David J. C. Austin, chairman of David Austin Roses, has died after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and incurable neurological condition.
Austin died at his home in Shropshire, surrounded by his family. He had led the internationally renowned rose breeder and nursery for more than 30 years, overseeing its growth from a specialist family business into one of the world’s best-known rose brands.
He joined the business in Albrighton, Shropshire, in 1990, working alongside his father, David C. H. Austin, whose pioneering breeding work established the now-famous English Roses. Under David J. C. Austin’s leadership, the company expanded significantly while maintaining its focus on breeding and producing fragrant, garden-worthy roses.
In a statement, his children, Richard, James and Olivia Austin, paid tribute to their father. “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. He faced his illness with the same courage and dignity that he brought to 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.”
The family also thanked those who cared for Austin and supported them throughout his illness.
David Austin Roses said the business would continue under its experienced leadership team, working closely with the next generation of the Austin family, and remained committed to serving its partners and customers around the world.
Austin’s death marks the loss of a second generation of one of horticulture’s most influential families. Alongside the legacy established by his father, he played a central role in building David Austin Roses into a globally recognised name, with its roses grown in gardens and landscapes across the world.
