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Graham Thomas
Rosa 'Graham Thomas'
Medium · Some experienceAbout Graham Thomas
Graham Thomas is David Austin's breakthrough yellow English rose introduced in 1983, hailed as the first modern English rose to achieve true rich yellow color combined with old-rose cupped form and strong tea-rose fragrance. Growing 4 to 5 feet as a shrub or 8 to 12 feet as a climber, it blooms heavily from late spring through fall and set the standard for all yellow Austin roses to follow. A cornerstone of American English-rose gardens.
- Fragrant
- Long-blooming
How to care for Graham Thomas
Watering
- Springevery 5 days
- Summerevery 3 days
- Fallevery 7 days
- Winterevery 14 days
Soil · Rich & loamy
- Top dressingBark mulch15%
- Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
- DrainageGravel15%
Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.
FERTILIZER
Balanced Feed 14-14-14
An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
- Summerevery 30 days
- Fallevery 45 days
At a Glance
- Height4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)
- Spread3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m)
- Flower colorYellow
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Rich yellow cupped blooms with tea fragrance, deadhead for repeat
Fragrance
STRONG FRAGRANCE
Strong fresh tea-rose fragrance with violet hints.
Toxicity
Humans Slight
Unknown toxic principle
Slight
- Stem
- Contact
EXPOSURE Touching stems.
EFFECT Pricks from thorns.
NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
History
Rosa 'Graham Thomas' is a golden-yellow English shrub rose bred by David Austin at Albrighton, Shropshire, England, released in 1983 from a cross between the climber 'Charles Austin' and a seedling involving 'Iceberg' and an unnamed yellow tea rose. Austin named the cultivar for the English horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas, who had championed old roses through his writing and garden restoration work at Mottisfont Abbey. 'Graham Thomas' represented a breakthrough for the English Rose programme: rich golden-yellow color unavailable in traditional old roses, combined with the deep-cupped many-petalled form and powerful tea-rose fragrance of old roses, on a modern repeat-flowering shrub.
It quickly became one of the most widely sold roses in Britain and North America, won the World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame in 2009, and transformed public expectation of what modern roses could achieve. It was the first English rose to combine true rich yellow color with old-rose cupped form, launching the modern yellow English-rose lineage now central to American cottage gardens.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Rosa Graham Thomas carries generous legacy, named for the great rosarian who almost single-handedly revived interest in old roses during the twentieth century. Its golden cupped grace marries modern butter-yellow color with the deep cupped form of the antique gallica and centifolia roses he championed. It is often read as a flower of inherited gardens, a David Austin rose whose meaning is the gratitude one generation owes to the one that preserved its beauty.
- Generous legacy — honors rosarian who revived old roses
- Golden cupped grace — marries modern yellow with old-rose form
Where the Name Comes From
Named for Graham Stuart Thomas (1909-2003), British rosarian and garden writer who revived interest in old garden roses.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Strong tea-rose perfume from rich yellow cupped blooms
- English rose form prized for romantic arrangements
- Versatile shrub or short climber for cottage borders
Related plants
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AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
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Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Graham Thomas?
In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Graham Thomas need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Graham Thomas toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is Graham Thomas easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does Graham Thomas bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
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