If our garden could never be without one plant, it would be roses. And if you know our garden, you know that means David Austin Roses.
During our trip to England, we had the incredible opportunity to visit the home of David Austin Roses in the English Midlands for a behind-the-scenes look at how these beloved English roses are bred, tested, grown, and selected.
What we discovered was so much more than a rose garden.
It was decades of breeding, artistry, experimentation, and an almost obsessive pursuit of beauty, fragrance, disease resistance, and garden performance.
If you love roses, English gardens, or you’re trying to choose the right roses for your own garden, come along with us inside David Austin Roses.
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Grow for Me Gardening.
David Austin didn’t set out to become a traditional rose breeder.
In the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the rose world was dominated by hybrid tea roses. They were elegant, upright, and formal.
But David Austin wanted something different.
He envisioned a rose with the charm and fragrance of old garden roses, combined with repeat blooming, graceful growth, and the ability to blend naturally into mixed borders and garden plantings.
That vision eventually became what we now know as English Roses.
His first major introduction, Constance Spry, launched in 1961. But true recognition came later when varieties like Graham Thomas and Mary Rose captivated visitors at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Today, David Austin Roses are grown and loved around the world.
One of the most fascinating parts of our visit was seeing the actual breeding process.
And honestly, the scale is staggering.
Thousands of rose crosses are made every year.
The process begins with carefully selected parent roses grown in greenhouses. During flowering season, breeders collect pollen from one rose and transfer it by hand onto another flower using a paintbrush.
Every cross is labeled.
Every seed matters.
Later in the season, rose hips are harvested and the seeds are removed, counted, chilled, and eventually sown in trays much like vegetable or flower seedlings.
From there?
The real work begins.
David Austin’s breeding program evaluates hundreds of thousands of seedlings.
Yes. Hundreds of thousands.
Most never make it.
Breeders walk row after row looking for something special:
And sometimes, simply… something different.
One of the biggest takeaways from our visit was this:
A great rose is incredibly difficult to create.
Want a deep red rose?
Hard.
Want pure white?
Also hard.
Want fragrance, disease resistance, strong growth, beautiful foliage, and repeat flowering all in one plant?
That can take well over a decade.
Before a David Austin rose is introduced, it spends years moving through trials, field testing, propagation, evaluations, and patenting.
The roses that eventually make it to gardeners have survived an extraordinary amount of scrutiny.
People often ask, “What exactly is an English Rose?”
The answer surprised us.
English Roses are not necessarily old roses.
They are actually a modern class of roses bred in England, combining genetics from roses around the world.
What sets them apart is their combination of:
That last point matters.
One thing David Austin disliked about traditional hybrid teas was their rigid, upright habit.
English roses are designed to feel softer, fuller, and more integrated into the garden.
And that’s exactly why we love them.
We saw so many stunning varieties during our tour, but a few truly stood out.
An absolute classic.
Known for its unforgettable fragrance, Gertrude Jekyll® has even been voted a favorite rose internationally.
For many gardeners, this is the benchmark for classic rose perfume.
Always one of the earliest bloomers in our own garden.
Named after David Austin’s granddaughter, this rose is incredibly floriferous, healthy, and beautifully balanced.
One of our personal favorites.
Warm apricot-orange blooms, gorgeous color shifts, and outstanding garden presence.
If you love warm tones in the garden, this one deserves a spot on your list.
We were especially excited to see Danahue™, a newer introduction with rich coloring, dark buds, and beautiful foliage.
Its naming story is equally meaningful, supporting community gardening efforts connected to the Grenfell Fire charity work.
If you’re looking for a more pollinator-friendly style rose, Tottering-by-Gently® deserves attention.
Its simple yellow blooms bring a softer, more naturalistic look that works beautifully in wildlife-focused gardens.
Another standout for pollinators and mixed borders.
Simple flowers, exceptional disease resistance, and incredible versatility.
Beyond the roses themselves, the gardens offered so many design ideas.
One of our favorite lessons?
Mix roses with perennials.
Rather than treating roses as isolated specimens, David Austin gardens weave them through:
This extends seasonal interest, supports pollinators, and creates a softer, more natural look.
We also loved seeing:
(Perfect excuse to add more roses, right?)
One piece of advice really stayed with us.
You can prune thoughtfully.
You can guide growth.
But ultimately?
You cannot completely tell a rose what to do.
Let your garden evolve.
Allow your plants to teach you.
Gardens change over time, and sometimes the best results come from working with your plants instead of forcing perfection.
That felt like a fitting lesson to bring home from England.
Seeing the gardens, breeding greenhouses, and rose collections in person was an unforgettable experience.
Huge thank you to David Austin Roses and Dye for sharing their expertise, history, and favorite roses with us.
If you love roses, English gardens, or simply beautiful plants, you won’t want to miss the full video tour.
And if you missed the rest of our England adventures, be sure to check out our Chelsea Flower Show coverage too.
Join our gardening journey and grow alongside us. From seed starting to full garden tours, we share tips, inspiration, and the joy of growing beautiful spaces.
We respect your privacy and will never share your information. Thanks for growing with us!
Get seasonal tips, behind-the-scenes from our garden, and be the first to know what we’re planting, pruning, and loving.
As a thank you, we’ll send you our favorite tried-and-true plants — the ones we grow in our own garden.
