Rosa The Pilgrim - English Climbing Rose

The flowers of the English rose The Pilgrim are both delicate and remarkably fragrant. They are large, double cups, which are slightly flattened, almost pomponm of petals, in shades of yellow. The colour is very vibrant in the centre of the flower, while it is almost white on the edges. This very reliable rose has vigorous growth and good natural disease resistance. It will form a magnificent bush or can be trained as a small climber, to decorate an arch or trellis.

This rose with multiple qualities has received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in England. It reaches quite substantial dimensions, about 1.80 m (6ft) in height and 1.50 m (5ft) in spread. Its habit is naturally bushy and well-branched, but it can be trained as a climber, reaching up to 3.50 m (11ft) in height in warm regions. Its sturdy climbing stems are adorned with finely cut foliage in a fairly light green, which is not very susceptible to diseases. Its buds of pure yellow open up into double rosettes, in slightly flattened cup shapes, about 9 cm (4in) wide, with multiple overlapping petals. They produce a delightful gradient of colours ranging from pure lemon yellow in the centre to almost white on the edges. They have a strong fragrance of tea rose and myrrh.  In this rose, the flowers are gathered in clusters. It reblooms regularly, from June to October. This Rosa moschata hybrid, resistant to cold, adapts very well to warm climates. Its deciduous foliage falls in autumn.

The Pilgrim, like many small climbing roses, can slightly thin out at the base. It will benefit from being accompanied by low-growing perennials in a border. Combine the pure colours of The Pilgrim with vibrant and dark blues, mauve flowers, or go for warmth with orange, for example. Consider perennial geraniums (Blue Cloud, Rozanne, Splish-splash), catmints, herbaceous salvias, agastaches... These roses are magnificent in a vase.

English Roses are well known for being repeat flowering and their flowers are renowned for being beautiful, regular rosettes which are very fragrant.

David Austin 1991 creation