David Austin English Roses

David Austin began his remarkable work crossing the Old Garden Roses (OGRs) with modern repeat flowering varieties back in the 1950s.  Not until the 1980s did these varieties take the U.S. by storm and blossom into extreme popularity.  In some venues the Austin Roses are listed as Shrub roses as they are generally taller than 4' when mature and can be used individually for specimen planting or grown in multiples for a mass planting of color, or even as a floriferous hedge, or a climber (depending on your climate). Those below beginning with AUS (for David AUStin) we must sell by the rose's generic trade name because the common name has been trademarked. Hardiness will vary with the particular parentage, typically +/- Zone 5.

Our plants are own-root (not grafted) and shipped in 6" band pots (not bareroot).  See the availability list for prices and ordering.

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AUSbath see The Wife of Bath

AUSblush (Austin 1984) To quote David Austin Roses, "one of the most popular of our English Roses" and that says a lot among his very popular creations! Perfect cupped blooms of soft pink with nearly white outer petals. A strong and bushy plant with excellent repeating. Nearly thornless stems to form a bush 5 x 4 ft. or a 6+ ft. climber. Quite fragrant, but I'll spare you the Austin description that reads like a good wine. This is a special photo because it was taken on the morning of 9/11/01 just before we heard of the terrorist attacks. We pray that all that is good in our heritage will outshine the evils of this world.






AUSchild see Fisherman's Friend
AUSfather see Charles Austin
AUSjess see Pretty Jessica
AUSlean see Cymbaline

AUSmary (Austin 1983) Very double cupped medium pink flowers. One of the best known and most widely grown of the English roses. Continuous bloom, very fragrant, glossy mid-green foliage. One friend described the fragrance like that of cold-cream. The Austin catalog says, "Old Rose character with a hint of honey and almond blossom". OK in a big pot. 4 x 3 ft.






AUSport see Wise Portia
AUStamora see Tamora
AUSuel see Emanuel
AUSyeo see The Yeoman


Charles Austin (AUSfather) (Austin 1973) Large, full, very fragrant, apricot-fading-to yellow blooms on arching and plentiful mid-green foliage. This tall shrub is a "must-have" for apricot rose lovers. Tolerates hard pruning between bloom cycles. Can also be trained as a climber or pillar rose, or pegged into arching canes. 8+ x 5 ft. Hardy to zone 4 or 5, and it's turned out to be quite healthy for us.

Cymbaline (Austin 1983) Light pink with an unusual distinct silver-grey cast, myrrh-scented, spreading 6 x 8 ft., good for a low fence or self-pegging. Z4/5









Emanuel (Austin 1985) Apricot blend, strong fruity fragrance, 5+ x 4 ft., excellent for pegging to get lots of flowers along each arched cane, rather than one bunch at the end of each tall cane.

Fisherman's Friend (AUSchild - Austin 1988) Very large full flower of deep crimson/magenta - a very difficult flower to capture on film as every time I look at it it's a different shade. The most fruity fragrant Austin we carry.  Mid-green foliage. OK in a big pot. 4 x 3 ft.






Heritage see AUSblush
Mary Rose see AUSmary

Pretty Jessica (Austin 1983) Medium to dark pink. Cupped fragrant flowers on a low-growing shrub rose from David Austin. The lighter pink outer petals reflex back framing the darker inner petals. Almost thornless canes and good medium green foliage. Clair Martin says this is one of Austin's best and most dependable bloomers even with its slight inclination for fungus diseases. One of the few upright English Shrub Roses for smaller gardens or a pot staying 3 x 2 ft., though many recommend planting them in masses of 3 or more plants.



Tamora (AUStamora 1983) Another highly fragrant (if you like myrrh) Austin rose, but with controlled size. Beautiful apricot and pink blend medium-sized flowers on a stout bush of 3 x 3 ft. A neighbor near our first home had a young plant thriving in a medium-sized pot.

The Wife of Bath (AUSbath - Austin 1969)  Pink blend flowers with recurved petals.  Quite fragrant of myrrh. This is one of Austin's earliest creations and sets the stage for his amazing career.  It seems to be well behaved and actually stays about 4 x 3 ft.  In wetter climates it might experience some mildew.  Z4/5

The Yeoman (Austin 1969) Pink/yellow/apricot. 3" flowers, very fragrant. Not the easiest Austin to get established, but worth the effort for the diehard collector. 3+ x 2+ ft.







Wife of Bath see The Wife of Bath

Wise Portia (AUSport Austin 1983) One of the best (and few) of the low-growing Austins. Cherry to mauve pink buds and flowers, very fragrant with heavenly old rose scent, flowers open to loose rosette shapes. Very dependable and always in bloom.  One of my top 12. 3 x 3 ft.









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