David Austin Roses' Literary Collection of English Roses
Our English rose varieties inspired by literary classics
Featured rose Lady of Shalott
Creating a rose is not dissimilar to writing a literary classic; both take patience, dedication and an innate understanding of the subject. A keen writer and poet, David Austin Snr. was a lover of literature spending many an hour among his beautiful roses with a good book. It is therefore not surprising that many of those beloved characters, tales and poems feature in our rose collection.
Introduced in 2009 to mark Alfred Lord Tennyson's 200th birthday, Lady of Shalott beautifully embodies the enchanting essence of Tennyson's famous poem. This vigorous and versatile shrub produces rich orange-red buds that unfurl into a beautiful blend of salmon-pink and golden-yellow petals, reminiscent of the fiery auburn hair depicted in John William Waterhouse's iconic painting.
The rose's medium Tea fragrance, with hints of spiced apples and cloves, adds an aromatic layer to its charm. Known for its exceptional health and disease resistance, The Lady of Shalott blooms repeatedly throughout the season, creating a captivating display of colour and scent from early summer to the first frosts.
Featured rose Lady of Shalott
The Emily Brontë Rose, introduced in 2018 to honour Emily Brontë's 200th birthday, is a tribute to the themes of enduring love and passion that define her work. This exquisite rose features soft pink, flat blooms that gradually fade to cream with touches of apricot, capturing the delicate yet enduring nature of romantic love. The deep-set golden stamens add a timeless elegance to the blooms.
Its strong Tea fragrance evolves into an Old Rose scent, with notes of lemon and grapefruit, mirroring the depth and complexity of Brontë's characters. Forming a bushy and resilient shrub, the Emily Brontë Rose is perfect for mixed borders, pots, and hedges.
"Gabriel was almost blinded, and he could feel Bathsheba's warm arm tremble in his hand - a sensation new and thrilling."
Thomas Hardy
Far From the Madding Crowd
Why not create a border next to a bench or seating area planted with roses named after your favourite characters and pieces of literature.
Here we have Roald Dahl (Ausowlish) which was named to mark the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth. The colour of this stunning rose is reminiscent of the eponymous peach in James and the Giant Peach.
Featured rose Roald Dahl
An exceedingly pretty rose of soft, glowing apricot-pink, each bloom is packed with numerous delicately ruffled petals.
This rose is named after the flawed heroine of Thomas Hardy’s, The Return of the Native.
Creating a rose is not dissimilar to writing a literary classic; both take patience, dedication and an innate understanding of the subject. A keen writer and poet, David Austin Snr. was a lover of literature spending many an hour among his beautiful roses with a good book. It is therefore not surprising that many of those beloved characters, tales and poems feature in our rose collection.
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Gentle Hermione (Ausrumba)Hermione is the faithful wife in Leontes, the King of Sicily in The Winter's Tale.DISCOVER