A New Chapter in the Garden
The King’s Rose™ is unlike anything we’ve bred before. With its soft stripes, gentle fragrance and natural charm, it marks a distinctive new direction for the David Austin® collection. Created in support of The King’s Foundation, this rose brings together beauty, purpose and a quiet nod to tradition.
The rose was named in recognition of His Majesty The King and created in collaboration with The King’s Foundation. The inspiration dates back to a conversation between David J.C. Austin and the then Prince of Wales at the Chelsea Flower Show in the 1990s. In a brief but memorable exchange, they discovered they had both grown the same historic rose, Ferdinand Pichard, as the first in their gardens. It was a moment of connection that stayed with David.
Years later, when a new rose bloomed with similar striping, that memory resurfaced. It felt fitting to mark the moment with a rose that not only honoured that the works of His Majesty The King but looked toward the future as well.
The King’s Rose™ forms a medium-sized shrub, reaching around 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Its naturally rounded, vase-like silhouette lends itself to a wide range of planting scenarios, whether as a focal point in a small space or as part of a larger, mixed border. Its gentle habit and soft presence mean it never dominates, yet always draws the eye.
In more traditional gardens, it pairs beautifully with classic perennials such as catmint (Nepeta), lavender, and salvia, all of which echo its cool tones and help to soften its bold striping. In a cottage garden setting, it nestles in seamlessly among billowing borders of hardy geraniums, foxgloves, and digitalis, enhancing that romantic, effortless charm. Its distinctive colouring also makes it a natural choice for more modern or pared-back planting schemes, where it can provide a splash of interest against structural evergreens, ornamental grasses, or silver-foliaged plants like artemisia or stachys.
Its repeat-flowering nature and strong health mean it can be relied upon throughout the season, delivering wave after wave of bloom with minimal intervention. Whether planted singly to accent a seating area, repeated along a path to guide the way, or clustered in groups of three or five for greater impact, The King’s Rose™ adapts gracefully to its surroundings. It can also be grown in large containers, making it ideal for patios or smaller gardens where ground space is limited but beauty is still a priority.
In vibrant fuchsia pink and soft white, each bloom is slightly different, like a series of watercolour sketches. The semi-double petals open wide to reveal golden stamens, inviting pollinators to linger. Their open, relaxed shape gives the plant a meadow-like feel, blending effortlessly into cottage gardens or more contemporary schemes.
The fragrance is light and fresh, with hints of red apple, musk and rosewater. It is released through the pollen, rather than the petals, lending a soft and natural quality that sits gently in the air without overpowering.
A Garden Rose that Gives Back
Beyond its striking appearance, The King’s Rose™ offers valuable benefits for both wildlife and gardeners. Its open, semi-double blooms provide easy access for bees and pollinators, helping to sustain local ecosystems. Later in the season, the small hips that form after the flowers fade offer essential food for birds during the winter months. These hips, turning a warm orange, add both beauty and function to the garden. With its repeat-flowering nature and strong disease resistance, The King’s Rose™ continues to impress throughout the seasons, making it a low-maintenance yet rewarding addition to any garden.
The King’s Rose™ brings something truly original to the English garden. It is a celebration of character and craft, of memory and meaning. And through its support of The King’s Foundation, it carries that legacy forward, helping to nurture future generations of gardens and gardeners.
Whether planted for its beauty, its story or its purpose, this rose offers something deeper. It is a variety to enjoy for years to come, as it grows into its place in the garden - and in the heart.
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