Part 1 (Biographies A-K)

Laar, H.J. van de - woody plant expert and author of numerous papers describing the best cultivars for the European trade.
Lachman, Eleanor and William - Hosta breeding team.
Ladhams, Ernest - early Helleborus breeder.
Lammerts, W.E. - leading American rose breeder for many years. His 'Chrysler Imperial' is one such classic.
Landreth, David (1752-?) - British-born horticulturist, believed to be the first owner of a commercial Anerican seed company (1784). Later the Landreth Co. diversified into exotic plants and flowering shrubs. They were amongst the first to offer the findings of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. They introduced the Mexican Zinnia to US flower gardens in 1798. David Landreth is a co-founder of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1828.
Langdon, B. - Begonia expert
Lansdale, David - PA-based breeding of Ilex opaca. His 'Lamp Post' (reg. 1984) known for good hardiness, midge resistance, large 1cm red fruit, and compact form.
Larsen, Richard A. - Ilex expert
Lancaster, Roy - British woody plant expert affiliated with Hillier Nursery. He has named many woody and herbaceous cultivars.
Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) - I think it's safe to say this eager collector of ornamental plants is the only one to have signed the original American Declaration of Independence, having also served as the first President of the Continental Congress. From his Charleston, SC post, Henry Laurens had a plantation of 3000+ acres on which he conducted a great many "agricultural experiments" in the manner of Thomas Jefferson. He was a slave owner but supported abolitionist themes in his later years. Using his financial, human, and geographic resources he grew plantings on a very large scale much as well expect agricultural colleges and the USDA to do today. His early life was not so easy. The British captured him as a traitor to the King (or some language like that) and he ended up overseas in the Tower of London from which very few ever emerged as a live, functional human being. He was kindly traded for Lord Cornwallis whom the British wanted back at any price.  He was a regular correspondant with William Bartram and planted many of his finds from SC to FL and we know that Charleston was a good spot to those southern treasures to thrive. It seems certain that Laurens was one of Bartram's sponsors for he was a very wealthy man and earned quite a bit of Bartram's attention. Bartram found Lauren's properties so diverse and wonderful, he botanized on his very plantation grounds for new wonders. After a long and patriotic career in politics, Laurens settled on his estate and by all accounts devoted himself mainly to agriculture and mastery of all the horticultural arts. He was a keen collector of trees and flowers of every available kind. Like Jefferson he practiced what was called "innovative agriculture", applying his mind and the newly received species to best effect. It is now confirmed that Laurens grew the tomato as early as 1764, a full 20 years before Jefferson, who is wrongly and conventiently credited with bringing that plant to the American garden. As a trivial footnote, Laurens is thought to be the first man "of record" (read: educated, white, and weathly) to be formally cremated on American soil. His will prescribed this return to nature. Lauren's estate survives in part today under the name Mepkin Abbey and Botanical Garden in Charleston.
Lawrence, Elizabeth - leading southern US garden writer, plant collector, and introducer of many new plants to American gardens. He passionate and personal writings set so many wonderful plants before us with clarity and beauty.
Lawrence, G.H.M. - Taxonomist and Director of the Bailey Hortorium. In the horticultural world he is perhaps best known for his original study of Hedera cultivars. He brought a botanist's eye and terminology to garden plants just as L.H. Bailey had dreamed was possible and very necessary. First one masters knowledge of the world's native species and their variants. Secondly, one tackles where the garden stuff fits or fails to fit easily.
Lawson-Hall, Toni - Hydrangea expert and author. He manages the National Hydrangea Collection in the UK.
Lawton, Barbara Perry - Iris expert, author.
Lea, Ken - British breeder of fancy leaf Pelargonium. Many of the successful plants have the Wirral prefix
Leach, David - leading breeder of Rhododendron and author of several authoritative works. He also intorduced deciduous hybrids of azalea
Leatherman, Sylvia - Begonia breeder.
Lecoq, Henry - Frenchman who in 1863 found the first known double-flowered sport of what is today called the Zonal Geranium. Later others like Victor Lemoine used this plant to breed the popular zonals we grow today.
Lee, Frederic P - author of the monumental The Azalea Book, Rhododendron and Narcissus expert.
Lee Jr, George S. - Narcissus expert and author of the well loved Daffodil Handbook.
Lee, James - British nurseryman of the 18th century and a grower of many rare ornamentals.
Lemoine, Victor (1823-1911), Emile (1862-1943), Henri, and family - French nurserymen (Lemoine Nursery, Emile is son of Victor) known for numerous woody plant cultivars including Syringa, Hydrangea, Deutzia, Lantana, and Philadelphus. In 1882 they bred what are perhaps the first of the hybrid Crocosmia. Many of their cultivars (ie. Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue Wave') have yet to be beaten. They also were the first to introduce hybrids of Heuchera from about 1901 to 1920.  These had fun names like 'Fantaisie', 'Lumiere', 'Profusion', and 'Radium'. Victor was first non-Britisher to win the RHS' prestigious Veitch Medal. He is very famous for the French lilacs he started breeding in 1870. Among their breakthroughs were full doubles, cleaner colors (such as blues), greater floriferousness, and inflorescences twice the size of older stuff. Emile continued his father's work, bringing about 214 cultivars to the market over many decades. The titles which suits him best is one used by John Fiala is his lilac book: "Plant Genius and Master Hybrider".
