Launching at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the new David Austin variety ‘The King’s Rose‘ produces semi-double, repeat-flowering blooms that appear in profusion, with at least 20 buds per stem. Delicate papery petals boast distinct stripes in shades of fuchsia pink and white, very reminiscent of old Gallica roses. The King’s Rose has a light-medium Musk fragrance with hints of fresh apple and rose water.
According to the breeder, the new rose is versatile and robust shrub that grows to approximately three to four feet tall, it has a vase-shaped growth habit and heart-shaped leaves, with vibrant yellow stems to attract pollinators.
“The Chelsea Flower Show is an incredibly special place for us. It’s where my father first exhibited his award-winning roses back in 1983, and ever since then, introducing a new variety here has become something of a tradition. While every one of our English roses is exquisite and extraordinary in its own right, ‘The King’s Rose’ is particularly special – it’s our first striped rose, created in collaboration with The King’s Foundation. The rose is a tribute to the enduring values of His Majesty King Charles III through the work of the foundation, investing in education, sustainable practices, and the revitalisation of heritage,” said David J.C. Austin, Chairman at David Austin Roses.
He added, “Walking through the trial fields and watching this rose perform better and better was incredibly exciting,” says Mr Austin. “But what truly made it special was the unexpected connection it sparked — memories of the first time I met King Charles at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the early ’90s. We had a display of ‘Ferdinand Pichard,’ a beautiful striped rose originally bred in France in the early 20th century, and he told me it was the very first rose he’d ever grown. I couldn’t believe it — because it was the first rose that I’d grown, too. That shared moment has stayed with me ever since, and when I saw this new bloom in the fields — striped, distinctive, and full of charm and character — I knew it had to be the one. It felt like a sign. This had to be our rose.”
The King’s Rose has undergone a thorough 12-year breeding process at the nursery in Albrighton. Each year, over 40,000 seedlings are carefully nurtured, evaluated and gradually shortlisted until there is just one final rose that meets the highest standards of beauty, fragrance and resilience. The process is led by Head of Breeding, Carl Bennett, who has been with the company for over three decades.
Bennett commented: “Breeding a new rose is a real labour of love, requiring plenty of patience and attention to detail at every stage of the process. ‘The King’s Rose’ is the result of over a decade of careful selection and refinement, and we are incredibly proud to see it come to life. Its distinctive colouring, graceful form, and delightful fragrance make it truly special – a fitting tribute to His Majesty’s passion for horticulture.”
The rose has been carefully nurtured by His Majesty’s team of gardeners in his private gardens at Highgrove for the past three years. There, it has been flourishing in pots on the royal patio, and also forms part of the newly installed crown sculpture at Highgrove by willow artist Emma Stothard. ‘The King’s Rose’ is set to be a star of the show at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with guests expected to flock to the David Austin Roses stand to see the new variety in person. It will be the focal point of the immersive secret garden-themed stand, with visitors invited to wander through the roses and admire their unrivalled beauty and fragrance. ‘The King’s Rose’ will also be on display at the Highgrove Shop stand located on Eastern Avenue.
Proceeds from The King’s Rose will support The King’s Foundation and its work building sustainable communities.
