ROSE / Rosa 'Claire Austin'

Claire Austin English Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa 'Claire Austin'
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Hybrid (David Austin Roses, England)
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub rose

Overview

Rosa 'Claire Austin' is a magnificent English shrub rose renowned for its exquisite creamy-white blooms with butter-yellow centres and exceptional myrrh fragrance. This David Austin creation combines the classic beauty of old roses with modern disease resistance and repeat flowering. A standout performer that brings elegance and perfume to any garden setting.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.2 m H x 1.0 m W
• Growth Rate: Moderate; 25–40 cm per year; upright and bushy with strong branching habit
• Foliage: Mid-green, semi-glossy deciduous leaves with good disease resistance
• Flowers: Creamy-white with butter-yellow centres, fully double cupped rosettes, spring to autumn, intensely fragrant with myrrh scent
• Seasonal Interest: Continuous flowering from October through May with peak displays in spring and autumn
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees and beneficial insects; provides pollen for pollinators
• Tolerance: Moderate drought, light frost to -5°C, coastal conditions, moderate wind, clay soils, heat tolerant
• Planting Density: Rose borders: 80–100 cm apart; mass planting: 60–80 cm apart
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs, though thorns may cause physical injury if pets brush against stems

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily) for best flowering; tolerates morning shade
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost; adapts to clay and sandy soils
• Water Needs: Establishment: 12–16 weeks, twice weekly deep watering. Established: Summer twice weekly; winter weekly if rainfall insufficient
• Maintenance: Annual winter pruning, regular deadheading, monthly feeding during growing season
• Lifespan: 15–25 years with proper care
• Climate Zones: All SA regions; excellent in Adelaide Plains, Hills, Barossa, McLaren Vale; suitable coastal and inland areas
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0) preferred

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Feature specimen in formal rose gardens paired with lavender and catmint understory
• Mixed perennial borders combined with delphiniums, foxgloves and silver foliage plants
• Cottage garden settings alongside climbing roses on arbours and pergolas

Why You Will Love It

Claire Austin delivers everything you want from an English rose – breathtaking beauty, intoxicating fragrance, and reliable performance. Her creamy blooms glow like pearls in the garden while filling the air with that distinctive myrrh perfume that makes David Austin roses so beloved. This is a rose that rewards you with months of spectacular flowers and creates unforgettable garden moments.