David Austin Roses exhibited five sultry new varieties at this year’s Chelsea.
They included Claire Austin, a white rose named after the owner’s daughter, Port Sunlight, a rich apricot bloom, and Princess Alexandra of Kent.
Munstead Wood, named after Gertrude Jekyll’s famous garden. Munstead Wood’s fragrance is said to be ‘warm and fruity with blackberry, blueberry and damson.’
Finally, the firm is introducing Skylark, a dainty pink rose with a very large bundle of petals. Skylark is described as an ‘ideal choice for planting amongst other shrubs or perrenials towards the front of a mixed border.’
In 2003, Austin was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society for his services to horticulture and the Dean Hole Medal from the Royal National Rose Society.
On her tour of the Chelsea Press Day, Joanna Lumley took a turn around the David Austin stand - she is reportedly a big fan.
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