Gardeners’ World star David J.C. Austin has died after being diagnosed with a rare neurological illness.
David, who was the chairman of David Austin Roses, passed away at his Shropshire home aged 67, after battling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, (CJD).
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative brain disorder. Most sufferers die within a year of symptom onset, usually due to an infection caused by immobility. There is no cure.
The gardener famously showed Queen Camilla around the Royal Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023.
Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don led tributes and wrote: ‘I am so sorry to hear this. My regards and condolences to all his family.
‘But what legacy he leaves – millions of exquisite roses that will live on for so many, enriching all our lives.’
Gardeners’ World star David J.C. Austin has died after being diagnosed with a neurological illness (pictured with Camilla at The Chelsea Flower Show in 2023)
Gardeners’ World star David J.C. Austin has died aged 67: Owner of namesake rose brand has lost his battle with a rare neurological illness
His family added: ‘First and foremost, Dad was a gardener. That was at the heart of who he was.
‘He carried our grandfather’s vision with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility, always putting the roses, the family business and its people before himself.
‘He was kind and modest, with a playful spirit, a sense of adventure and a real enjoyment of life.
‘Above all, he was our Dad, and words cannot express how much we will miss him. We couldn’t be more proud of him.’
David had long been part of the BBC gardening show, with experts from his nursery regularly appearing in segments and at live events promoting the programme.
In a statement, the Royal Horticultural Society said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of David’s death.
They added: ‘Sending love and condolences to the Austin family.’
Influencer Lydia Millen said: ‘This is truly heartbreaking! The joy he has brought this world through his blooms is the greatest legacy. My thoughts are with all the Austin family’.
Zoe Ball said: ‘sending love and condolences to the Austin family. heartbreaking news’.
The National Trust said they were also ‘saddened to hear’ the news of David’s passing.
Monty Don led tributes and wrote: ‘I am so sorry to hear this. My regards and condolences to all his family’
David, who was the chairman of David Austin Roses, passed away at his Shropshire home aged 67, after battling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, (CJD)
Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don led tributes and wrote: ‘I am so sorry to hear this. My regards and condolences to all his family’
David Austin became interested in breeding roses in his teens with David Jr turning it into the business it is today (pictured centre with his grandson Richard, left, and son David Jr)
They wrote: ‘Many National Trust gardens and our visitors have benefited from the work of the Austin family and David’s continued commitment to roses has brought many people joy over so many years. Our thoughts are with David’s family and others close to him’.
David joined the world-famous Shropshire family nursery in 1990, working alongside his late father, David C. H. Austin (the pioneer who developed the iconic English Rose class).
David went on to lead the company for more than 30 years and transformed the business into a global horticulture brand.
Earlier this year, he entered semi-retirement, passing the primary leadership of David Austin Roses down to the third generation, his three children; Richard, James, and Olivia from his marriage to ex-wife Francine.
Producing a new rose is a painstaking process, stretching over seven years.
It starts with 175,000 rose seeds, each with their own unique DNA; over the years the roses are grown in trial fields and whittled down until just two or three varieties remain that are deemed good enough to go on sale.
The roses are only given a name a few months before they’re launched commercially.
David’s father’s fascination with rose breeding began as a teenager, when his sister gave him a book on roses.
He thought that modern roses like hybrid teas and floribundas lacked the sumptuous beauty and the gorgeous scent of gallicas, albas and damask roses, whose great drawback is that they only produce one flush of flowers a year.
It took decades of experimentation before he launched his first rose, the pink climber ‘Constance Spry’, which went on the market in 1961.
More than 230 more varieties of romantic, highly scented and repeat-flowering roses followed.
David Austin was 92 when he died in 2018 and he was passionate about rose breeding until the very end.
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