David Austin Roses (English Roses)

David Austin Roses need no introduction. Like many other gardeners I have become totally captivated by the old-fashioned look of these beautiful roses.

At one eager and early stage at Mooseys I thought I would try and have a complete collection - one of every David Austin rose ever introduced into New Zealand. I've since regained some moderation, but I'm always on the look out for new varieties.

Some of the David Austin roses grow tall in New Zealand gardens - so I often plant them against a fence, or some other support. Some have failed me (like the fragile Heritage, which has never been healthy), while others like Graham Thomas reward me by huge clusters of beautiful flowers throughout the summer.

Books which feature David Austin roses are almost as beautiful as the real thing! The flower colours are amazing, particularly the subtle pastels. The names are evocative, too.

David Austin roses are also known as 'English' roses. I hope you'll find your favourite English rose in my David Austin rose collection.

William Shakespeare RoseWilliam Shakespeare Rose...
Sun 8th Feb 2009
William Shakespeare is one of my favourite playwrights. But the rose that bears his name has been unspectacular in my garden - until this summer.
Teasing Georgia RoseTeasing Georgia Rose...
Sat 31st May 2008
Teasing Georgia is one of the latest David Austin English Roses to grace my garden. She's a subtle charmer, with flowers of the most beautifully soft marmalade yellow colour.
Othello RoseOthello Rose...
Fri 18th Feb 2005
If I was only allowed to grow one David Austin rose I think I'd choose the beautifully fragrant Othello. Its perfume is absolutely gorgeous - whether in the garden or in a vase inside the house.
The Pilgrim RoseThe Pilgrim Rose...
Sat 1st Jan 2005
The Pilgrim was one of my early yellow rose purchases. It is a so-called English rose bred by David Austin, and the flowers are a soft lemon colour.
Windrush RoseWindrush Rose...
Sat 1st Jan 2005
In my opinion Windrush is one of David Austin's most successful roses for a country garden, blending the old-fashioned look with robust growth and repeat flowering. I grow it on the hitching rail by the Stables.
Graham ThomasGraham Thomas...
Tue 21st Dec 2004
Graham Thomas was one of the very first David Austin roses that I bought for the garden. I didn't realise then how big it would grow, but luckily I planted it alongside the house fence.
English Elegance RoseEnglish Elegance Rose...
Fri 17th Dec 2004
The name says it all - as if it is describing the head gardener! English Elegance is a beautiful David Austin English rose, with flat (and fat) petal-laden flower-heads. I feel a great affinity with this rose...
The NunThe Nun...
Fri 17th Dec 2004
David Austin has bred many beautiful white roses like this one, called The Nun. I rescued her from a bargain sale table, but her first flowering season was a disaster (the flowers balled in the rain).
Gertrude JekyllGertrude Jekyll...
Fri 17th Dec 2004
I know this is the David Austin rose Gertrude Jekyll by its sweetly scented pink flowers and the picture on its label. In my garden these roses don't grow well if they are crowded with other plants, and I've had to move them several times.
Redcoat RoseRedcoat Rose...
Thu 16th Dec 2004
Redcoat is one of the early David Austin English roses. I have two shrubs which used to grow in a mixed border. They were far too straggly, so I shifted them to lean on a small fence by the woodshed - much better.
Mary RoseMary Rose...
Tue 14th Dec 2004
Mary Rose should be my favourite rose, for the name if nothing else! This was my first David Austin rose, purchased when I knew very little about roses. The idea of an English Rose was appealing to me as an ex-pat, and Mary Rose promised a soft pink flower.
Golden CelebrationGolden Celebration...
Tue 30th Nov 2004
I've been worshipping the wrong Golden Celebration for years, as a result of an incorrect label. This is the real one with golden egg yolk yellow flowers whose initial form is softly cupped. To me Golden Celebration seems faintly fragrant.
Charles Austin RoseCharles Austin Rose...
Fri 26th Nov 2004
Charles Austin is one of the most beautiful of the tall David Austin English shrub roses, and was named for the breeder's father. It has huge flower-heads which are packed with apricot-pink petals.
Geoff Hamilton RoseGeoff Hamilton Rose...
Thu 25th Nov 2004
Geoff Hamilton is one of the latest David Austin English roses to join my garden. This summer it has decided to bloom beautifully. The flowers are light pink, and very pretty, in an old-fashioned rose way.
Constance SpryConstance Spry...
Sun 21st Nov 2004
I think of Constance Spry as the mother of all English roses - these were introduced to the rose world by Englishman David Austin. I have one Constance Spry which sprawls over the fence behind the Septic Tank Garden.
Abraham Darby RoseAbraham Darby Rose...
Thu 18th Nov 2004
Abraham Darby is a David Austin English rose which has been around for a while now. It is one of the strongest growing and most beautiful for New Zealand gardens.
Sharifa AsmaSharifa Asma...
Tue 16th Mar 2004
It's my bad luck that the beautifully fragrant rose Sharifa Asma is situated far away from garden seats and paths. It is a David Austin rose, and rivals Othello for perfume. This photo was taken in early Autumn.
The Alexandra RoseThe Alexandra Rose...
Thu 2nd Mar 2000
The Alexandra rose is a single David Austin rose with delicate pink and soft yellow single flowers. My books tell me it should be useful in a mixed border. My Alexandra rose is a bit straggly in its present position, and is taking part in the next Great Autumn Shift.
Molyneux RoseMolyneux Rose...
Sun 13th Feb 2000
Either the books and the label are both wrong about the Molyneux rose, or my nose isn't working any more. I can't smell any scent on this beautiful flat yellow rose, though I'm assured it has a strong tea rose fragrance.
John ClareJohn Clare...
Thu 27th Jan 2000
This rose was rescued from the bargain bin at a local nursery. The pink is deep yet soft, and seems to glow - especially in setting and rising sun. John Clare could lead a revival for the colour pink - and he would look amazing next to a bronze-purple flax.

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