David Austin Roses will showcase new roses from its English Rose collection. These are Eustacia Vye and Gabriel Oak.
Thomas Hardy fans will recognise the names of two characters from the author’s novels. Eustacia Vye is from The Return of the Native and Gabriel Oak is from Far from the Madding Crowd.
Eustacia Vye is a pretty rose of apricot-pink. Each bloom has ruffled petals, held on red-tinged stems. The blooms begin as shallow cups opening to full rosettes. They reveal petals of a richer hue which pale over time.
Far from the Madding Crowd’s central male character is the inspiration for Gabriel Oak. A vigorous rose, bearing large many-petalled rosette blooms. This variety is very much in the style of the Old Roses.
The outer petals of each bloom are a striking shade of deep pink which pale over time.
David Austin commented: “Chelsea Flower Show holds a very special place in our hearts. Its where in 1983 my father introduced the very first English Rose varieties to the public.
“The following year these roses began gaining gold medals at Chelsea.
“A calendar highlight for my father, it is a pleasure to be exhibiting with two new English Rose varieties.”
The two striking new roses will be in bloom at the show. They will create the focal point of David Austin’s Secret Garden themed display.
