What the Huntington Rose Garden Can Teach You About Growing an English Style Garden
If you’ve ever wished your backyard felt like a scene from a storybook - lush roses, soft colors, winding garden paths - you’re in the right place. One visit to the Huntington Rose Garden can change the way you dream about your landscape.
As a wedding florist in Southern California, I work with garden roses almost daily; especially David Austin varieties. Brides adore them for their ruffled petals, rich fragrance, and romantic color palettes. One of our most-used blooms is the beloved David Austin Juliet rose. Its peachy tones add an effortlessly whimsical, English-cottage charm to any arrangement.
And here’s the best part: that same dreamy, cottagecore style can be recreated right in your own garden. Planting David Austin rose bushes at home is an easy way to bring softness, movement, and old-world romance into your outdoor spaces.
A Stroll Through the Huntington Rose Garden
Recently, we spent an afternoon exploring the Huntington Library Rose Garden, a true haven for anyone who loves an English cottage garden. It’s a treasure trove of ideas for garden layout, color combinations, and rose varieties worth adding to your wish list.
If you’re planning to refresh your garden beds or incorporate English cottage garden shrubs and roses, the Rose Garden and Shakespeare Garden are absolute must-sees. These two adjoining gardens beautifully illustrate traditional English-garden design, including:
- Layered garden borders mixing trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals
- Charming structures like arbors draped in climbing roses
- Trellises supporting vining plants that add vertical interest
- Focal points such as statues that anchor the garden and invite exploration
Every turn feels like stepping into a romantic landscape painting.
To make your visit even more special, book ahead for the Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room. The interiors are just as inspiring; light-filled, elegant, and thoughtfully designed. Expect a full tea service complete with sweet and savory tea sandwiches and warm scones. It’s a true treat and the perfect way to savor the garden views.
Our Favorite Roses to Grow in Redlands (Zone 9b)
If you’re local to Southern California, especially around Redlands, these David Austin varieties thrive beautifully in our climate:
- David Austin The Poet’s Wife – The poet’s wife rose has a bright, buttery yellow blooms with a delicious citrus fragrance
- David Austin Lady of Shalott – The lady of shallot rose is a hardy, reliable rose with warm apricot-orange tones and a tea-like scent
- David Austin Gabriel Oak – The gabriel oak rose has a velvety, deep pink petals paired with a strong, classic old-rose fragrance
- David Austin Eustacia Vye – The eustacia vye rose has a soft pink-to-coral ruffled blooms with a fresh, fruity scent
Whether you’re new to rose gardening or simply looking for cottage garden ideas, these varieties will bring color, fragrance, and cottagecore style to your landscape all season long.
I hope this inspires your next garden project, or maybe even a weekend trip to the Huntington!
P.S The best time to see the roses in bloom are between April and June.