James L. Austin® Rose (Auspike) by David Austin

James L. Austin® Rose

Pinks are hard to describe: James L. Austin roses are cerise pink which means that they are the most intense deep, unmediated pink. This is a welcome addition to our range of roses for sale because there is neither anything apple blossomy and blushing nor strident and garish about the colour - just a clear, strong pink which is to die for (in a rose!). The buds start out as being almost high centred like a hybrid tea and then open out so that the petals interleave and undulate right up to the centre of the flower where you find a little button eye. The blooms cope well with rain and persist over the summer right through until the frosts. Overall, James L. Austin is a compact and bushy shrub rose with magnificent, disease-free foliage. The scent is redolent of dark summer fruits and is mesmerising in the way that Old Roses all have a very alluring and complex perfume.

All round performer

James L Austin Roses are small enough to grow well in pots without worrying that they will run out of room or of interest. The outstanding colour would contrast well with leads, slate grey and stonework but perhaps not orange brick. Use James L Austin as a beacon of colour in a mass of silvery foliage or almost as a formal, perennial bedding plant contained within box hedging. It would also make a terribly pretty dividing hedge. David Austin majors on breeding roses that do not succumb to the common rose afflictions of blackspot and rust, and James L Austin is a cracking example of this so the whole shrub looks wonderful throughout its time in leaf and in flower meaning that it can be observed right up close next to a bench or at the front of a border. We rather like the idea of growing James L Austin in front of the climbing pink Constance Spry. We do also supply many other pink roses to combine or compare with James L Austin.

Features of James L. Austin® Rose

• Height: up to 90 cm
• Width: up to 75 cm
• Colour: intense, deep cerise pink
• Shape of flower: full rosettes, button eye
• Size of flower: large - 41 + petals
• Scent: strong, fruity
• Flowering: repeat through summer
• Excellent Disease Resistance

Brothers in Arms

Movingly, this rose has been named after David Austin Junior's brother who has suffered from Parkinson's Disease. Consequently, 10% of the proceeds from every sale of this rose is going to go towards two charities devoted to fighting this devastating disease. The rose was released in 2017.