Meetings

Michael Marriott BSc (Hons) is one of the world’s leading rosarians. He is also well-known for his rose garden design and his common sense approach to looking after roses. In his work he travels the globe, often sharing his expertise in lively radio, TV, newspaper and magazine interviews.

He was an integral part of David Austin Roses for 35 years and at the firm’s headquarters in Albrighton where he was the font of knowledge for all matters relating to roses. Michael has played an important part in the development and popularisation of English Roses and therefore has intimate knowledge of all of the 200 plus English Roses bred and introduced by David Austin Roses.

His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of roses is encyclopaedic, especially for the species roses, the old roses, the climbers and ramblers, the best modern roses and of course David Austin’s English Roses. He is particularly enthusiastic about the very varied fragrances to be found in roses having worked side-by-side with famed “rose nose” Robert Calkin.

As a garden designer, he is known for dense romantic beds whether purely roses or mixed in with perennials. He has designed many rose gardens and borders around the world of varying sizes, both public and private. Public gardens include the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in Regent’s Park, Hampton Court Palace, Wynyard Hall, Trentham Gardens and the David Austin garden near Osaka in Japan. His private clients are primarily in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe, but he has also worked on gardens in New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia and even Bhutan. 

An advocate of practical gardening techniques and organic methods for rose gardeners, he is regularly called upon to conduct workshops, give lectures and write articles for publications of varying levels of expertise in many different countries.

A keen gardener, he recognised his passion for plants at an early age, he believes that a good gardener starts by choosing appropriate plants and varieties for his or her garden’s growing conditions, then backs it up with sound soil management. His own gardens have always been run on organic principles, selecting only the healthiest varieties of roses and uses other plants to attract beneficial insects.

Prior to joining David Austin Roses in 1985, he worked at various rubber, cocoa and oil palm estates in Papua New Guinea, Sabah and the Solomon Islands. He worked briefly in botanical research in England, after earning a degree in Agricultural Botany in 1976 from Reading University.