Lemoine, Victor - early Begonia hybridizers (1891). He was also the first to breed and introduced double-flowered zonal Pelargonium
Lenz, Lee W. - Iris expert, particularly those of Western US origin. His writings, particularly in the journal Aliso help much to understand identificaton, cytology, and hybridization. His work at California's Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden resulted in a number of garden plants. Heuchera 'Santa Ana Cardinal' is a remarkable and much underplanted clone of considerable merit in the west and eastern states.
Leonard, Mark - nurseryman (The Glower Mill, CA USA) and breeder of the amazing Coreopsis 'Sweet Dreams', a breakthrough in pink and with violet-red centers, all on a neat, floriferous 15 inch plant.
LePiniec, Marcel - rock garden expert, nurseryman, and plant explorer. He selected a number of good rock garden clones. One of them is Heuchera 'Mayfair'.
Lergo, R.A. - Delphinium breeder known for color breakthroughs in shades of orange, scarlet, yellow, and their combinations.
Leroy, A. - Frence Nurseryman (late 1800's) known for Magnolia x soulangeana 'Brozzonii'
Leslie, Alan - Royal Horticultural Society cultivar registrar and Lilium expert. He also works with conifer nomenclature.
Leslie, W.R. - Canadian Dept. of Agriculture plant breeder at Morden. One of his more important introductions is Malus 'Almey'.
Lewis, David - rhodie breeder.
Lewis, Donald - California azalea breeder who worked with Beglian hybrids and patented some for greenhouse forcing. His Lewis Hybrids include 'Yum Yum' and 'Pink Frosting'.
Lewis, J. - Royal Horticultural Society cultivar registrar for conifers.
Lewis, Peter - British expert on Campanula and author of a well known book on same.
Leyland, Christopher John (1849-1926) - banker, amateur civil engineer and steam engine expert, and amateur horticulturist. John Naylor owned the amazing 3916-acre Leighton Hall estate which was developed as a model farm with improved technologies including water-driven sawmills and water-turbine trains. Some bios say that Naylor was Leyland's father while Bean states Leyland was a Mr. Naylor's brother-in-law. We'll try to sort out the relationships among the Leyland and Naylors shortly. The great place were C.J. Leyland grew up had many rare trees and was stocked with game of all kinds including kangaroos and bison! He soon took interest in the family arboretum, having enjoyed the practices of horticulture and foresty for years. In 1888 he collected seeds from the Alaska native Chamaecyparis nootkatensis which grew in the Leighton Hall Pinetum. It was nearby a Monterey cypress grove (Cupressus macrocarpa), a species which would never meet the Nootka in the wild. Six of his seedlings were odd and different and being an experimentalist and not a purist, he kept them and grew them to size. Professionally he was working with Charles Parsons and had ownership in various steam and turbine ventures, including some practical passenger ships. His odd hybrid evergreen trees came to Kew authorities about 1925 and they were proclaimed one of most important tree discoveries in years. Later in 1911 his nephew, Captain J.M. Naylor found the cross again, this time using cones of the Monterey parent, a reverse of the original cross. Whatever one thinks of Leyland cypress (and the truly better cultivars will always remain suitable for good gardens everywhere), this "hedge for hell" transformed not only the landscapes of England and the US but changed people's ways of thinking about trees. The clone 'Haggerston Grey' and to a lesser extent 'Leighton Green' are the overly vigorous, wind-vulnerable, worm-prone, flammable offenders in the main. The age of the "miracle hybrid tree" had begun and today one still see adds for Leyland cypress, Paulownia, poplar, Eucalyptus, and even elm with similar themes about rapid growth rate, shade in weeks (not years), increasing property values, no pests or worries, just pennies per tree, and so on.
Lindgren, Dale - leading Penstemon expert and breeder from the University of Nebraska. 'Husker Red' and his Prairie series of cultivars are notable for their adaptability and beauty.
Lindley, John (1799-1865) - professor of botany, also a horticulturist of note, the crude academic separation we have today being unknown and silly at that time. Known as the "Father of Orchidology" he brought his great intellect to that complex genus. In his lifetime he left 7000 different vouchers, about half of which were original type specimans! His understanding of orchids led to a good classification system. He also co-founded the Gardener's Chronicle in 1841 and that remained one of the most horticultural journals for decades. He also wrote Monographie Rosarum in 1820, a very important early work n roses which described a good number of new species. He authored many botanical names and the "Lindl." abbreviation denotes his work.
Lindstrom, Jon T. - professor at the University of Arkansas, plant evaluator, known for breeding less invasive Buddleia. He also has an interest in introducing orange pigments into butterfly bushes as well as identification by DNA analysis. He also has interest and has published in Itea.
Lighty, Richard W. - Director of the Mt. Cuba Center for Study of Piedmont in Delaware. He and the center have introduced a great many useful and superior clones of American native plants. His background is in both botany and horticulture. Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' is a worldclass perennial with all the qualities one would want.
