Magazine  (Feb 2010)  Page(s) Vol 22, No. 1.  
 
John Nieuwesteeg: In the Australian Rose Annual of 1963, David Ruston mentioned, among others, 'Courier'. I rang David and while he no longer had it growing, he knew it was growing in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Next thing I knew, a bud stick turned up in my mail box.

Article (misc)  (2008)  Page(s) Unpublished.  
 
Courier HG pb 1930 Parentage unknown Clark A. MR12 gives [R. gigantea × Archiduc Joseph]

Magazine  (2004)  Page(s) 9. Vol 26, No. 3.  Includes photo(s).
 
Cover picture.

p9 This rose is Courier by Alister Clark 1930 hybrid gigantea (thought to be R. gigantea x A. Joseph). Described in Modern Roses: Pink on white ground: cluster, vigorous climber, flowers on old wood. Described in Australian Roses Hybrid gigantea climbing rose. Early spring, double, fragrant, soft creamy pink flowers with deeper pink tints, prominent stamens, mid-green foliage, reddish new growth. Flower: 26 petals, 90mm, singly. Climber 6m x 4m. There are some discrepancies here between the two descriptions – the suggested parentage is from 'Australian Roses' but we appear to have no references anywhere in rose books to the pollen parent A. Joseph . Perhaps a reader may be able to shed some light on this rose) – also Modern Roses has the flower colour ‘pink on white ground’, whereas the other reference has ‘soft creamy pink with deeper pink tints’ – also Modern Roses has flower ‘cluster’ and the other reference flower ‘singly’. It is strange that R. gigantea produces flowers singly, as do all the other first cross hybrids. Courier was introduced in 1930 by Brundrett, who were in all probability responsible for the registration details and one must wonder if the nursery got it wrong or we have the wrong rose. The rose that is grown today originated probably from David Ruston and is definitely a product of R. gigantea from the growth, prickles and foliage as can be seen from the photograph. The photograph was taken in early spring 2003, from the top of a step ladder in our Mittagong garden and before any of the neighbouring climbers was in flower. The rose was then in its second flowering season and growing strongly. We grew this rose in our Thirlmere rose garden but it was never a strong grower on the sandstone clays and flowered too early in the season to interest any likely buyer. So we discontinued propagation after a few years – the subject of the photograph in all probability came from our local garden centre.

Book  (2003)  Page(s) 39.  
 
‘Courier’ [Clark, introduced by Brundrett, 1930].

Book  (2002)  Page(s) 236.  
 
I put two Alister Clark roses in the oak paddock. ‘Courier’ is a delight but it hates the frost. It bears palest pink blooms, which fade to white, on a vigorous climbing plant. It is probably a hybrid of the frost tender R. gigantea. It is still growing – and flowering – at Alister’s home at Glenara but this is in a warm, protected valley. I had had trouble with it at Erinvale. It grew and covered itself with buds that promised great things, yet almost always we had a late frost and the buds turned brown and failed to open. But I love it, so have planted three in the shelter of the outer branches of a blackwood and so far they are doing well.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 12.  Includes photo(s).
 
Courier – 1930. Probably R. gigantea x A. Joseph. Hybrid Gigantea Climbing rose. Early spring, double, fragrant, soft creamy pink flowers with deeper pink tints, prominent stamens. Mid green foliage, reddish new growth. Flower: 26 petals, 90 mm, singly. Climber 6 m x 4 m.

Website/Catalog  (1998)  Page(s) 16.  
 
Courier. Gigantea Hyb. 1930. A. Clark/Aust. Climber. Double Attractive Leaves. Fragrant. 5.5m x 4.0m Light pink.

Website/Catalog  (1997)  Page(s) 4.  
 
Courier. 1930 Gigantea Climber. Light pink with white. Very vigorous, reaching 8m.

Website/Catalog  (1997)  Page(s) 5.  
 
Courier (Hybrid Gigantea) 1930. Alister Clark. A very strong Spring-flowering climber with beautiful foliage and large double blooms in shades of blush pink and salmon.

Book  (1997)  
 
p39 ….It is intermingled with Alister Clark’s ‘Courier’, surely one of his loveliest roses. A hybrid of R. gigantea, it is, like its parent, very susceptible to frost. In a mild season it is a glorious sight with its long, narrow, pale green foliage and slightly crumpled blush-pink flowers borne in clusters on long, arching canes. It can be temperamental. It resents hard pruning, and I have found by trial and error that it is not compatible with R. multiflora understocks.

p227 ….Some of the early-flowering ones such as ‘Tonner’s Fancy’ and ‘Courier’ can have their mass of early buds and their new young shoots bitten off by late frosts each year.