Skip to content
Need some help? Use our rose finder to discover the perfect rose
  • Blog

The Alnwick® Rose® - Retired

Forever part of our history, these roses have paved the way for many more roses to come.

In the late 1940s, David C H Austin set out on his quest to breed the most beautiful and healthy roses; a vision that continues to remain at the heart of our business today, more than 80 years later. This vision drives our continuing assessment of rose varieties in the current collection to ensure they reach our exacting standards and expectations. Due to climatic changes and the evolution of plant diseases, some historical varieties will no longer reach our increasingly high standards. It is in these instances that we must retire the rose to ensure customers receive only the best roses that will thrive and deliver the most enjoyable customer experience, regardless of gardening expertise. As a result of our review process, The Alnwick® Rose is now retired from our English Rose Collection but will always remain part of our history, paving the way for many more new roses to come, creating the next generation of roses.

If you love The Alnwick® Rose, we have some great alternatives, which we are sure will endear themselves to you, bringing you much happiness and gardening enjoyment for years to come.

The Alnwick® Rose®
(Ausgrab) English Shrub Rose Bred By David Austin
Pretty, many petalled, cupped blooms of soft pink. There is a rich Old Rose fragrance with raspberry notes. It flowers in flushes from early summer until the first frosts. It forms a nicely rounded, slightly upright, bushy shrub with plentiful, glossy green foliage. David Austin, 2001.
  • Colour: Soft pink
  • Flowering: Repeat Flowering
  • Fragrance: Medium-strong,Old Rose
  • Bloom Size: Medium
  • Family: English Shrub Rose
  • Size: Medium Shrub
  • Height: 4ft (125cm)
  • Width: 3ft (90cm)
  • Breeder: David Austin
  • Year of Introduction: 2001
  • Mixed Border
  • Pots & Containers
  • Rose Border
  • Rose Hedges
  • East, South, West Facing
  • Full Sunlight
  • All soil types
The Alnwick® Rose®
Our rose expert’s recommendation
Eustacia Vye®
(Ausgrab) English Shrub Rose Bred By David Austin
An exceedingly pretty rose of soft, glowing apricot-pink, each bloom packed with numerous delicately ruffled petals. Held on red-tinged stems, the blooms begin as shallow cups, opening to full rosettes, revealing petals of a richer hue, which gradually pale over time. They have a delicious strong fruity fragrance. A very healthy variety; itmakes a strong, vigorous shrub with bushy, upright growth. Named after the flawed heroine of Thomas Hardy’s, The Return of the Native. David Austin, 2019.
Shop now
Eustacia Vye®
Description
Pretty, many petalled, cupped blooms of soft pink. There is a rich Old Rose fragrance with raspberry notes. It flowers in flushes from early summer until the first frosts. It forms a nicely rounded, slightly upright, bushy shrub with plentiful, glossy green foliage. David Austin, 2001.
Characteristics
  • Colour: Soft pink
    Colour may vary depending on growing conditions. Colour fade is a characteristic of some varieties.
  • Flowering: Repeat Flowering
    Repeat flowering roses flower in flushes from late spring through to early winter. Once flowering roses only produce a single flush of blooms lasting 3 to 4 weeks in mid-summer.
  • Fragrance: Medium-strong,Old Rose
  • Bloom Size: Medium
    Bloom size varies over the life cycle of each bloom. Measurements refer to the average diameter of a bloom at its prime. Large bloom: 3.5-5" Medium bloom: 2-3.5" Small bloom: 1-2"
  • Family: English Shrub Rose
  • Size: Medium Shrub
    All measurements are approximate 'height x width' and refer to a 3 year old established rose, pruned once annually, measured during the first flush of flowers in June.
  • Height: 4ft (125cm)
  • Width: 3ft (90cm)
  • Breeder: David Austin
  • Year of Introduction: 2001
Location
  • Mixed Border
  • Roses Ideal for Pots & ContainersPots & Containers
  • Rose Border
  • Roses Ideal for Rose HedgesRose Hedges
Growing conditions
  • East, South, West Facing
  • Full Sunlight
  • Roses Suitable for All Soil TypesAll soil types
Behind the name
Named for the Duchess of Northumberland, who has created one of the most impressive large gardens of our time at Alnwick Castle, which includes a magnificent display of English Roses.
The Alnwick® Rose® inspiration

From growing in our fields to growing in your garden, we love seeing your beautiful images of our roses in your world.

    How to plant a shrub rose
    Frequently asked questions

    Need more help? for individual help or advice, we encourage you to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team on 01902 376300.

    Bare root roses are dormant plants and can be planted November and April.

    Potted roses are available all year round and can be planted at any time of the year.

    Aside from extreme weather, roses can be planted at any time during the year. The extreme weather conditions that we advise against planting in are when the ground is frozen, water-logged or during a drought.

    We take every care to breed, grow and deliver the best roses. If a rose fails to grow or arrives damaged, we will replace it free of charge. The 5 year guarantee applies to roses purchased
    directly from David Austin. If you would like to request a replacement or refund of a rose within the 5 year guarantee period, please complete our Returns form.

    Call us on 01902 376300

    Email us help@davidaustinroses.co.uk

    • Monday–Friday
      8:30am — 6:00pm
    • Saturday
      8:30am — 4:30pm
    • Sunday
      Closed
    Are you in the right place?