Little, Parker Lewis - perennial breeder working with Asarum, Aster, Heuchera, and Phlox. Cultivars have the 'Little's' prefix. He has also named a number of interesting Ilex opaca cultivars.
Lloyd, Christopher - famous British garden author, expert in many genera including Rosa and Clematis. His books blend an entertaining style for solid information about superior plants.
Lobner (Mr.) - German breeder of Clivia known to have developed the first widely distributed dark orange strain now called "German Reds" or Friesdorfer type.
Loewer, Peter - leading American garden author known for promoting underused and new ornamentals.
Loddiges, Joachim Conrad  (1738-1826) - German born nurseryman whose British nursery in Hackney begun in 1771 introduced many ornamental plants to the world. Bean says his woody plant introductions were the most important in Europe that century. They also promoted new orchids and tropical plants. Many of the plants popular in Victorian times came from their distribution. He brought the lovely Rhododendron ponticum to British gardens. He was a great advocate of Bambusa nigra which today we know as Phyllostachys nigra or Black Bamboo. The Loddiges firm was among the first to retail orchids to the general gardening public or at least to anyone who could afford them.
Logees family - For years, this Connecticut nursery produce superior herbs for N. America. They pioneered US work in scented Pelargonium aong which is 'Ocean Wave' and the amazing P. x fragrans 'Logee' (often sold as 'Old Spice'). The clones 'Joy Lucille' and 'Logee's Snowflake' are also big sellers today.
Lotter, Wessel - Clivia breeder who did not work just a in C. miniata but went outside the box to produce the very different Cyrtanthiflora Group. They were odd and gangly at first but in later generations they developed as lovely plants with a charm all their own.
Loucks, Del - Oregon-based nurseryman (Del's Japanese Maple Nursery, Eugene, OR). Acer circinatum 'Del's Dwarf' is one of his best.
Loudon, John Claudius (J.C.)(1783-1843) - author of the ENCYLOPEDIA OF GARDENING (1822), considered the first true and comprehensive manual of gardening in modern times. He built a villa on the royalties alone. His impressive 8 volume Arboretum et Fruticetum Brittanicum (1834-37) was one of the first comprehensive catalogs of ornamental plants of that century. Many modern cultivars today were first named or described by Loudon. in 1826 he founded GARDENER'S MAGAZINE which was the leading garden periodical in Europe for many years, especially among the developing middle class in England. He was married to successful novelist and garden writer Jane Webb Loudon.
Loudon, Jane (Webb)(1807-1858) - together with husband J.C. Loudon she formed the "first family of horticulture" in early to mid 1800's England. A poet and novelist, she is known for her book THE MUMMY which traveled into the future and detailed such inventions as the telephone, aircraft, milking machines, and air conditioning. J.C. Loudon was amazed at her visions, especially for mechnical, stream-driven plows for farms and gardens and gave the book a good review in his famous GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. They soon married. She began writing for his periodical, the leading garden publication of that time. Years later she wrote GARDENING FOR LADIES, a very practical guide to assist women in the mastery of all the horticultural arts. She advocated the use of light shovels formed of willow handles as well as long gloves to protect delicate skin and nails. She even detailed procedures for improving flower gardens with the use of shoveled manure, something that was quite a radical thought for women gardeners of that time. Victorian gardening was quite the rage and her book for ladies gave many women of middle class the hopes that they too could create gardens that were both lovely and functional for the family. The book influenced men too and not just in Britain. The great American designer Andrew Jackson Downing wrote the forward to a following edition of GARDENING FOR LADIES. She later introduced the LADIES MAGAZINE FOR GARDENING which lasted a short 11 months. the LADIES FLOWER-GARDEN series followed with more success and she penned a total of 19 garden works before her death in 1858. The new process of lithography helped improve the distribution and quality of her later works, making them available to a very wide audience of gardeners, male and female alike.
Lundell, Tage - Swedish plant expect known for knowledge of Juniperus and his hybrids of Clematis ('Corona')
Lye, James - British Fuchsia breeder known first for the hybrid 'Lovelines' (1869) which is still grown in 2006.
Lyon, Lyndon - American pioneer in breeding Gesneriads of many genera. His Gloxinia 'Chic' even has proven an outdoor ornamental in USDA 7.
Lyons, Robert - former Professor of Horticulture at Virginia Tech and later more recently at North Carolina State University, Director of the Raulston Arboretum, author, and plant collector. He is widely known for his contributions to the exciting Horticopia CD-ROM series. Dr. Lyons, a skilled horticultural photographer now heads the graduate program at Longwood Gardens.
Maack, Richard K. (1825-1886) - botanist who explored Asia, mainly introduced Chinese plants. Lonicera maackii is named in his honor though Wilson was first to bring it back.
Maarse, Dirk (1881-1975) - Dutch nurseryman and flower grower who looked at the genus Syringa from the forcing aspect. Two of his clones are classics, 'Primose' (light yellow) and 'Sensation' (purple with white picotee) and these are amongst the finest lilacs ever developed for their extreme traits and real beauty. His hard work had some luck. The process of forcing lilacs in old, hot greenhouses has a tendency to produce mutations in that genus, an advantage many other breeders did not have.
