David J. C. Austin has died at the age of 67, leaving behind a huge horticultural legacy

Published: July 22, 2026 at 9:33 am

Across the horticulture industry, people are paying tribute to David J. C. Austin, who has died at the age of 67. He had previously been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and incurable neurological condition.

David was chairman of the world-renowned rose-breeding business David Austin Roses , which was founded by his father, David C. H. Austin , in Shropshire in 1969.

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David J. C. was born in 1958, joined the family business in 1990 and went on to lead it for more than 30 years, working alongside his father until his death in 2018. During these three decades, the specialist nursery became an internationally recognised name among gardeners.

The gardens at David Austin Roses HQ © David Austin Roses

David J. C.…