Graham Thomas|Climbing Rose

🌸 Basic Information

• Type: English Shrub Rose / Can be trained as Climber

• Breeder: David Austin

• Year: 1983

• Height:

  • Shrub: 1.5–2 m

  • Climber: up to 3–4 m

• Spread: 1.2–1.5 m

👉 One of the most famous English roses ever introduced.

🌺 Flower & Fragrance

• Rich golden-yellow blooms (rare pure yellow in English roses)

• Large, cupped, old-rose style flowers

• Petals: ~40–50

• Fragrance: Light to moderate tea scent with violet notes

• Blooms in clusters or singly on long stems

🌿 Plant Characteristics

• Strong, upright and vigorous growth

• Can be grown as:

  • Bushy shrub

  • Pillar rose

  • Medium climber

• Attractive smooth green foliage

• Excellent repeat flowering from spring to autumn

☀️ Growing Requirements

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil

• Watering: Moderate, consistent

• Climate: Performs well even in warm climates and heat

⚠️ Disease & Performance

• Generally reliable and vigorous

• Performs well in heat and humidity compared to many DA roses

• Needs basic preventive care (especially in monsoon regions)

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• 🌍 World’s Favourite Rose (Rose Hall of Fame, 2009)

• RHS Award of Garden Merit

💡 Why It’s Special

• One of the best yellow roses ever bred

• Perfect mix of:

  • Classic English form

  • Strong garden performance

• Extremely versatile (shrub + climber)

🌹 Nursery / Business Value

• High demand David Austin classic

• Ideal for:

  • Premium customers

  • Landscape use (arches, pillars)

• Strong selling point:
  👉 “World’s Favourite Rose” branding

⚠️ Practical Insight (Important for You)

• Fragrance is not very strong compared to modern DA roses

• Color can fade to pale yellow in heat

• Works best when:

  • Slightly trained as a climber

  • Given space to develop height