Maatsch, R. - annual plant expert, registrar, and author of cultivar checklists on bedding Begonia, Callistephus, and others.
MacDonald, Bruce - University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, introducer of numerous superior ornamentals.
MacLangahan, Della - Begonia breeder.
Maegard, Frode (Nurseries) - this firm has produced some of the most commercial and distinct Hedera cultivars in centuries. 'Midas Touch' with boldly mottled true gold chimera is a treasure. 'Golden Inge' ('Golden Ingot') is one the best gold-margined clones in years. 'Mint Kolibri' ('Minty') is a surprise in mint, sage, forest, and emerald green tones combined with white to grey variegations.
Makino, Tomitaro - the so-called "Godfather of Japanese Botany" who named and described not only numerous wild plants but many gardens ones as well. He was the first to name Ilex crenata 'Convexa' and like most garden plants did so with a varietal rank.
Mallet, Corinne and Robert - Hydrangea experts and author. Her Hydrangea collection in Normandy, France is one fo the finest anywhere. Their goal is grow and archive data on all known cultivars.
Manda - New Jersey-based nurseryman known for Hedera helix 'Manda's Crested', one of the most graceful and lovely vines in existance. His Euphorbia 'Manda's Cowhorn' is also a nice plant for collectors.
Maney, F.J. - Professor at Iowa State College known such junipers as 'Maney' and 'Ames'
Maness, Thurman - the leading Lobelia breeder whose cultivars have transformed the genus into very serviceable and even more charming garden plants. His finest is perhaps 'Ruby Slippers'.
Maries, Charles - British plant explorer for whom the epithet mariesii is used throughout the nomenclature. He worked in China and Japan for the Veitchs. Hamamelis mollis, Styrax obassia, and Abies mariesii are three of his findings. He also brought in a number of Acer palmatum cultivars.
Markham, Ernest - Clematis breeder known for numerous superb clones. The Clematis 'Ernest Markham' suitably honors him and has been a worldwide classic for it's violet-red color, floriferousness, and durabililty. 'Markham's Pink'  a double, nodding Atrogene Group plant is also a true find.
Markworth, Otto - perennial breeder working with Aconitum and Luzula
Marta, Fadjar - Zephranthese breeder from Indonesia. His Z. 'Paul Niemi' is a breakthrough cultivar in bicolors of orange-pink with a gold throat - it has a nice Clivia-like look to it.
Martin, Joseph Sr. - azalea breeder
Marx, Karl-Heinz - herbaceous perennial breeder, working with Centaurea, Geranium, and Veronica.
Mathew, Brian - botanist and expert in many bulbous and herbaceous genera. Well known for his books The Iris and Hellebores.
Matsuhashi, Hiroshi - famous Japanese breeder of Christmas cacti and also Clivia. In the later genus he has a vast collection of rare double and multipetaled mutations.
Matsuoka, Joan (1669-1747) - author of the import Ingansai's Cherries (1758) , an illustrated guide to over 60 cultivars, combining rich horticultural and botanical detail.
Maximowicz, K. - Russian botanist and plant collector. Much to the frustrating to us linguistically challenged folks, his name appears on several important plants, including the best variety of Kalopanax pictus.
Maxwell, D.F. - Erica expert and author. Erica x watsonii and hybrids are his doing.
McArdle, Alice J. - co-author of several authoritative cultivar checklists with National Arboretum colleague Frank Santamour.
McCartney, Bob - nurseryman (Woodlanders), native plant expert, and originator of several superior clones for modern gardens. He and his colleagues have brought the attention of many people to both underused natives species and their clearly improved selections. Andropogon 'Valdosta Blue' is one of his notable plants. Amsonia 'Blue Ice', a dwarf floriferous find is one of his best perennials. I like Arisaema triphyllum 'Black Jack' for its rich pigmentation.
McClintock, Elizabeth - International Registration Authority for Hydrangea, botanist, and expert in many woody palnt genera.
McClintock, David - British botanist and author with expertise in many genera including Erica and Calluna. The Guernsey Bell series were found by him and Ken Beckett.
McDaniel, J.C. - University of Illinois professor, a leading American woody plant expert, and named of many unique, valuable cultivars.
McDonough, Mark - plant collector and Allium expert. His A. senescens 'Blue Eddy' with bright, swirling foliage is a wonderful find. His rich pink-flowered 'Sygar Melt' to 1i8 inches tall should become very popular.
McEwen, Currier - Siberian Iris expert, breeder, and author of numerous on this group.
McFarland, J. Horace - publisher of the impressive, monumental Modern Roses for many years.
McGredy, Sam - Irish nurseryman, breeder of many famous roses.
McKelvey, Susan Delano - Syringa expert known for the original treatise on garden lilacs. She was once taxonomist at the Arnold Arboretum.
McLewin, Will - British Helleborus expert. He has also introduced superior clones and seed strains.
NcNaughton, Virginia - former Botanical Officer, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, New Zealand but known around the world for her remarkable 2000 work on Lavender that tackled the difficulty taxonomy of resemblant clones. She and husband Dennis Matthews now run Lanender Downs Nursery. Since 1987 they have held the NZ reference collection for Lavandula. Their many fine introductions include 'Coconut Ice' (a white and pink bicolor) and 'Crystal Lights' (an improved 'Baby White' type).
