The Legacy of Fragrance: David Austin Roses
- Leigh
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
For rose enthusiasts, few names carry the weight and respect of David Austin. His English Roses have transformed gardens worldwide, bringing together the best of old and new in a revolution of scent, form, and color. Today, I'd like to share the fascinating story behind these beloved roses, with special attention to what I believe is their most extraordinary quality: their incomparable fragrance.
The History of David Austin Roses
David Austin began his rose-breeding journey in the 1950s in Shropshire, England. As a young farmer with a passion for horticulture, he recognized something important that others had overlooked. The modern hybrid teas and floribundas that dominated the market offered vibrant colors and reliable repeat flowering, but they had lost something essential—the rich fragrance and romantic charm of old garden roses.
Austin's vision was revolutionary yet simple: to combine the best qualities of both worlds. He wanted to create roses with the classic forms and intoxicating scents of old damask, gallica, and alba roses, but with the wider color range and repeat-flowering habit of modern varieties.
His first commercial success came in 1961 with 'Constance Spry,' a beautiful climbing rose with a powerful myrrh fragrance. Though it flowered only once per season (a limitation he would later overcome), this rose marked the beginning of what would become an extraordinary breeding program.
By the 1970s and 1980s, David Austin Roses had gained significant recognition in the UK gardening community. What began as one man's passion developed into a family business that continues today under the direction of David's son, David J.C. Austin, and his grandson, Richard. They maintain the exacting standards of their founder while continuing to innovate and develop new varieties.
The Philosophy of Fragrance
What sets David Austin roses apart in a crowded field of beautiful flowers? For many gardeners, including myself, it's their extraordinary fragrance. This isn't by accident—it's by intention and careful selection.
"Fragrance is one of the most important characteristics that we look for when creating our roses," David Austin once noted. This commitment to scent was revolutionary during an era when many breeders were sacrificing fragrance in favor of other qualities like longevity and disease resistance.
The David Austin breeding program is massive in scale, making approximately 50,000 precisely monitored cross-pollinations each season and growing about 150,000 seedlings per year. Only a small fraction of these seedlings display all the desired characteristics to move forward in the selection process. Fragrance is always a primary consideration.
Legendary Fragrant Varieties
Over the years, certain David Austin roses have become legendary for their exceptional fragrance. For those looking to add some of the most fragrant varieties to their garden, consider these time-tested favorites:
Gertrude Jekyll is considered one of the finest creations of David Austin and has remained one of the most beloved varieties for its fragrance. It features large, rosette-shaped flowers of bright, glowing pink with a fabulously strong old-rose fragrance that many consider the quintessential English rose scent.
Munstead Wood, released in 2007, has quickly become a modern classic. It features deep magenta blooms in an old garden style with a strong, old garden fragrance with distinctive notes of blackberries and damson plums.
Jubilee Celebration is one of the most popular current varieties, featuring large, fully double blossoms in rich salmon-pink with golden tints. Its fragrance evolves intriguingly from a refreshing lemon zest scent to a delectable fruity rose fragrance with hints of lemon and raspberry.
Lady of Shalott is cherished for its prolific blooms, disease resistance, and stunning apricot, chalice-shaped flowers. It exudes a light tea fragrance with unusual hints of spiced apples and cloves.
The Generous Gardener is highly regarded for its fragrance, with large, double flowers that resemble water lilies and emit a delightful scent combining old rose, musk, and myrrh
The Science of Scent
What makes the fragrance of David Austin roses so distinctive is their variety and complexity. Their scents are typically categorized into five main types:
Old Rose-—This was David Austin's favorite fragrance, the classic scent most people associate with traditional roses. It's warm, rich, and deeply romantic.
Myrrh-—an imposing scent with aromatic, licorice warmth of sweet anise that's now almost exclusively found in English roses, especially in pink and apricot varieties.
Fruity-—These fragrances contain notes of various fruits, including apple, raspberry, strawberry, pear, lemon, and even more exotic lychee and guava.
Musk-—Even a small amount of musk rose scent will perfume the air, as it comes from the flower stamens and easily wafts through the garden. Humans are particularly sensitive to musk, allowing us to detect even tiny quantities.
Tea-—A more delicate scent reminiscent of fresh tea leaves, often found in varieties with yellow or apricot tones.
Many David Austin roses combine several of these fragrance notes, creating complex, evolving scents that change with the time of day and as the bloom matures.
My Personal Favorite: The Wedgwood Rose
I've grown many David Austin roses over the years, but one remains my absolute favorite: the Wedgwood Rose. This beautiful variety is considered among the most exquisite of all David Austin roses, prized for its repeat-flowering capabilities and large blooms.
The Wedgwood Rose represents everything that makes David Austin roses special - beauty, resilience, and timeless charm. It's more than just a plant in my garden; it's a living testament to the enduring appeal of well-bred roses and their ability to transform any space into something magical.
The Wedgwood Rose forms a superb climber, sending up many shoots from the base of the plant. Its large, soft pink blooms have delicate, gossamer-like outer petals that create an ethereal, romantic effect in the garden.
What makes it truly special is its distinctive fragrance, described as a delightful fruity scent that is distinctly grapefruit in character with hints of clove. I love having a vase of beautiful pink roses that smell like heaven each summer.
What I particularly appreciate about The Wedgwood Rose is its reliability. It's among the most disease-free of the English Roses, and it forms either a large, rampant shrub (excellent as a back border plant) or a magnificent climber against walls, fences, or pillars.
If you've never experienced this rose, I highly recommend adding it to your garden. While David Austin occasionally retires certain varieties to make room for new introductions, the Wedgwood Rose remains available through their website and select nurseries.
Cultivating Fragrance in Your Garden
For those looking to maximize the fragrant potential of David Austin roses, consider these tips from my years of experience:
Placement matters—plant fragrant roses near paths, seating areas, or windows where their scent can be appreciated.
Morning and evening peaks: Most roses release their strongest fragrance in the morning and early evening when temperatures are moderate.
Weather conditions: Fragrance is typically strongest on warm, humid days with little wind. Cool, dry conditions can diminish scent.
Soil health: Roses in healthy, well-nourished soil produce a more robust fragrance. A balanced organic fertilizer maintains optimal conditions.
Deadheading-—Regular deadheading encourages new blooms and continuous fragrance throughout the season.
Conclusion
In an age where many modern flowers have been bred for appearance at the expense of scent, David Austin roses stand as a testament to the importance of fragrance in the garden experience. They remind us that a rose should engage all our senses—not just our eyes, but our nose as well.
Whether you're a long-time rose enthusiast or just beginning your garden journey, I encourage you to explore the world of David Austin roses with their intoxicating blend of beauty and fragrance. Your garden—and your senses—will thank you.
What's your favorite fragrant David Austin rose? Share your experiences in the comments below!