ALBRIGHTON, Shropshire — David J.C. Austin, the chairman who transformed his family’s specialized nursery into one of the world’s most recognizable rose brands over more than three decades, died July 22 at his home in Shropshire. He was 67.
His family announced that Austin had been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) , a rare and incurable neurological condition that causes rapid brain deterioration. The company confirmed he died surrounded by family, less than eight years after the December 2018 death of his father, company founder David C.H. Austin.
Steward of a Horticultural Legacy
Born in 1958, David J.C. Austin joined the family business in 1990, working directly with his father as the elder Austin’s pioneering English Rose hybrids gained international recognition. He rose to managing director and later chairman, guiding David Austin Roses through a period of substantial growth while maintaining the company’s core focus on fragrant, garden-friendly roses.
Under his leadership, the once-regional nursery expanded into a globally respected horticultural name, exporting English Roses to gardeners, florists, and landscape professionals worldwide. Colleagues credited him with preserving his father’s founding philosophy: that a rose should combine the beauty and fragrance of heritage varieties with the repeat-flowering dependability of modern hybrids, even as the company scaled internationally.
A Family’s Farewell
In a company statement, Austin’s children — Richard, James, and Olivia — remembered their father as a gardener above all else.
“That was at the heart of who he was,” they said, describing a man who carried forward his own father’s vision “with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility,” always prioritizing the roses, the family business, and its employees.
They recalled him as kind, modest, and playful, with a genuine zest for life, and noted he faced his illness with the same courage and dignity he brought to every challenge. “Above all, he was our Dad,” they said. “Words cannot express how much we will miss him. We couldn’t be more proud of him.”
The family also expressed gratitude to those who cared for Austin and supported them during his illness.
Industry Mourns a Rose Pioneer
Austin’s death prompted tributes across British horticulture. The Royal Horticultural Society expressed deep sadness at the news. BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don praised Austin’s legacy, saying he leaves behind “millions of exquisite roses that will live on,” and offered condolences to the family.
In the days following the announcement, hundreds of gardeners and rose enthusiasts posted condolences on the company’s social media accounts, many recalling personal encounters with Austin at flower shows or crediting the roses he helped bring to market with transforming their own gardens.
The Future of the English Rose
David Austin Roses said it will continue operations under its experienced leadership team, working closely with the next generation of the Austin family. The company reaffirmed its commitment to partners and rose lovers worldwide, signaling continuity for a business that has now weathered the loss of both its founder and the son who built it into a global brand.
Austin’s death closes a long chapter of direct family leadership. But with a third generation — Richard, James, and Olivia — already involved in the business, the family’s stewardship of the English Rose appears poised to continue, even as the company enters a new era without the two men most responsible for its rise.
For readers interested in learning more about English Roses or the legacy of David Austin Roses, the company offers educational resources on rose care and variety selection through its website and at select horticultural events.