Winchester Cathedral came to David Austin in 1988 as a white sport of his own Mary Rose, and it has since proven itself one of the most dependable white English roses in cultivation. The double flowers are 2 to 3 inches across with a light, pleasing fragrance. They open in loose, cupped form and rebloom in flushes throughout the season. The medium green, semi-glossy foliage is carried on canes that bear few to no prickles, a quality that makes working around it noticeably more pleasant than with thornier alternatives.

At 4 feet tall and wide, Winchester Cathedral sits comfortably at the back of a perennial border or as a free-standing specimen in a cottage or English garden. Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil, and prune lightly in late winter to remove winter damage and maintain the rounded habit. Disease resistance is good, though the usual watchfulness for black spot and mildew applies during wet summers. Zones 4 through 9 accommodate it well, giving this rose a wide range of suitable gardens.