McNeil, Gordon - Cliviia breeder known for his breakthrough clone 'Four Marys'. He has attempted crosses of Clivia with Hippeastrum, Eucharis, and Agapanthus. His 'Green Girl' strain with a greenish throat allows one to get this mutation with higher probability than random seedlings.
Meader, E.M. (Dr.) - University of New Hampshire horticulturist who is known for Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' which he collected in 1947 in Korea and introduced in 1954.
Meehan, Thomas (1826-1901) - botanist and nurseryman (Meehan & Sons Nurseries, Germantown, PA). One of the first sources of rare woody plants in the US, Meehan supplied many of the great estates from California to Europe with choice materials, some of his own selection. A graduate of Kew's school of horticulture and botany, he was a student of the great Joseph Hooker. He was editor of The Gardener's Monthly which was the country's main garden publication for many years. He was student of sports (mutations) and always looked to find and propagate new ones (sound anyone you know today?). Among his pretty finds was Hibiscus syriacus 'Meehanii', a stunning white margined plant which recently got the RHS AGM in 2002. How many of our plant creations will get the AGM more than a hundred years after our demise? As a nurseryman he was fascinated by the effect of local growing conditions on species and their growth patterns, in effect an early student of horticultural physiology and anatomy. He also collected in the western US states and amassed over 10,000 herbarium specimans in this private cabinets - how many nurserymen do that today!?! His American Handbook of Ornamental Trees (1853) was a must read for decades. In 1901 he was given the prestigious Veitch Medal of Horticulture.
Meerow, Alan - USDA plant breeder based in Miami, Florida, known for work on improving landscape tropicals including Plumeria, cycads, Coco, Alstroemeria, Hippeastrum, and Iochroma. He has released Polygala myrtifolia 'Chapman Field', an much improved compact and floriferous clone.
Meilland, F. and family - one of the greatest European houses of rose breeding (nursery site). Perhaps most famous for their 'Peace' rose.
Mehlquist, Gustav (Dr.) - Rhododendron breeder who is truly a legend. He trialed his crosses in Storrs, CT USA for added clarity to the selection process. Besides beauty and winter hardiness, some of his crosses are known to have Phytoptera resistance.
Meserve, Katherine - world famous for her Blue hollies under the name Ilex x meserveae.
Messemaeker, Stepman de - Syringa breeder from Belgiun. His 'Mme Florent Stepman' was one of the finest early whites and is still grown today.
Metcalf, John - British perennial grower (Four Seasons Nurseries) who has released many fine items over the years, often with the Forncett prefix. Achillea and Lobelia are among them. His mid-80's Kniphofia 'Toffee Nosed' has transformed that genus forever with it's unqieu ivory and toffee-orange colors. An RHS AM was quickly earned.
Metcalf, L.J. - expert on New Zealand and Australian plants, author, and expert on Leptospermum.
Meyer, Anna - Clivia breeder and collector based in South Africa. Her large estate is a center for Clivia breeder and she is able to sell about 5000 plants a year. 'Anna Meyer's Peach' is one of her apricot-petaled strains and being self fertile is used in breeder by others.
Meyer, Frank N. - USDA plant collector, botanist, and author. Syringa meyeri is one of his more charming introductions. His collecting included both ornamentals but also Citrus and herbs of potential economic merit.
Meyer, Frederick - Research botanist at the National Arboretum (staff page), plant explorer, and introducer of many fine taxa.
Meyer, Paul - Horticulturist with the Morris Arboretum, woody plant expert, explorer.
Mezitt, Ed - nurseryman (Weston Nurseries) and breeder of cold hardy azaleas. His 'PJM' series of clones is legendary in the northern trade.  His Weston Series of deciduous azaleas are also widely offered.
Michaux, Andre (1746-1803) - French botanist who worked in North America around the time as the Bartrams. If you see the botanical name author Mich. this is for him. He introduced many trees from American and Canada to France.
Miller, Diana - horticultural taxonomist, co-founder of the Hortax Group, Curator of the RHS Wisley Herbarium (one of the most vast treasures of horticultural information ever assembled). She has developed vouchering technologies to preserve vital details that separate resemblant cultivars - we all know that garden plants with their soft, succulent, and color-fading parts are very hard to press. She has been a leader in Standard Specimens research and a database of the RHS vouchers appears on the internet. Diana Miller is an expert in Pelargonium, Lavatera, and Plectranthus in gardens and has authored books and articles on them. Her Pelargonium species book is essential for anyone loving that genus. Her contributions to the European Garden Flora are extensive.
Miller, Holmes - noted American Pelargonium breeder (1960-1970's) who developed many bicolor, very compact, and tetraploid zonal type cultivars. He produced the first bicolor tetraploids using colchicine treatments. He is also a pioneer in dwarf Pelargonium breeding as well as introduced interesting, new pastel colors in the larger zonals. His miniature golden tricolor cultivar 'Elf' is a classic with small size and abundant leaf colors.He is one of America's most successful breeders of fancy leaf cultivars.
