About the name
Name. “The Pilgrim” = “The Pilgrim”. Named after the pilgrims in Geoffrey Chaucer's “The Canterbury Tales” (Geoffrey Chaucer, 1340–1400). The Canterbury Tales is the best-known work of Middle English literature, about a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury and telling stories. This follows a classic Austin-style tradition of dedicating varieties to classics of English literature (like Scepter'd Isle — to Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes — to Doyle). Breeder: bred by David Austin at David Austin Roses (Albrighton, Shropshire, UK). Code AUSwalker. Introduced 1991. Parentage: 'Graham Thomas' (Austin, WFRS HoF 2009) × 'Yellow Button' (Austin 1975) — both parents are yellow Austins. In Germany it is also sold as “Gartenarchitekt Günther Schulze”, named after a garden architect (NOT to be confused with the nursery Rosenhof Schultheis).
Significance. RHS Award of Garden Merit — officially confirmed. Numerous exhibition wins in 1999–2001 at American rose societies. The “dual nature” — the young bush flowers like a neat shrub, while a mature plant climbs to 3+ metres. This is a rare quality that makes The Pilgrim suitable for any garden. About 140 petals — a record doubleness for Austins of that time. A two-tone gradient from a soft-yellow centre to almost white edges. Tea + myrrh fragrance — a rare combination. It has not received an ADR. Prone to powdery mildew in humid seasons.