A new English Shrub Rose, Sir David Beckham (Ausa34b16), will be named by David Austin® Roses in honour of one of Britain’s most celebrated figures. Its story was inspired by a touching family gesture. For his 50th birthday, David’s daughter Harper wished to mark the occasion with something enduring and full of beauty. In that spirit, we chose to dedicate this rose to Sir David Beckham, as a lasting symbol of love and admiration that will continue to bloom year after year.

The naming of this rose carries a dual legacy. It commemorates the enduring bond between father and daughter while reflecting the values of David Austin® Roses, a family business now guided by the founder’s son and grandchildren.

Harper’s wish has grown into a rose of remarkable character. Its buds open with a subtle flush of pink, revealing luminous white blooms tinged with soft blush and yellow. The semi-double flowers are gently cupped in form, rather than lying flat, and each reveals a striking starburst of golden stamens at its heart. Generous clusters appear from summer until the first frosts, set against sturdy dark foliage and strong red-tinged stems. Its robust, pollen-rich blooms are as inviting to bees as they are to gardeners, reflecting David’s connection to nature and his passion for beekeeping.

The fragrance of this rose is complex and commanding. Fresh green notes of banana give way to warm honeyed musk, layered with hints of nougat, clove and myrrh. Upright and assertive yet elegant, the shrub reaches 3-4ft and performs beautifully in a border and can also be grown successfully in a pot.

White roses are among the toughest to breed. Their delicate hue is a recessive trait, making each successful bloom rare and highly prized. This rose, first raised in 2012, has been more than a decade in the making, selected for its exceptional vigour, commanding presence and captivating scent after years of rigorous trialling.

Each year, our breeding programme cultivates around 100,000 seedlings. Every single one is monitored with meticulous care, assessed for strength, resilience and character – and only the very best survive the trials. This uncompromising approach ensures that every rose we introduce meets the highest standards of performance, endurance and striking beauty, a true reflection of our commitment to excellence.

The rose also supports a cause close to David Beckham’s heart. From each sale, £2.50 will be donated to The King’s Foundation. The charity, for which David Beckham is an ambassador, builds sustainable communities and transforms lives through practical education programmes and regeneration projects, all inspired by the vision of King Charles III. In this way, the Sir David Beckham (Ausa34b16) rose becomes more than a flower. It is a symbol of strength, legacy and hope for the future.

The Sir David Beckham (Ausa34b16) rose will launch at Chelsea Flower Show and will be available to purchase from 18th May 2026 at www.davidaustinroses.co.uk, at the David Austin® Roses Plant Centre in Shropshire and through selected stockists, with prices starting at £27.50 for a bare root rose.

About David Austin Roses

For more than sixty years, David Austin® has shaped how the world sees the rose. What began with one man’s determination to create something entirely new has grown into an internationally renowned family business that continues to influence the way gardens look, feel and inspire.

Founded in 1961 by David C.H. Austin, a lifelong plantsman and visionary rose breeder, the company was driven from the outset by a bold ambition: to combine the timeless beauty and fragrance of Old Roses with the repeat flowering, robust health and colour diversity of modern hybrids. The result was the English Rose, a completely new category of rose that quickly captivated gardeners and designers alike, admired for its distinct form, sumptuous fragrance and exceptional performance.

David C.H. Austin dedicated his life to the pursuit of beauty and charm in roses. His work produced legendary varieties such as Gertrude Jekyll®, known for its powerful fragrance and perfect rosette form, and Olivia Rose Austin®, a soft pink rose celebrated for its delicate beauty, exceptional disease resistance and long flowering season. These introductions, and many others, have become staples of gardens worldwide, embodying the company’s ability to merge elegance and innovation in every plant it produces.

The company’s breeding process is rigorous and uncompromising. From thousands of seedlings, only the very best are selected, with each new rose typically taking more than a decade to develop before it is released. Every plant is assessed for beauty, fragrance, form and resilience, ensuring it meets the highest standards of quality and reliability. This deep commitment to excellence has earned David Austin® an unparalleled reputation for roses that not only inspire but endure.

The Shropshire nursery, where the roses are bred and grown, is at the heart of everything the company does. It is here that traditional skills meet innovation, producing roses for a changing world while holding fast to the values that inspired David C.H. Austin’s very first breeding programme.

Under the stewardship of the Austin family’s second generation, the company remains firmly focused on the future. The same passion that drove David C.H. Austin to redefine the rose continues to fuel new developments, expanding colour palettes, fragrance notes and growth habits to keep pace with evolving garden design and environmental considerations. The company also continues to share its expertise widely, making rose growing accessible to gardeners of all levels through education, inspiration and support.

David Austin® exists to celebrate and share the beauty of the rose. From the very first flower David C.H. Austin bred to the latest introductions, every rose tells a story of patience, dedication and love for this remarkable plant. That story continues today, driven by the same enduring passion: to inspire gardens and gardeners everywhere through the timeless beauty of roses.

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk

About The King’s Foundation

The King’s Foundation is a charity founded by King Charles III and was first formed in 1990.

Inspired by the vision and values of His Majesty, the Foundation builds and supports communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony. The charity offers education courses for almost 15,000 students annually, health and wellbeing programmes for nearly 2,000 people every year, and spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings.

The King’s Foundation is headquartered at its flagship regeneration project, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, and acts as custodian of other historic Royal sites including the Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. The Foundation also carries out its work at educational and cultural hubs in London, based at The King’s Foundation School for Traditional Arts in Shoreditch, Trinity Buoy Wharf on the River Thames and the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea. In addition to its UK presence, the Foundation delivers programmes and projects in over a dozen sites worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.kings-foundation.org or email media@kings-foundation.org.

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