Miller, Philip (1691-1771) - British botanists whose "Miller's Dictionary" was for decades the ultimate reference. It went into 8 editions and was based in part on his work as curator at the PHysic Garden at Chelsea. That garden was among the finest with rare and exotic plants in it's time. William Aiton, one of his students continued his work cataloging plants.
Mineo, Baldassare - nurseryman (Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery), rock garden expert, and introducer of many plants - many with the Siskiyou name. They have brought a wide range of superior perennials and dwarf woody plants to the world's attention.
Mitchell, Peter J. - Sempervivum expert and registrar.
Mitsch, Grant E. - nurseryman and one of America's top Narcissus breeders. He worked extensively with pink and reverse bicolor types.
Mitsch, John - nurseryman, woody plant expert, and collector.
M'Mahon, Bernard (1775-1816) - Irish-born seedsman who worked mainly from Philadelphia PA. He started with native seeds and by their 1804 catalog offered an astounding 1000 taxa. Their influence on American gardens and serious plant collections was therefore quite immense. Later his firm offered new plants brought back by Lewis and Clark. The genus Mahonia is named in his honor.
Moffet, Lloyd A. - Conifer collector affiliated with Plumfield Nurseries of Fremont, NE. He is probably responsable for their 10 or so named clones of J. horizontalis, the first collection to mine that species' richness for divergent foliage, height to 2 feet, rich blue colors, and curious brown winter tints. He is remembered today for J. scopulorum 'Moffettii' and 'Pathfinder', still sold around the world.
Monroe, W.E. - extension agronomist at Louisiana State University, cultivar registrar for Hemerocallis, and rose expert.
Montgomery, R.H. - American conifer expert and collector. His renowned pinetum is now part of the New York Botanical Garden. He also selected a popular blue spruce cultivar.
More, Robert E. - selected a number of conifers especially in Juniperus. His J. occidentalis 'Glenmore Blue Sierra' is a beauty in frosty blue. Many of his conifers have the Glenmore prefix. I think that Pinus flexilis 'Glenmore' and 'Glemore Dwarf' are among his more widely sold conifers.
Moro, Frank - Canadian expert on Syringa, nurseryman who offers over 400 cultivars of lilac.
Morris, Cedric (Sir) - British plant expert. His Clematic 'Francis Rivis' is just one of his lasting treasures.
Morris, Jerry - introducer of many conifers through the Jerry Morris Rocky Mountain Conifer Collection. He has been one of the most successful discoveries of new wild variations.
Morris, Sydney - Crocosmia breeder who carried on George Davison's work.
Morrison, Ben - A Phi Beta Kappa Landscape architect. Principal founder of the American Horticultural Society and 37 year editor of the American Horticultural Magazine. USDA horticulturist perhaps best known for his work at breeding the famous Glenn Dale azaleas. From 70,000 seedlings he selected only 400 for naming. He combined the size and color of South Indian types with hardiness to -10 degrees F. After his retirement he continued on with the Back Acre hybrid series. Director of the National Arboretum where the Morrison Azalea Garden now honors his work. Among his honors are the Liberty Hyde Bailey and Veitch medals. In tribute in the Daffodil Handbook says he "wrote and spoke with an excellence of style that included a special verve adn charm."
Mortier, P. - Belgian baker but known as the founder of the Ghent Hybrid deciduous azaleas.
Motzkau, Henry - Wisconsin breeder of Whitewater Hybrid azaleas used for greenhouse forcing and offered by Yoder Brothers among otyhers. 'Valetine' and 'Prize' were patented.
Mulligan, Brian O. - University of Washington Acer expert, builder of the university's superb woody plant collections.
Mullin, Robert - founder of the Northern Lights azaleas series, his work was later refined by Dr. Harold Pellett.
Munson Jr. , R.W. - daylily breeder
Munson, Richard - botanical garden administrator, author. His Master's thesis at Cornell on dwarf conifer identification resulted in a very serviceable key. His Ph.D. on heather and heath cultivars was one of the first in horticultural taxonomy to integrate traditional and modern methods.
Mush, Sandy - nurserywoman in NC USA specializing in herbs and relatived herbaceous perennials of many kinds. She has named some good cultivars among which is Rosmarinus officinalis 'Blue Lady'. Her rosemary 'Shimmering Stars' is a breakthrough, combining sprawlng low habit with pinkish flowers.
Naba, Kassho (1595-1648) - Japanese Prunus expert and the first person to ever write a book devoted to them. He documented and described many cultivars for the first time.
Nakai, Takenoshi (d. 1882) - Japanese botanist, taxonomist, and plant explorer. He named many fine Japanese species. He explored the many islands of Japan and found many garden treasures.
Nakamura, Yoshikazu - Japanese Clivia expert and nurseryman (Clivia Plantation), he grows the finest of both western and Asian cultivars, numbering over 50,000 plants in inventory. His collection of rare cultivars is considered amongst the finest ever assembled.
Nannenga-Bremekamp, N.E. - Hedera expert and author of a good modern work on ivies.
Naylor, J.M. - best known for discovering x Cupressocyparis leylandii the second time around, after his uncle Chris Leyland. 'Naylor's Blue' honors him and is today one of the better clones for blue color.
