The English rose was bred by crossing the climber 'Aloha' with the floribunda 'Yellow Cushion'[1] and is named after the industrialist Abraham Darby, the constructor of the first iron bridge, which is situated less than 15 km from David Austin's nurseries.

'Abraham Darby' is an old-fashioned looking rose with many large, showy flowers with a classic quartered shape in an apricot-pink colour which varies with climate and age.

[2] As the rather heavy flowers tend to bow their heads, Abraham Darby is suited to be trained as a climber.

[3] Due to its long arching shoots, it can be grown as a freestanding shrub or trained as a climber, if given some support.

[2][4] 'Abraham Darby' is used as a parent rose and was used to hybridise the cultivars 'Crown Princess Margareta' (1991), 'Golden Celebration' (1992), 'Jude the Obscure' (1995), 'Pat Austin' (1995) and 'Marianne' (2001).