Munstead Wood

Where to plant. A specimen in a sunny spot, mono-varietal groups, showy borders; ideal as a duet with Gertrude Jekyll, as both are linked to Munstead Wood and Gertrude Jekyll.

Climate. Down to −20 °C (RHS H6); in Ukraine with moderate winter protection.

Care. A classic English Shrub; pruning in spring by a third of its height; removing spent flowers encourages new flushes.

Name. 'Munstead Wood', the house (1897) and garden (from 1883) of the legendary garden designer Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) in Surrey, England. The house was designed by Edwin Lutyens, later one of the best-known British architects. Gertrude Jekyll's garden at Munstead Wood is the cradle of the British 'cottage garden' style; the whole English gardening school of the XX century was influenced by it.

Breeding. Bred by David C. H. Austin Sr. (1926–2018) at David Austin Roses (Albrighton, England); bred in 1999, on the UK market in 2007 and in the USA in 2010. Code AUSbernard. US Patent PP 19,876. Parentage: two unnamed seedlings (Austin does not publish parentage).

Significance. RHS Award of Garden Merit 2007 and AGRS Fragrance Award 2017 (USA). One of the best deep crimson Austins of the first decade of the 2000s; a recognised benchmark for the 'deep crimson English Rose' class. It is the second rose in our catalogue linked to Gertrude Jekyll, next to Gertrude Jekyll itself (AUSbord, Austin 1986, WFRS World's Favourite Rose 2025). If Gertrude Jekyll is named after a person, Munstead Wood is named after her garden. It is often confused with Darcey Bussell or William Shakespeare 2000 (also dark Austins). The year is wrongly given as 2008; the correct dates are: bred in 1999, on the market in 2007.