Neal, O.M. - Ilex breeder
Nearing, Guy - lepidote Rhododendron breeder known for the Guyencourt series. 'Mary Fleming' 'Windbeam' and 'Ramapo' are three of his best.
Nelson, Durrel (Dr.) - breeder of Pelargium x asperum 'Charity', a cultivar that is at once aromatic and colorful with bright cream to yellow margins.
Nelson, K. - Iris expert and cultivar registrar.
Nichols, Lester P. (Dr.) - professor of plant pathology at Penn. State University. He devoted over 30 years to evaluating ornamental Malus for disease resistance and brought true scientific decernment to a difficult and complex problem. Not only did his work tell millions of people what should be grown but it directed breeders to locate the very finest breeding stock of documentable and clear origins. His mission to product the durable "all seasns ornamental" was a message heard not only in the International Ornamental Crabapple Society but around the horticulture world.
Nichols, N.P. - nurseryman (Nichols Garden Nursery), herb expert. and introducer of many fine ornamental herbs.
Nijnatten, Andre van - Zundert-based Dutch nurseryman known for Acer campestre 'Carnival' among other new cultivars. His highly variegated Halesia monticola 'Yellow Blush' is surely to become a hit.
Nixon, C. William - founder of the Sempervivum Fancier's Association, breeder of many important Sempervivum and Jovibarba cultivars.
Noll, Vladyslaw - Warsaw-based Clematis breeder known for the remarkable C. 'Niobe' with its rich velvety blackish-purple tones.
Nolting, G. - annual cultivar expert and registrar.
Nosal, Mathew A. - Ilex breeder. His Ilex crenata 'John Nosal' is a dwarf, columnar male clone of merit. Ilex aquifolium 'Robet Brown' (among his many hybrids in that species) is conical, net, and a good pollinator.
O'Brien, Bart - Heuchera expert, developer associated with the Santa Ana Botanical Garden.
Offenthal, Rolf - developer of hardy Geranium, Potentilla, and Rodgersia cvs.
Ohwi, J. - Japanese botanist and author of Flowering Cherries of Japan (1973).
Oliver, Charles - nurseryman (Primrose Path), Heuchera, Phlox, and Tiarella breeder. He also grows a very wide range of Primula.
Olmsted, Frederick Law - America's greatest landscape architect and one who utilized superior ornamentals are every opportunity. His work in Washington DC and Central Park are legendary. His work on Standardized Plant Names brought stability to nomenclature - how many landscape architects would be concerned with accurate taxonomy these days? "FLO" as he is affectionately known is honored by a US postage stamp.
Olmsted, Terry - Begonia breeder.
Olsen, Richard (Dr.) - geneticist and woody plant breeder at the US National Arboretum since 2006. Dr. Olsen is an expert in triploid, non-invasive woody plants and has a special interest in Catalpa and xChitalpa from his Ph.D. work under Dr. Tom Ranney at North Carolna State University. He has been a student of Drs. Raulston, Dirr, and Ranney - a hard to beat combination of mentors.
Orton, Elwin - woody plant expert, breeder, and evaluator at Rutgers University. Known for numerous important introductions in Ilex, Pyracantha, and Cornus - the later including a series of important hybrids of Cornus kousa x Cornus florida. His Rutgers page. His genetic dwarf Ilex crenata are now given the name Jersey Pigmy Group. His recent dogwoods VENUS and STARLIGHT are sure to change our perspective on the genus around the world. VENUS regularly have inflorescences of 6-7 inches from one bract tip to the opposite!
Ossorio, Alfonso - artist, Long Island conifer collector known for his breathtaking, creative, and sometimes eccentric use of colorful conifers. His designs opened the eyes of nurseryman and designers alike as well as promoted superior, new cultivars. A golden Sciadopitys named 'Ossorio's Gold' from his estate is named for him.
Oudolf, Piet - Dutch perennial expert and breeder. His Salvia 'Pink Delight' (2000) is a truly important cross despite having a very simple name.
Owens Clarience - Hosta breeder.
Ozawa, Kazushig - Japanese Clematis breeder known for the stunning PINK CHAMPAGNE.

This page is sponsored in part by

HatchArt.COM

Your source for modern, horticultural art and garden photography.

Pagels, Ernst - perennial expert and breeder. Recently introduced some improved Veronicastrum selections. His Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' in dwarf form is getting worldwide distribution. Another of his popular finds is Perovskia 'Filigran', a very durable, long-blooming perennial.
Pagen, F.J.J. - Nerium expert and author of a recent book on same.
Palmer, Lewis - well known for his Agapanthus 'Headbourne' hybrids. Most of the major cultivars in that genus trace to his pioneering crosses.
Parker, P.F. - author of a computer database and program to identify Fuchsia cultivars.
Parkinson, John (1567-1650) - British herbalist and apothecary from London who worked for King James I among other royals. Accordig to Aiton, Dr. Parkinson introduced about 40 kinds of trees and shrubs from North American and Europe to English gardens.
Parkman, Francis - pioneering Lilium breeder of the 1800's.
Parks, Clifford - Taxonomist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Camellia breeder, and nurseryman (Camellia Forest). He is credited with many breakthroughs in understanding modern Camellia taxonomy and cytology. This expertise has extended to his own breeding program which (as you can see from the link) is quite successful.
