David Austin Climbing Rose: 20 Best Expert Picks for Your Garden

David Austin Climbing Rose renowned for their exquisite beauty, fragrance, and old-world charm, David Austin climbing roses have become a beloved choice among gardeners seeking timeless elegance and reliable performance. Bred by the renowned British gardener David Austin, these remarkable roses blend the vigour and repeat-flowering characteristics of current hybrids with the nostalgic appeal of heritage blooms.

Whether trained over arches, fences, pergolas, or trellises, they offer a stunning vertical display of colour, scent, and romance that transforms any garden into a floral paradise. With a wide variety of colours, fragrances, and growth habits to choose from, there’s a perfect David Austin climbing rose for every landscape.

In this guide, we unveil the 20 best expert picks to help you select the ideal variety for your garden—each one carefully chosen for its beauty, resilience, and garden performance. Whether you’re a seasoned rosarian or a passionate beginner, these top selections will inspire your next garden masterpiece.

1–10: Best-Selling David Austin Climbing Roses

🌹 David Austin Climbing Rose – Quick Care Timetable

Scientific Name: Rosa (David Austin variety)
USDA Zones: 5–9
Toxic to Cats: Not toxic, but thorns and chemical residues may cause harm

1. The Generous Gardener

The gorgeous apricot and peach flowers of this climbing rose have a powerful, delicious scent. It grows vigorously and is excellent for training on trellises or walls. Its large, cupped flowers open repeatedly from early summer to autumn, offering continuous colour and charm.

2. Claire Austin

Claire Austin is loved for its pure white blooms that carry a strong, sweet myrrh fragrance. This rose is a vigorous climber that can reach impressive heights, perfect for covering fences or arches. It blooms repeatedly throughout the growing season, making it a favourite for both novice and expert gardeners.

3. Teasing Georgia

Teasing Georgia, named for an actress, is a vigorous climber that bears enormous, brilliant pink blooms that smell strongly of fruit. Any garden area is made richer by the plant’s thick foliage and the delicate, cup-shaped blooms. It is an easy-care option because it is also highly resistant to disease.

4. James Galway

Large, vivid salmon-pink blooms with a lovely fruity scent are produced by the James Galway climbing rose. It grows strongly and is perfect for training along walls or pergolas. This rose is prized not only for its beauty but also for its reliable flowering from summer through early autumn.

5. Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill is admired for its rich pink flowers with a slight scent of old roses. The blooms appear in clusters and are perfect for creating a romantic garden atmosphere. It is a hardy climber that tolerates various soil types and offers excellent repeat flowering.

6. Bathsheba

Bathsheba climbing rose features large, soft apricot blooms with a strong, musky fragrance. Its elegant flowers have a classic old-rose shape and bloom repeatedly throughout the season. This rose is a vigorous grower, ideal for trellises and pergolas, bringing warmth and charm to your garden spaces.

7. Mortimer Sackler

Mortimer Sackler, which is well-known for its warm apricot-orange blooms, has a rich aroma and a robust growth habit. This climber produces abundant flowers with a soft, cup shape that enhances any vertical garden. It’s praised for its resilience and ability to thrive in various climates.

8. The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim rose boasts soft peach-pink flowers with a strong, fruity fragrance reminiscent of old roses. It climbs vigorously and produces stunning, full blooms all summer long. The Pilgrim is ideal for gardeners looking to add both scent and elegance to their outdoor spaces.

9. Crown Princess Margareta

This rose is well-known for its fragrant, sweet, pale apricot flowers. Crown Princess Margareta grows vigorously and is perfect for large walls or arches. It produces clusters of beautiful flowers, making it an excellent choice for adding a royal touch to any garden.

10. Wollerton Old Hall

Wollerton Old Hall climbing rose displays soft apricot-pink blooms with a mild fragrance. Its distinctive old-rose form is seen as its delicate petals unfurl. This variety is noted for its long flowering season and its ability to brighten shady corners with its charming colours.

11–15: Best David Austin Roses for Beginners

11. A Shropshire Lad

A Shropshire Lad is perfect for beginners due to its easy care and disease resistance. This climbing rose produces bright pink, cupped flowers with a mild fragrance. It blooms reliably throughout the season and adapts well to various soil types, making it an ideal choice for novice gardeners.

12. Graham Thomas

Graham Thomas is one of David Austin’s most popular roses, famous for its rich yellow blooms and strong tea fragrance. This vigorous climber is low maintenance and disease resistant, offering excellent performance even for less experienced gardeners looking to brighten their garden with sunshine-yellow flowers.

13. St Swithun

St. Swithun climbing rose delights gardeners with its creamy white flowers and delightful fragrance. Known for its robustness and tolerance to different conditions, this rose is an excellent beginner-friendly choice. It flowers repeatedly, providing continuous beauty without demanding much care or attention.

