David J. C. Austin, the celebrated chairman of David Austin Roses, has died at the age of 67. The horticulture industry is mourning the loss of the man who led the family business for more than three decades, following a diagnosis with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and incurable neurological condition.
Austin joined the family nursery in 1990 after the business was founded by his father, David C. H. Austin, in Shropshire in 1969. He worked alongside his father until David Senior passed away in 2018, guiding the company through a period of significant growth.
During his tenure, the specialist nursery transformed into an internationally recognised name among gardeners. The family firm now sells around two million roses annually and has collected 30 RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
“First and foremost, Dad was a gardener. That was at the heart of who he was,” the family said in a statement. “He carried our grandfather’s vision with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility, always putting the roses, the family business and its people before himself.”
They added that he was kind and modest, with a playful spirit and a sense of adventure. They noted he faced his illness with the same courage and dignity he brought to life.
The business is now run by an experienced leadership team alongside the next generation of the Austin family. The firm says it remains “as committed as ever to serving our partners and rose lovers around the world.”
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The English Rose
David Austin Roses was founded on the ambition to combine the timeless beauty and fragrance of Old Roses with the benefits of modern hybrids. The goal was to create repeat flowering varieties that were healthy and came in a wide range of colours.
This breeding program produced the English Rose, a distinct category that became popular with gardeners and designers for its form, scent, and performance. Many of the varieties bred by the company have become legendary and are now found in gardens across the globe.
Gertrude Jekyll is one such variety, named for the famous garden designer and author, and is beloved for its strong scent and perfect rosette shape. Another variety, Olivia Rose Austin, is prized for its disease resistance and long flowering season.
The most recent launch from the company is the Sir David Beckham Rose, which was revealed in connection with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026.
While the nursery is shifting into a new era, the legacy of the English Rose remains a staple in gardens worldwide. The continued operation under its experienced leadership team suggests the company intends to maintain the high standards set during Austin’s tenure.
The company has faced challenges recently, including the need to adapt to changing market conditions. However, the core philosophy of the business has remained consistent throughout the years. [1]Simple Trick Validates New Layout’s Effectiveness
