Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’ – Care Guide

Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’ is a highly regarded English rose bred by David Austin, celebrated for its soft, pure yellow rosette blooms, exceptionally long flowering season, and gentle tea-myrhh fragrance. One of the finest yellow English roses, ‘The Pilgrim’ can be grown as a large shrub or trained as a short climber, making it a versatile choice for borders, arches, walls, and cottage-style gardens. It combines grace, fragrance, and healthy growth in one beautifully reliable plant.

Planting & Position

• Light:

  • Thrives in full sun, which produces the richest yellow colour and strongest flowering.

  • Will tolerate partial shade but with reduced bloom quantity.

• Soil:

  • Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost or rotted manure.

  • Avoid heavy clay that stays waterlogged.

  • Suitable for large borders, rose beds, and trained supports.

• Spacing:

  • As a shrub: allow 1.2–1.5 m between plants.

  • As a climber: plant 30–45 cm from a wall, arch, or trellis.

• Planting time:

  • Plant container-grown roses at any time of year.

  • Bareroot roses should be planted November–March.

Care & Maintenance

‘The Pilgrim’ is a strong, easy-to-grow rose with good disease resistance if given proper care.

• Watering:

  • Water deeply after planting and continue regularly during the first season.

  • Once established, water deeply once a week during dry spells.

  • Avoid wetting foliage late in the day.

• Feeding:

  • Feed in early spring with a specialist rose fertiliser.

  • Apply a second feed in mid-summer to encourage repeat blooms.

• Mulching:

  • Mulch in spring using compost or well-rotted manure to conserve moisture and enrich soil.

• Pruning:

  • Shrub form (Feb–March):

    • Remove dead, damaged, or crossing stems.

    • Reduce remaining stems by one-third to shape the plant.

    • Create an open structure for airflow.

  • Climber form:

    • Tie main stems horizontally to encourage multiple flowering shoots.

    • Shorten side shoots to 2–4 buds in late winter.

    • Remove older stems gradually to rejuvenate the plant.

• Deadheading:

  • Remove faded blooms regularly to promote repeat flowering.

• Disease resistance:

  • Good resistance to blackspot and mildew.

  • Ensure good air circulation for best performance.

Seasonal Interest & Uses

• Flowers:

  • Soft, clear yellow rosettes with lighter outer petals.

  • Refined, many-petalled blooms that hold their shape well.

  • Repeat flowering from June to October.

• Fragrance:

  • Medium to strong tea and myrrh scent, warm and fresh.

• Habit:

  • As a shrub: 1.2–1.5 m tall, rounded and graceful.

  • As a climber: up to 2.5–3 m with support.

• Best uses:

  • Cottage gardens

  • Mixed borders

  • Arches, obelisks, trellises

  • Feature shrub in large beds

  • Near seating or paths to enjoy fragrance

  • Pairing with lavender, nepeta, foxgloves, peonies

• Wildlife:

  • Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.

In Summary:

Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’ is an elegant English rose with soft yellow blooms, a lovely tea-myrhh scent, and flexible growth that suits both shrub and climbing roles. With repeat flowering, healthy foliage, and refined beauty, it’s ideal for garden borders, arches, and any planting scheme looking for a gentle, classic yellow rose. Plant in fertile soil, prune seasonally, and enjoy months of exquisite colour and fragrance.

• Size
  D. Austin

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.