14. Constance Spry

Constance Spry is a classic climbing rose with large, soft pink blooms that carry a sweet scent. Though it flowers mainly once in early summer, its vigorous growth and striking appearance make it a favourite for novice gardeners who want an easy yet elegant addition.

15. The Albrighton Rambler

Clusters of lovely blush-pink flowers with a subtle scent are produced by this rose. The Albrighton Rambler is hardy and disease-resistant, making it perfect for beginners. It tolerates a variety of garden conditions and provides a lovely, subtle display throughout its flowering period.

16. Vanessa Bell – Compact Climber for Containers

Vanessa Bell is a tiny climber that is ideal for small gardens or container planting. Its soft apricot blooms carry a strong fruity fragrance, making it ideal for patios or balconies. This variety is prized by experts for its manageable size and continuous flowering throughout the season.

17. Olivia Rose Austin – Very Early Bloomer

Olivia Rose Austin is known for its exceptional early bloom time, offering vibrant coral-pink flowers that brighten your garden sooner than most climbers. It has a strong fruity scent and vigorous growth habit, favoured by experts who want early colour and fragrance in their climbing roses.

18. Eustacia Vye – Strong Fruity Scent

Eustacia Vye is a climber with deeply cupped, soft pink flowers that emit a strong fruity fragrance. This variety is valued by expert gardeners for its disease resistance and elegant form, making it a top choice for adding scent and beauty to larger garden spaces.

19. Gertrude Jekyll – Best Repeat Flowering

Gertrude Jekyll is celebrated for its vibrant pink blooms and powerful old-rose fragrance. It’s one of the best repeat flowering climbers, producing blooms continuously from early summer to autumn. Experts recommend it for gardeners who want a classic rose scent paired with reliable flowering.

20. Spirit of Freedom – Soft Blooms, Romantic Look

Spirit of Freedom offers soft pink, romantic blooms with a mild fragrance. This vigorous climber is ideal for creating dreamy garden scenes and is favoured by experts for its elegant growth habit and long flowering period. It thrives well trained against walls and pergolas.

Tips for Growing David Austin Climbing Roses

Best Planting Time

The ideal time to plant David Austin climbing roses is during early spring or late autumn. This enables the establishment of roots prior to the start of the growing season or winter hibernation. Proper timing reduces transplant shock and promotes healthy growth, ensuring your roses thrive and bloom beautifully year after year.

How to Train on Walls or Trellises

To train climbing roses, gently tie the flexible canes horizontally along walls or trellises. This encourages more lateral growth and increases flower production. Use soft ties to avoid damaging stems, and regularly prune to maintain shape. When trained properly, it makes the most of available space and produces beautiful vertical floral arrangements.

Pruning Tips

Every year in late winter or early spring, climbing roses should be pruned. To increase air circulation and lower the danger of disease, remove any dead, damaged, or crossed canes. Focus on shaping the plant by cutting back old wood and encouraging new growth. Proper pruning supports vigorous blooms and healthy plants.

Fertilising and Watering Schedule

Feed your climbing roses with balanced fertiliser in early spring, then again after the first bloom cycle. Avoid waterlogging, but watering frequently is crucial, particularly during dry spells. Deep watering encourages strong root growth. Mulching helps retain moisture and keeps soil temperature stable, benefiting rose health.

FAQs about David Austin Climbing Roses

Q1: How fast do David Austin climbing roses grow?

David Austin climbing roses typically grow moderately fast, with most varieties adding 3 to 6 feet per year under optimal conditions. Growth speed depends on factors like climate, soil quality, and care. Pruning, fertilising, and watering on a regular basis promote robust, healthy growth.

Q2: Are David Austin climbing roses disease resistant?

Many David Austin climbing roses are bred for disease resistance, but susceptibility varies by variety. Powdery mildew and black spot are common illnesses. Proper care, good air circulation, and regular pruning significantly reduce risks and help keep your roses healthy and vibrant.

Q3: Can climbing roses grow in containers?

Some compact varieties like Vanessa Bell are suitable for container growing. Container-grown climbing roses need larger pots, well-draining soil, and regular watering and feeding. They require support structures like small trellises and benefit from frequent pruning to control size.

Q4: How often should I water climbing roses?

Climbing roses require deep watering once or twice a week, depending on weather and soil type. Watering may need to be done more frequently during hot or dry weather. Water at the base of the plant early in the day to avoid fungal diseases caused by wet foliage.

Q5: When do David Austin climbing roses bloom?

. Beginning in early June, the majority of David Austin climbing roses bloom continuously. Some varieties, like Olivia Rose Austin, bloom earlier, while others have a longer flowering season. With good care, you can enjoy continuous blooms for several months.

David Austin climbing roses offer unmatched beauty, fragrance, and variety, making them a top choice for any garden enthusiast. Whether you’re a beginner or expert, selecting the right variety and following proper care tips will ensure stunning blooms year after year. Start your climbing rose journey today and transform your garden into a fragrant, colourful paradise.