Pat Austin Rose
Pat Austin is one of the most beautiful of the tall David Austin English shrub roses, and must be named for someone in the breeder's family - yes, it's his wife. She (the rose, I mean) has huge flower-heads which are packed with apricot-tangerine petals.
Pat Austin Rose
I've always loved the richness of the colours which contrast with the softness of the petals. I call Pat Austin my 'Fruit Salad' rose, as the tones remind me of a bowl of apricot, pineapple, and peach pieces. Scrumptious!
Off to a Bad Start...
My Pat Austin had an unfortunate start to life in my garden - I was incorrectly calling her 'Charles'. Oops. She grew up against the warm side of the woodshed, surrounded by a garden tangle of perennials, pansies and annual cornflowers (and dock weeds, I embarrassingly need to add.
Their roots were badly mixed up in the rose's roots, making removal of either difficult). Basically, she was squashed in, and struggling.
Pat Austin Rose
Eventually I managed to get her name right, and I shifted her out into more sunshine when I built the brick Herb Spiral in 2012. I know she prefers her new location. Isn't she beautiful?
Pat Austin Roses