When it comes to roses, David Austin is the most revered name. Known around the world for our exquisite blooms, we are often asked one important question… What is the difference between David Austin Wedding Roses and David Austin Shrub Roses? While both belong to our celebrated rose family, each serves a distinct purpose. One graces your garden with timeless beauty while the other is crafted to star in your most unforgettable moments.
Let us guide you through the unique roles, characteristics and shared heritage of our iconic roses.
Wedding Roses: Designed for Bouquets and Floral Arrangements
Our cut roses have been specifically bred for floristry. They have been created to deliver show-stopping beauty in floral arrangements, bridal bouquets and centrepieces. These exceptional blooms are grown under cover by a select few licensed growers in an equatorial climate that ensures year-round flowering.
What makes our cut roses so distinct? Think long, straight stems, generous bloom heads and exceptional, reliable performance. Their structure has been carefully considered to allow floral designers to work with ease, creating lush and sculptural designs that last beautifully throughout your wedding day.
From the romantic ruffles of Leonora to the soft, sunlit warmth of Beatrice, our cut roses have become the signature of luxury weddings around the world. They are the roses you fall in love with in your bridal bouquet. They are the roses your guests will not stop admiring. And they are the roses your photographer will capture in every precious detail.
Garden Shrubs: For Life’s Everyday Romance
Our renowned garden shrub roses, by contrast, are lovingly cultivated for planting in the earth. Designed to grow, climb, and bloom year after year in your garden. These are the roses that bring lasting beauty to your outdoor space and evolve with the seasons.
Garden roses tend to have softer, natural shapes and shorter stems. These characteristics make them perfect for garden borders, arches and containers. While equally breathtaking in bloom, these roses are not intended for floristry and their flowering season is more closely tied to nature’s calendar. There is a certain romance to planting a rose similar to the ones you carried on your wedding day. A living legacy of your love story. Many of our couples choose a garden shrub variety as a tribute to their wedding flowers. This creates a beautiful connection between their wedding and the home they are building together.
Shared Heritage, Singular Purpose
Whether cut roses for the floral industry or garden-grown, David Austin Roses share a common lineage. Each one is a result of decades of expert breeding and a passion for perfection. Every rose begins with the same desire: to create something timeless, characterful and deeply beautiful. Our founder, David Austin Senior, began with a vision. He wanted to marry the charm and fragrance of old roses with the repeat flowering and colour range of modern varieties. That legacy lives on in every bloom, from the show-stopping stems in your wedding bouquet to the delicate petals that open in your garden year after year.
While their purpose may differ, the intention remains the same: to bring beauty, emotion and unforgettable memories to life.
Let Us Help You Choose the Perfect Wedding Roses
Now that you know the difference between David Austin’s cut roses and garden shrubs, you can plan with confidence, knowing you are choosing the very best blooms for every part of your story. Your wedding flowers deserve nothing less than the finest. With David Austin, you are in the hands of experts who understand both the emotion and artistry of your celebration.
Explore our collection of Wedding Roses and speak to your florist about incorporating David Austin cut roses into your big day. And if you are looking to plant something special for your home garden, our Garden Rose Experts are ready to help.
