Welcome

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF ROSES

As we enter a fresh new season with its promise of good things to come, it is my privilege to welcome you to our celebratory 60th edition of the David Austin Handbook of Roses 2022. This year marks a significant milestone in our story and our ground-breaking journey to create an ever more beautiful rose.

The last six decades have seen extraordinary change across every aspect of life, that we have all been swept along with. As a business we have continued to embrace change, adjusting to the ever-evolving landscape and introducing new ways of working. We adapt with optimism, staying true to our pioneering spirit and steadfast vision to bring English Roses to the world. It can be difficult to hold on to a constant amongst so much transformation yet there is one that remains; nature. Reliable and reassuring, yet wholly uncontrollable, her seasons return year after year bringing their own challenges and rewards.

The seasons are a reminder of our innate and eternal dependency on nature, our enduring need for outdoor spaces, for sunlight and our desire for roses. As styles and tastes change, so too does our need to evolve our outdoor spaces - to refresh, replenish and fill them with the abundance of colour, scent and joy of roses. This year we feel privileged to introduce two wonderful new varieties to our collection; Elizabeth (Ausmajesty), named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest serving monarch, and Bring Me Sunshine (Ausernie), which pays homage to the great comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise. These new roses represent the ability to lift the spirits and bring joy, all with a reassuring sense of dependability in this changing world. Starting life amongst 15,000 new seedlings in 2011, each of these new introductions is equal parts tradition and innovation. From the hand-breeding techniques used in the earliest days, coupled with decades of passed on learning and expertise, to the use of the latest sustainable technologies and the inherent innovation and experimentation required to create something new; every David Austin English Rose is a masterpiece of human ingenuity and nature’s work. It is true to say that ‘to enjoy the rose, one must brave the thorns’ and our endeavours over the past 60 years have not been without their challenges. World events as well as difficult and testing times have certainly made their presence felt. We look forward to what the summer holds, from the promise of sunshine and new blooms to celebrations surrounding Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We are proud that our collection of roses continues to be inspired by royalty and are honoured to welcome Elizabeth (Ausmajesty) to the fold. We would like to thank all of our customers and rose enthusiasts worldwide for sharing our passion. Seeing you delight in our creations fuels our fervour, enriching us with the inspiration to move forward on our privileged journey. In this special 60th edition handbook, we invite you to sit awhile and take the time to lose yourself in an enchanting world of roses, as we open our doors to the people, plants and places that make David Austin Roses the wonderfully eccentric home of the English Rose. We wish you the very best for the seasons ahead,

David J. C. Austin

FULL COLLECTION ONLINE AT davidaustinroses.co.uk

LIVE CHAT | SOCIAL | EMAIL | 0800 111 4699 (free to call) SCAN HERE to shop online and discover the rose varieties in more detail

A view through the trees: always re-inventing a classic, the late Mr Austin had the idea to create a stilted Hornbeam hedge with twisted and intertwined growth, which private guests have commented on as being highly unusual. Maintained by our Head Gardener, Steve, it was first trained and pruned using a wire frame, and in the latter years, by eye. Mr Austin’s roses can also be viewed in between the hedge’s structure, which allows more light to shine through to help the roses grow.

60 YEARS OF UNRIVALLED BREEDING EXPERTISE

We are David Austin Roses

WE TAKE EVERY CARE TO BREED, GROW AND DELIVER THE BEST ROSES.

Our iconic green pots and golden seal are a trusted symbol of horticultural heritage and quality.

Farmers, rose experts and hybridists, we are the creators of the English Rose. Based in Shropshire, we meticulously breed and grow fabulous rose plants for you to enjoy in your gardens for many years. Rooted in 60 years of horticultural heritage, our roses are tolerant, easy to grow and come in a joyful spectrum of colours and fragrances. Loved for their magnificent many petalled blooms, each variety has its own unique beauty and character, contributing flowers and fragrance to any garden from June until December, year after year. There is nothing quite like English Roses; they quickly become a way of life, a passion and a wonderfully rewarding pastime. Just ask any of us.

5YEAR PROMISE

PLANT WITH PEACE OF MIND If a rose fails to grow or arrives damaged, we will replace it free of charge. That’s the David Austin promise.

Behind this door awaits one of our rose breeding houses. Millions of seedlings have passed through these doors, crafted, planted, and analysed in readiness to create the next unique rose variety. Housed in these buildings are the secrets of the delicate breeding process and the stories of varieties which were never released.