Rose The Pilgrim

Graceful and abundantly flowering English Rose, prized for its unusually soft yellow blooms and reliable garden performance. The medium to large blooms are shallowly cupped rosettes, packed with a multitude of fine, silky petals. The color is a gentle, warm yellow at the center, fading to pale lemon or cream at the edges - a softer, more refined alternative to the brighter tones of its parent ‘Graham Thomas’. The fragrance is an exquisite blend of Tea Rose and English myrrh - a gently fruity, musky scent that becomes more noticeable in warm air. It combines the strength and vigor of modern roses with the soft romanticism of Old Rose charm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'The Pilgrim' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the "Methuen Handbook of Colour" published by Eyre Methuen Ltd. (1963), except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'The Pilgrim' rose variety are medium sized, about 1.9 cm (3/4) long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is globular, pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color varies from greenish yellow (Group 1B8) to light yellow (Group 3A5). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are vivid yellow / chrome yellow (Group 3A8) at the base, paling to milk white (Group 1A2) at the top and the lower sides of the petals are yellow / genet (Group 3A7) at the base, paling to milk white (Group 1A2) at the top. Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back.

The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is leathery. The colour of the sepals is greyish green / apple green (Group 29C7) with reddish blush. There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is greyish green (Group 29C7), goblet shaped and has a hairy surface. The size of the receptacle is small, about 0.6 cm (1/4") long and about 0.6 cm (1/4") in diameter.

The peduncle is medium, averaging to about 3.8 cm (1 1/2") in length, erect and has a smooth, slightly tomestose surface. The colour of the peduncle is medium green with reddish brown blotching.

Bloom:

The flowers are medium to large sized, the average diameter of the open flower is about 6.4 - 8.3 cm (2 1/2" - 3 1/4"). When first open, the flower form is cupped. As the flower opens fully the form flattens, forming a perfect quartered rosette, the outer petals curl back. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 170 on average. They are born singly or several together in clusters having irregular shape, of up to 5 flowers together. The flowering stem has medium strength, long, and has an average length of about 61 to 91 cm (24 to 36 inches).

When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is pale yellow (Group 2A3) at the outer edge, deepening to light yellow (Group 3A5) at the base, while the reverse sides of the petals are and the base of the petals has pale yellow (Group 2A3) at the outer edge, deepening to pastel yellow (Group 3A4) at the base. The major color on the upper side of the flowers is pale yellow (Group 2A3). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of rose variety 'The Pilgrim'.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is paler than pale yellow (Group 2A3). At the end of the third day, the majority of the petals are milk white (Group 1A2), at the outer edge, changing to pale yellow (Group 2A3) at the base.

Petals:

The texture of the petals is thin, soft and silky and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is round, the apex is retuse, and the tips are slightly recurved, edges slightly quilled. The arrangement of the petals is quartered, with no petaloids in the center.

The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly before drying. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 3 to 7 days, as a cut flower their lastingness is about 5 to 7 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'The Pilgrim' is a strong, exquisite blend of Tea Rose and English myrrh.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 5 on average per flower, the length medium, and they are regularly arranged around styles.

The anthers have yellow colour.

The colour of the filaments white.

The pollen is golden yellow.

The colour of the styles is greenish white with some brownish red streaks.

Stigma is greenish white in colour.

The hips of this rose variety have not been observed.

PLANT

The rose variety 'The Pilgrim' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. However due to its powerful and vigorous growth character can be also trained as a climbing rose, and mostly is recommended to grow as such. The growth character is vigorous, powerful, spreading and upright. Mature and well-established plants have a height of about 120 - 300 cm (8–10 ft) and the width of about 90 - 150 cm (3–5 ft).

Originally bred as a shrub, this rose has proven to be equally - if not more - impressive when grown as a climber, where its upright, arching stems can reach large size and transform trellises, arches, or walls with a cascade of luminous flowers. In hot climates, the blooms may fade more quickly, sometimes to nearly white, while in cooler conditions the richer yellow tones last longer, offering beautiful tonal variation within each cluster. Flowers are typically borne in generous sprays, sometimes with up to 15 blooms, creating a glowing yellow mass that’s easily visible across the garden.

When grown as a shrub, it reaches 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) in height and width. It can be maintained at a more compact size with regular pruning, or self-pegged to encourage flowering along the canes. In warmer climates, it thrives as a short climber, and its repeat blooming improves as the plant matures over several seasons. It combines the strength and vigor of modern roses with the soft romanticism of Old Rose charm. Ideal for borders, walls, pergolas, or large containers, it is one of the most floriferous and refined yellow roses available.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves varies from 7, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is medium sized.

The colour of the juvenile foliage is deep green (Group 29D8) with oxblood red / reddish brown (Group 9E7) at the margins. The mature foliage is dark green (Group 29F8).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is medium about 5.1 cm (2") long and are about 3.8 cm (11/2) wide. The shape of the leaflets is pointed oval, the surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and small.

The petiole has dark green colour (Group 29F8) with violet brown blush (Group 10F8), has up to 2 prickles on the lower surface. The petiole rachis is dark green (Group 29F8) with violet brown blush (Group 10F8).

The stipules are 0.6 cm (¼) to 1.9 cm (3/4") long, serrated.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has greyish green / apple green colour (Group 29C7) with a reddish tinge, the bark is smooth. The mature wood is greyish green (Group 29D7), the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The stem pubescence is not observed on the stems of this rose variety.

Prickles:

There are few to ordinary number prickles present on the main canes from base. On the laterals from main canes there are few prickles. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, they are medium sized and evenly distributed around the stems. The colour of the prickles is brownish red / raspberry (Group 10D7) at the base with pompeian yellow (Group 5C6) at the tip.

Small prickles:

Under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'The Pilgrim' has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to mildew, blackspot and rust under normal growing conditions. The pest resistance has not been tested yet.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Named after the pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

English Climbing Roses

Modern Shrub Rose, Baton Rouge Rose Society Show, 1999;

Modern Shrub Rose, Corvallis Rose Society Show, 1999;

Modern Shrub Rose, Western Reserve Rose Society Show, 1999

Modern Shrub Rose, Humboldt Rose Society Show, Mid-Michigan Rose Society Show, 2000;

Modern Shrub Rose, Lewis County Rose Society Show, Marin Rose Society Show, 2000;

Modern Shrub Rose, Olympia Rose Society Show and Pacific Northwest District Show, 2000;

Modern Shrub Rose, Fair Friends of the Rose Show, 2001;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Auswalker’ / 'The Pilgrim' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausmas’ /‘Graham Thomas’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - English shrub rose ‘Auslow’ / ‘Yellow Button’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with yellow, quartered, scented flowers on a bushy plant which flowers repeatedly.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The objective was achieved, along with other important improvements, and this rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

 bright yellow flowers;

 quartered petals arrangement;

 upright growth;

 strong fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form, established and transmitted through the succeeding propagations.

USDA 6