- The Perfumed Garden
English Roses That Fill the Air with Fragrance
Soft light spills across a quiet garden, where the hum of bees threads through the still air and petals tremble with the morning dew. There is a hush here, a sense that time itself slows, inviting the senses to wander and the spirit to rest. In these moments, the perfume of roses becomes more than a fragrance. It is at once familiar and fleeting, a memory, a mood, a gentle companion to the day, recalling childhood gardens, evening walks and the warmth of the sun. Among our English Roses, some are distinguished not only by their beauty but by the generosity of their perfume.
Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord)
Strong, rich and perfectly balanced, Gertrude Jekyll® is the definitive English Rose fragrance. Her glowing pink rosettes open in early summer and continue to flower in gentle waves, filling the garden with the deep, warm perfume of the Old Rose. Trained as a climber, she can climb a wall or archway, releasing her scent above and around you. Full-bodied, nostalgic and deeply romantic, she is the essence of the English garden itself.
Elizabeth® (Ausmajesty)
Graceful and refined, Elizabeth® bears soft pink and blush blooms whose fragrance is fresh and sweet, with gentle notes of lemon and Old Rose. Light and uplifting, her scent is the quiet joy of dawn when petals are cool with dew, mingling effortlessly with the deeper tones of her neighbours.
Bring Me Sunshine® (Ausernie)
A shrub rose of sunny cheer, Bring Me Sunshine® offers vibrant yellow blooms in generous clusters. Her fragrance is bright and warm, combining hints of soft honey and gentle fruitiness. It lifts the spirits as it drifts through the borders, catching the eye as much as the nose.
The Poet’s Wife® (Auswhirl)
A rose of quiet charm and understated elegance, The Poet’s Wife® bears soft, pastel blooms that open in gentle waves. Her perfume is tender and evocative, with hints of warm honey, soft musk and a whisper of myrrh. It lingers delicately, inviting slow, contemplative steps through the garden and lingering memories long after one passes.
Claire Austin® (Ausprior)
For those who love creamy white blooms and a fragrance both elegant and enveloping, Claire Austin® combines myrrh with touches of meadowsweet, vanilla and heliotrope. When trained over an archway or pergola, her perfume floats above and around, adding a serene, luminous note to the evening air.
Francis E. Lester
A charming rambler that flowers once but leaves a lasting impression, Francis E. Lester bears clusters of shell-pink blooms fading to white. His soft, fruity perfume drifts on the breeze, perfect for clothing a wall, a fence or the edge of a woodland garden where fragrance mingles with birdsong and sunlight in gentle harmony.
Creating a Fragrant Garden
Together, these roses form a tapestry of scent that evolves through the seasons, from the rich Old Rose of Gertrude Jekyll® to the freshness of Elizabeth®, the sunny warmth of Bring Me Sunshine®, the tender honeyed elegance of The Poet’s Wife®, the creamy myrrh of Claire Austin® and the airy fruitiness of Francis E. Lester.
Plant them where you linger, by a doorway, along a path or near a favourite seat. In the cooler hours of morning and evening, their perfume is at its most generous, filling the air with calm and quiet pleasure.
Fragrance is the soul of a rose. In this garden, it rises, drifts and settles, a companion to reflection, a celebration of beauty, a gentle invitation to fall in love with roses once more.
-
Gertrude Jekyll: The Fragrance of the World’s Favourite RoseThere are roses one grows for colour, for form, for habit. And then there are those chosen simply for how they make the air feel. Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord) is one of the latter. Not merely scented, but steeped in scent. Fragrance is its character, its memory, its presence in the garden long after the blooms are gone.
-
Scents of Midsummer: The Best Times to Enjoy Rose Fragrance in Your GardenWalking through a rose garden and suddenly catching a beautiful scent can feel like a quiet moment of magic. Some roses seem to fill the air with perfume, while others remain nearly scentless. This difference is part of what makes rose fragrance so fascinating.
-
The Perfumed Garden: English Roses That Fill the Air with FragranceSoft light spills across a quiet garden, where the hum of bees threads through the still air and petals tremble with the morning dew. There is a hush here, a sense that time itself slows, inviting the senses to wander and the spirit to rest. In these moments, the perfume of roses becomes more than a fragrance. It is at once familiar and fleeting, a memory, a mood, a gentle companion to the day, recalling childhood gardens, evening walks and the warmth of the sun. Among our English Roses, some are distinguished not only by their beauty but by the generosity of their perfume.
-
Drifts of Colour Planting English roses in threes, fives or moreWhen it comes to creating an interesting and harmonious garden, the way you arrange your plants can make all the difference. English roses, with their exquisite forms and captivating fragrances, are the perfect example. Planting them in clusters of three, five or more, particularly when you choose the same variety, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to bring both balance and character to your outdoor space.
-
How to Plant Bare Root Standard Roses: Step-by-StepStandard roses, also known as tree roses, bring structure, height and a sense of grace to the garden. Their blooms are carried high on slender stems, creating a striking focal point among lower planting. Whether standing proudly in a border or adding formality beside a doorway, they bring charm and refinement to any setting.
-
The Anatomy of a Bare Root RoseFor many gardeners, the first sight of a bare root rose can be a surprise. Without its leaves or blooms, it arrives looking rather modest: a handful of roots, a few sturdy canes, and a curious little swelling where the two meet. Yet within this unassuming bundle lies everything needed to grow a strong, healthy rose that will flower for years to come.
-
The Beauty of Ripening Hips: A Season of Promise in the Breeding GlasshousesOur breeding team shares what this special season means to them, as the hips ripen in the glasshouses and the next generation of roses begins its journey.
-
Heritage of Bare Root Roses: From the Kitchen Table to Gardens Around the WorldThe story of David C. H. Austin’s bare root roses begins not in grand gardens or greenhouses, but in the heart of a family home - at the kitchen table of Bowling Green House in Shropshire. It was here that a young man, captivated by the beauty of Old Roses, began to imagine something new: roses that would combine the grace and fragrance of the past with the reliable flowering of modern varieties.
