Three new roses from David Austin

I don't need to tell you about David Austin Roses. Since their first new variety appeared in 1961 everyone’s got to hear about, and grow, these lovely varieties which bring together the colour and fragrance of old roses with the long flowering season and disease resistance of the best modern breeding.

Every year David Austin introduce a collection of new varieties and while one of last year’s newcomers, Thomas à Becket ('Auswinston'), is one of the leading additions to the 2014 RHS Plant Finder, three more are now available to order after being revealed to the world at the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace Flower Shows.

The Poet’s Wife (‘Auswhisper’) (top) is the first yellow rose that David Austin Roses have introduced for more than ten years. Reaching only 1.2m (4ft) in height, the rich yellow flowers are set against glossy foliage and do not fade as they age. They come with a heady fragrance which begins strongly lemon in character and becomes sweeter as the flowers mature.

David Austin say that Olivia Rose Austin (‘Ausmixture’) (centre) is “possibly the best rose that we have introduced”. OK, even allowing for over-enthusiasm from their PR department it must be pretty good. A classic old rose shape, with a ring of pale pink outer petals shaping the delicately packed richer pink centre, the flowers have a strong fruity scent. Even neater in growth than The Poet’s Wife, at 90cm (35in), they also note that this is one of the most disease-resistant roses they have ever introduced.

Finally, something a little different: Lady Of The Lake (‘Ausherbert’) (bottom), a repeat flowering rambler rose. The open clusters of soft pink semi-double flowers surround a mass of golden stamens and come with a soft citrus scent which, as the plant matures and reaches 3-4m (10-12ft), will waft around the garden. Most ramblers give us one short and dramatic burst of flowers but this one repeat flowers all summer.

All three of these new introductions can be ordered now for delivery as bare root plants from November onwards.

You can order bare root plants of The Poet’s Wife (‘Auswhisper’), Olivia Rose Austin (‘Ausmixture’) and Lady Of The Lake (‘Ausherbert’)  from David Austin Roses.

** Please note the contents of this blog reflect the views of its author and are not necessarily those of the RHS **