David Austin Rose Obsession

[andthebandmarchedon]

I have developed an (unhealthy) obsession with David Austin Roses since lockdown. My sourdough baking morphed into gardening once I had that cracked and now I have a collection of six roses. Please don’t count how much I’ve spent (or tell my husband) and that’s not even counting the huge pots they require 😳. I now follow threads on FB and Instagram and google pictures and even (embarrassingly) have a spreadsheet with my favourites and their qualities.
Anyone else been similarly afflicted?

Have you been to their nursery? The show gardens are utterly lovely in June. And....they have a sad plant sale section which I cannot leave without rescuing something from!

@bilbodog what a stunning garden. Lucky you!
Very much enjoying all the photos.
I had no idea there was a David Austin garden. On the list for post lockdown visits.

Not the point of the thread but my roses have been terrible this year.

I love the roses from David Austin. I have Claire Austin and just this week took delivery of 3 olivia for my new bed I am creating. They always come well packed and look so well on arrival. I have been planning my new bed for two years and with lockdown have took the opportunity to get on with it. Also bought my sister the Emily bronte for her birthday. I did it as a surprise and it was a bare root and she was a bit 😐 but it is growing well already.

@KingOfDogShite

I like some DA roses but I’ve been disappointed with a couple that I’ve had this year ( princess Alexandra of Kent and Sir John betjeman) as the necks are so droopy the roses face the floor which seems a complete waste of time. I’ll give them a couple of years and see if the neck strength improves as they mature, in not they’ll be coming out. They’re expensive for plants you can’t see won’t put having to physically lift the flower.

The best rose I’ve bought this year is a yellow Arther Bell - it’s strong growing, upright and smells delicious!

I have heard this about DA roses, and that they do improve after two or three years.

I also ADORE my Arthur Bell and my Lavender Lassie. A fraction of the cost of DA and very classically rosey-looking.

@Beebumble2 those pics are divine, though. waves to @AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet**

@custardbear do you have a clear shot of the leaves /stalks? I can't see black spot from your pic above.

@DDemelza I’ll keep my eyes out for Lavender Lassie! Thanks 😊

You’re right about the cost too, my Arther Bell was £8 and looking magnificent.

I’ve had a bit of a DA rose splurge this year. I bought Vanessa Bell and Anne Boleyn for the main bed and The Generous Gardener and Wollerton Old Hall to grow up the front of the house.

I particularly like WOH because it has a lovely scent and it’s by the front door so I always have a sniff when I go in and out.

It’s funny because I was late to roses, but now I can see a bit of an obsession starting

As you all love roses can i recommend rosa banksia lutea - rambler with no thorns, grows quickly once it gets going and flowers early with small pom pom pale Yellow flowers. Not much scent but looks fantastic - photo from our previous house and im about to plant one up the front of hew house.

That's gorgeous, bilbo

I love David Austin roses too. They are just so beautiful. My favourites are scented, repeat flowering roses in shades of yellow / apricot. I would always find a spot in my garden for a rose. :)

How lovely to see I’m not alone! I potted my latest acquisition this morning, Olivia Rose Austin. I already have one and it’s gorgeous! I thought I only really liked all shades of pink, purple, blue and white in flowers but my neighbours has a glorious creamy yellow DA rose so I’m being converted. Does anyone know what it might be? She can’t remember the name. It’s really tall, possibly a climber and has clusters of several huge blooms at a time - some are more cream, apricot and some yellow.

And to those who mentioned visiting the DA gardens, I would so love to do this! It's been closed this summer due to Covid sadly so will plan to go next year. Gives me time to plan my next few purchases which I will choose when I'm there!
I completely agree that tending to them gives a lovely grounding feeling. I've never been into gardening before, am more of a reader / thinker however have found under lockdown that doing practical, tangible things has really helped me relax and live in the moment. I just fell in love with the DA roses when I discovered them. I didn't realise that roses really looked like this, being used to the hybrid teas etc. And I LOVE them! Make me very happy every day.

Bumping for you, OP. Hopefully someone will know. I have Claire Austin but it's more of a creamy white, rather than creamy yellow. You can always take a picture along to where you buy them

Can anyone recommend any they’ve found to be good in shady areas?

@andthebandmarchedon

How lovely to see I’m not alone! I potted my latest acquisition this morning, Olivia Rose Austin. I already have one and it’s gorgeous! I thought I only really liked all shades of pink, purple, blue and white in flowers but my neighbours has a glorious creamy yellow DA rose so I’m being converted. Does anyone know what it might be? She can’t remember the name. It’s really tall, possibly a climber and has clusters of several huge blooms at a time - some are more cream, apricot and some yellow.

Could it be any of these?

• Ghislaine de Féligonde (not bred by DA, but they grow and sell them www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/ghislaine-de-feligonde)

• Bathsheba www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/bathsheba

• Wollerton Old Hall www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/wollerton-old-hall

Sorry, extra bracket added to end of first link. It should say www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/ghislaine-de-feligonde

Watching with interest. I have a nice sunny spot for a rose.

Would like something pink and scented.

I hear Gertrude Jekyll is pink and scented. ;)

I too had a lockdown splurge! Been wanting to do this for ages, so created a little “avenue” from my front gate. Olivia Rose Austin standards and Gabriel Oak shrubs. The scent is gorgeous on a warm day and it really does lift my spirits every time I pull up on the driveway.

And a Lichfield Angel in memory of my gorgeous cat who was PTS 4 days before lockdown 💕🐾

I have acquired two during lockdown and it's now becoming an obsession on the next one!

I have the Roald Dahl and the Molineux and they're both gorgeous.

Am thinking of a potted Claire Austin climber for my next one...

Here’s my Gertrude Jekyll - the last birthday gift from my mum before she died.

Lovely lovely roses. I bought 3 from David Austin last year and soon discovered rose people can be sniffy when you call roses DA roses when it is one they sell rather than one they bred. So I bought 2 DA roses last year (The Generous Gardener and Claire Austin) and one from DA (Royal William). I have since become over interested in roses and have bought 6 more actual David Austin roses and 13 others. DA roses all have AUS----as their registration names.

Which is the best one for a pot in a south-east facing courtyard garden. Ideally highly fragrant and white/light pink?

I've bought the pilgrim and kliftsgate from DA in lockdown. I agree op, the roses have become an obsession.