David Austin Roses Limited

USING DAVID AUSTIN ENGLISH ROSES IN THE AUSTRALIAN GARDEN
English Roses are remarkably adaptable plants, growing in
extreme climates around the world. Once they become well
established in the garden, which usually takes a year or so,
they are remarkably drought tolerant, though they will
reward extra care by being more floriferous. They can be
used to excellent effect, in a wide variety of ways. Here are
a few suggestions that you may find helpful.
MIXED BORDERS
English Roses are shrub roses and so look particularly at home in
a mixed border; indeed, this is where most people grow them.
Their sumptuous blooms provide a welcome contrast to the
lighter and more airy flowers of most perennials. The softer
colours of the English Roses harmonise perfectly with the colours
of most other plants.They have the great benefit of continuing to
flower when many plants and shrubs are over. No rose likes too
much competition and it is advisable to surround them with plants
that are not too invasive. Wherever possible, we advise planting in
groups of three or more although, in small borders, single plants
are very satisfactory.
Noble Antony in a mixed border at David Austin Rose Gardens in the UK The Renaissance Garden at David Austin Roses
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ROSE BORDERS
A border of English Roses is hard to beat for sheer exuberance of
flower and fragrance. The roses will flower from late spring/early
summer through to the cooler weather of winter, providing a
whole range of delicious fragrances. Some people prefer to use a
limited range of harmonising colours, such as only varieties of
white, blush pink, pink, crimson and purple, or just white, yellow,
apricot and peach - but this is in no way essential. With the
sophisticated shades of the English Roses, a mixture of the whole
range of colours works wonderfully well. Always plant in groups
of three or more, if space permits, to create structure and
movement in the border and enable each variety to make a
definite statement.
ROSE BEDS
There are a number of English Roses that grow, even in the warmer
summers of Australia, to no more than 1–1.3m, which make
wonderful bedding roses: Darcey Bussell, Miss Alice, Molineux,
Munstead Wood, Sophy’s Rose and so on. These are short and
bushy and repeat-flower well. In larger beds, the range of
possibilities becomes much wider and taller varieties can be used.