Stories from Around the World
The Gertrude Jekyll® rose is known and loved for its rich, classic fragrance and those beautifully shaped old-fashioned blooms. Though it began in England, gardeners in very different parts of the world have welcomed it into their gardens with equal affection. To celebrate this special rose, we reached out to growers in Japan, Italy and the United States to hear how Gertrude Jekyll® grows and blooms in their own climates and garden styles.
Japan
At David Austin®’s English Rose Garden within the Sennan Flower Farm near Osaka, one of the world’s largest collections of English roses is carefully tended. Inspired by the Renaissance Gardens here in Albrighton, this garden features beautiful arches and obelisks adorned with climbing roses, set against a gentle hillside and a clear flowing stream. Autumn there is especially magical, with soft sunlight filtering through and the rich scent of roses lingering in the air.
Hishin of David Austin® Japan shared how Gertrude Jekyll® holds pride of place on a prominent wall, catching the eye and offering a stunning subject for photographs. The rose’s fragrance is what draws visitors most. Gertrude Jekyll® is grown both as a bush and a smaller climber in shaded, north-facing spots that suit the local climate perfectly. It pairs beautifully with plants like Blossom of Snow, Nemorosa, lavender and catmint, creating a delicate harmony of colours and scents. Following its recent award, enthusiasm for this rose is blossoming among Japanese gardeners.
David Austin's English Rose Garden, located at Hanasaki Farm in Sennan, Osaka
Italy
Nestled in the historic landscape of Assisi, the rose gardens spread across 6,000 square metres of gently rolling terrain. Paola Bianchi, owner of these breathtaking gardens, describes how the combination of colours, scents and atmosphere is enhanced by the incredible view of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. This harmony of garden and city creates an extraordinary and uniquely charming experience for visitors.
Gertrude Jekyll®’s enchanting scent and classic bloom form add to the garden’s timeless beauty. It is grown both as a shrub and a climber, flourishing on walls, fences and arches, as well as in formal beds. Visitors are often captivated by its vibrant presence against the backdrop of Assisi’s historic architecture. Planting companions like Blossom of Snow, Nemorosa, lavender and catmint further enhance the rose’s appeal. The recent award has only increased appreciation for Gertrude Jekyll® among Italian gardeners.
United States
In Tyler, Texas, home to David Austin® in the USA, horticulturist Rebecca Koraytem reflects on the inspiration behind Gertrude Jekyll®: the pioneering British garden designer whose artistry this rose honours. This variety is treasured for its heady Old Rose fragrance and its charming, richly coloured blooms.
Gertrude Jekyll is wonderfully versatile in the US, thriving both as a shrub and trained as a climber. Rebecca recommends planting it where it will receive morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates, to encourage abundant flowering. It pairs beautifully with foxgloves, hardy geraniums, iris and summer perennials such as hydrangeas, echinacea, salvias and catmint, creating lush, dynamic borders.
English roses like Gertrude Jekyll® are increasingly cherished in the US for their fragrance, elegance and resilience. While new varieties offer exciting options, this rose remains a favourite, celebrated for its connection to a beloved garden designer and its timeless beauty.
“Gertrude Jekyll’s timeless beauty and fragrance have found a special place in the hearts of rose lovers everywhere, and we are truly honoured it has been named the world’s favourite rose.”
— David J. C. Austin
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Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord): The World’s Favourite RoseIn May 2025, Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord) was named the “World’s Favourite Rose” by the World Federation of Rose Societies, a distinction awarded through a global vote involving rose lovers from 40 countries. This accolade celebrates a rose that has quietly yet firmly held a place in the hearts of gardeners for almost forty years.Read more32 days ago -
Gertrude Jekyll: Caring for the World’s Favourite RoseThis rose is not fussy. It grows well in many conditions but does best with at least four hours of sunlight a day. It tolerates some shade and suits almost any garden aspect - north, south, east, or west - so long as the soil allows roots to breathe and doesn’t stay soggy. To support healthy growth, mixing in some compost or well-rotted manure at planting helps enrich the soil and improve its texture.Read more24 days ago -
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.Read more18 days ago -
Designing with Gertrude Jekyll: A Rose at Home in Every BorderFew roses are held in such regard as Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord). Valued for its rich, mid-pink blooms and one of the strongest Old Rose fragrances in cultivation, it has become a familiar name among gardeners. Yet it is not only the scent that secures its place. This is a rose with structure, presence and the ability to draw planting together. It offers more than a single season’s beauty. It gives shape to the garden and settles easily among other plants, whether used in formal arrangements or in looser, more naturalistic schemes.Read more11 days ago -
Gertrude Jekyll & Constance Spry: Women who shaped gardens and rosesSome things stay with you - the scent of a rose in the evening air, the feel of a book well-read, the quiet wisdom passed down from one pair of hands to another. Gertrude Jekyll and Constance Spry understood this. They knew that gardens, like stories, are not just about beauty; they are about memory, feeling, and the simple joy of making something your own.Read more155 days ago
