The 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.

Bare root shrub roses are a perfect choice for growing in containers, offering beautiful, bushy growth and abundant, fragrant blooms throughout the summer and into autumn. Planting them in a pot allows gardeners without a garden bed to enjoy the elegance of English Roses, while giving the plant the freedom to establish strong roots in a controlled environment. By following a few careful steps, your rose will settle naturally and flourish for years to come.

Planting a bare root rose is a gesture of quiet confidence, a small act of faith in the turning of the seasons. It asks the gardener to trust in time, in patience, and in the rose’s own ancient rhythm. Long before plastic pots and glossy labels, this was how roses were grown and shared. Lifted carefully from the fields in autumn, their roots bare and bundled, they travelled lightly, ready to settle into new gardens and new soil.

Bare root climbing and rambling roses bring both structure and romance to the garden, offering a traditional and sustainable way to cover walls, fences, and arches with abundant blooms. Planted between autumn and early spring, these roses establish naturally through the cooler months, ready to send out vigorous new shoots when warmth returns. With a little preparation and care, they will reward you for many years with graceful growth and exquisite fragrance.

As World Mental Health Day reminds us, the way we care for our minds can be as natural and nourishing as tending a garden. Among plants, soil, and sky, we find a space that allows both body and spirit to rest and renew. Few experiences embody this better than the simple act of planting a rose. It asks for patience, attentiveness, and trust in the rhythm of life, and it rewards us with beauty that feels deeply earned.

Bare root shrub roses are a gardener’s delight, offering a traditional, sustainable, and rewarding way to add colour and fragrance to your garden. Delivered simply as stems and roots, they are designed to work in harmony with the seasons. Planted in autumn through to spring, they settle naturally into the soil over the colder months, ready to burst into life and reward you with blooms the following year. Easy to handle, they are a dependable choice for both new and experienced gardeners.

Autumn drifts into the garden with a soft, golden light. The air is cooler, leaves are turning, and the days feel slower. It’s tempting to think the gardening year is over, but for rose lovers, this is the moment to start preparing for the months ahead.

As the last blooms of summer fade and the rose garden shifts into autumn, English Roses begin their preparation for winter. The days grow shorter, the air cooler, and the garden takes on a warm, golden light. This is the ideal moment to support your roses, helping them stay healthy, nourished, and ready for the coming season.

By the end of September, the rose garden is changing. The exuberance of summer is fading, and the rhythm of the season is slowing. Many English Roses are setting hips now, their once-constant flowers giving way to clusters of glowing fruits. Yet the borders need not feel diminished. With the right companions, roses can be framed and supported so that the garden still sings with colour, texture and grace well into autumn.

Gardens high on hills, offer breathtaking views, but the combination of wind, cold winters, and shorter growing seasons can make growing roses a challenge. With careful selection and planting, even these exposed gardens can thrive with elegant, fragrant blooms.

Each summer the Proms bring music, tradition and joy to the Royal Albert Hall. From the first shimmering notes to the final chorus, audiences are carried into a world where sound becomes memory. At David Austin^®, we mark this festival in our own way, with roses that are themselves named after music and musicians who have moved us. These varieties hold within them the same qualities of rhythm, harmony and timeless beauty.

At David Austin Roses, the greenhouses are alive with energy as thousands of young plants grow and develop. This is the stage where the next generation of roses begins to take shape, starting with the formation of rose hips, the small fruits that hold the seeds of future blooms.

Some roses seem to hold a story in their petals, and Rosa Penelope Lively is one of them. Named for the much-loved writer, this English Shrub Rose carries both elegance and quiet depth, a living tribute to a voice that has shaped contemporary literature.