austin’s legacy of flowers continues to be cherished among garden enthusiasts and rosarians, with some of his roses becoming the most expensive ever introduced.

What are the Best David Austin Roses?

David Austin roses come in many shapes, sizes and colours, which makes them the perfect rose to plant if you’re hoping to achieve a particular aesthetic in your own garden. Here are three of the best David Austin rose varieties to grow this year.

Abraham Darby

One of the most popular David Austin roses is the Abraham Darby, a well-rounded rose that was introduced by David Austin in 1985. It can grow up to 1.5 metres in height and width, and produces very large cup-shaped flowers in shades of apricot and yellow, which turn coral-pink as they age. With its strong and fruity fragrance that has a refreshing sharpness, this rose is a repeat bloomer, producing blooms of a large size with many petals.

ROSE ABRAHAM DARBY – Garden Express Australia

Molineux

The Molineux rose is a medium-sized shrub rose perfect for adding a touch of sunshine to any garden. Introduced by David Austin in 1994, this rose bears neat rosette blooms of a medium size, which start out tinged with orange and quickly turn a rich yellow colour. It is one of the most fragrant David Austin roses, with a light to medium musky tea rose scent and a compact growth habit reaching up to 90cm in height and width.

Rose Molineux – Garden Express Australia

Othello

The Othello rose is a magnificent addition to any garden, with large cup-shaped flowers filled with fluffy petals of crimson, and lighter shades of red. This rose variety produces a strong fragrance that is perfect for mass planting, rose and cottage gardens. The Othello rose thrives in full sun to part shade and requires little maintenance once it is established. This makes it an ideal choice for garden enthusiasts who want to add a touch of beauty to their garden without too much effort.

DAVID AUSTIN ROSE – OTHELLO – Garden Express Australia

How to Grow David Austin Roses in Your Garden

Gardeners often have many questions when growing delicate flowers such as roses, and David Austin roses are no different. Some of the most common questions include, When do David Austin roses bloom? And Are David Austin roses disease resistant?

To achieve optimal rose growth and gorgeous healthy blooms, there are several steps you should take during the planting process in your own garden. First, select a planting location that receives at least five hours of sunlight each day. Experienced David Austin rose growers recommend planting in an east, west, or south-facing area, since morning sun is ideal. The roses should be planted away from trees as they do not thrive when competing with other plants at the root level, however the David Austin roses can be planted in groups of two or three so each bloom appears fuller. Most varieties bloom in spring and can last until autumn, so it is important to prune the plants in winter before new growth starts.

The frequency of watering will depend on various factors such as the weather, soil type, and the size of the plant. As a general guideline, you may need to water your roses once or twice a week during the growing season, but it’s important to check the soil moisture regularly and adjust the watering schedule accordingly. David Austin roses should be watered deeply once the top few centimetres of soil have dried out. You can help the soil retain moisture by placing about three centimetres of well-rotted compost mulch around the plants, and feed the roses regularly with organic fertilisers.

If you’re looking to add some gorgeous David Austin roses to your home, Garden Express has everything you need to get started. Give us a call on 1300 606 242, or fill out our online contact form to find the perfect roses for your growing flower collection.