Book  (2007)  
 
Grafton Pillar reg. 'Grafton Pillar' LCl, mr, Risley. Includes description. second generation Skinner's Rambler x Gruss an Aachen. Intros.: 1958.

Book  (1959)  Page(s) 14, 16, 20.  Includes photo(s).
 
The objective of the breeding program on rambler roses has been the development of canes which would withstand temperatures as low as -20° or -25℉ without injury. Among the seedlings raised, selection has been made also for disease resistant leaves, vigorous growth, easy of propagation and a tendency to repeat blooming all summer long. To accomplish this purpose, a collection of species and hybrid roses from various parts of the world was made at the Horticultural Farm of the N.H. Agr. Exp. Station starting in 1950...
Grafton Pillar Bright red, double flowers in large cluster produced continuously from June until severe frost characterize this rose. Distributed for testing as N.H.#551, it is a second generation seedling of Skinners Rambler x Gruss an Aachen (see chart). The flowers have 30 petals and are in terminal clusters on chanes two to eight feet long which places it inthe classification of a pillar rose needing the support of a fence or post but not growing as long canes as a rambler rose does. The canes are hardy to -20℉ but the leaves have a mild susceptability to both mildew and blackspot diseases. Spraying with a good fungicide is recommended...Leafy stem cuttings taken in July root and grow very easily. Gruss an Aachen...is a triploid rose having 21 chromosomes as verified in this project, yet it produced the viable pollen used on the 14 chromosome Skinners Rambler to produce a 14 chromosome seedling designated as SR3GAA. From this, 78 plants were grown in the F2 generation...

Grafton Pillar Rose pedigree at p. 20 shows the parentage of this rose as:
Seed parent: SR3GAA (seedling) (N.H. Agr.Exp. Sta. 1953) pink rambler, 2n
Pollen parent: SR3GAA (seedling) (N.H. Agr.Exp. Sta. 1953) pink rambler, 2n

Book  (1959)  Page(s) 199.  
 
Grafton Pillar produces large clusters of red, double flowers from June until late fall. It is the result of a second crossing of Skinner's Rambler and Gruss an Aachen. The flowers are fully double having thirty petals and they grow on the tips of canes from two to eight feet long which makes it a true pillar rose. This plant will take down to -20F, which makes it a reasonably hardy climber and capable of wintering in quite a large part of Canada excluding the Prairies. With a little protection it should grow in wide areas of our country. The originators say is is mildly susceptible to both Black Spot and Mildew. This is easily propagated from leafy cuttings in July.