Parsons, S.B. - early, influential American nurseryman. Introduced and named new cultivars. They popularized the Parson's juniper to gardens though it is unclear if they selected it or merely obtained it from Dr. George Hall.
Paskesen, Edward - Fuchsia breeder known for his superior orange double including 'Eternal Flame' (1971)
Paterson, Mrs. Frank - Canadian lilac collector and breeder. She named about 4 major clones.
Paterson, G. - New Zealander who gave us Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Paterson', a truly fine variegate.
Paul, William - British nurseryman and expert on Ilex and Hedera among many genera. As early as 1868 he was offering over 40 different ivy cultivars for sale.
Payne, ? - nurseryman, Lilium breeder.
Payne Theodore (d. 1963) - California nurseryman who started with Germain's Seeds and later started his own nursery to promote Cal natives as landscape and naturalizing plants. At one time he offered 500 different CA species, many not available elsewere. The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants continues his work.
Pearce, Richard - introduced the first tuberous Begonia to modern gardens, working for Veitch and Sons. He followed Lobb in collecting in Chile and introduced many fine species including Araucaria araucana.
Peck, Virginia - leading expert on cytology and tetraploid induction in daylily cultivars.
Pennell, Walter - nurseryman (Pennell & Sons Nursery) and Clematis breeder, known for C. 'C.W. Dowman' and 'John Warren'.
Perry, Amos - British nurseryman who bred perennials including daylilies and several Papaver. He also bred Kniphofia 'Maid of Orleans'. He also raised Lavandula 'Bowles Early'
Perry, Leonard - University of Vermont professor, herbaceous perennial expert, lecturer, and author. His Perry's Perennial Pages is world famous. Evaluations of Monarda linked here.
Peterson, J.A. - early American breeder of Begonia (1908).
Petryszyn, Olga - Hosta breeder, known for 'Blue Hawaii'
Pfeiffer, Norma - researcher with the Boyce Thompson Institute who pioneered breeding with Lilium auratum and L. speciosum. Jan deGraaf credits her in part for his own success.
Pfitzer, Wilhelm - the first serious Phlox breeder (1867). His firm is also famous for the Pfitzer juniper, a hybrid that was probably introduced by Father David of Davidia fame. His Canna breeding work in the 1890's and some like 'Pfitzer's Cherry Red' honor the old Stuttgart nursery.
Philip, Chris - founder of the famous Plant Finder now owned by the RHS and found online.
Phillips, Ed - British Clematis breeder from BUsheyfields Nursery, Kent. His 'Lemon Chiffon' is a remarkable product much loved today.
Phillips, Rodger - garden photographer and author of breathtaking books on perennials and shrubs.
Pierot, Suzanne - gardening expert known best for The Ivy Book which brought popularity, sense, and clarity to the troubled genus of Hedera.
Pickard, A.A.  - British breeder of Magnolia, many of which have his surname as the prefix. 'Pickard's Ruby' seems to be very popular today. Magnolia grandiflora 'AnnePickard' is a delightful plant with gold-mottled foliage and since it is a sport of hardier 'Saint George' it has promise for collections everywhere.
Picton, Paul - British aster expert, nurseryman (Old Court). His book is available from this link.
Pirone, Pascal P - leading expert in pathology of ornamental plants who did much to help all of us grow the plants we love most.
Pole, R.B. - perennial collector, breeder known best for Achillea 'Coronation Gold'. She was probably the first to have made the Salvia x sylvestris cross.
Pollock, Warren I. - Hosta expert and author of many articles on same.
Poor, Janet Meakin - known for her Plants That Merit Attention which promotes and features a great many fine ornamentals in their best light.
Porter, J.W. and Eileen - Erica breeders. Some of their cvs. bear the Porter name.
Potanin, Girgori (1835-1920) - Russian scientist and plant collector. He also collected zoological specimens on his trips as well as did military surveillance! He worked in Siberia, Mongolia Tibet, and central Asia. The lovely Syringa potaninii is named for him as is a species of larch. He is credited with improving the intellectual climate of the still isolated Siberia and helped found Irkutsk University. Maximowicz followed up on many of his notes and early travels.
Poulsen, ? - leading rose breeder, nurseryman.
Poulsen, D.T. - known for Clematis hybrid VINO.
Praeger, R.L. - Sedum expert whose 300+ page work on garden sedum has yet to be topped.
Praskac, Franz - developer of many recent hardy Geranium cultivars.
Preston, Isabella (1881-1965) - British-born Canadian pioneer in the late-flowering Syringa. She also bred some cold hardy Malus in the Rosybloom Group and a series of good Siberian iris. The hybrid species S. x prestoniae honors her. About 47 of lilacs have reached the trade. Her work involved the species S. villosa, S. reflexa, and S. josikaea to give new traits and lateness of bloom. One can literally state that her work made lilacs bloom later in the world's great gardens.
Pride, Orlando (Lanny) - azalea and rhodie breeder who work in colder parts of PA USA.
Primich, Nicholas William (b. 1933) - Clivia grower and founder of the Clivia Club. That newsletter allowed hundreds of collectors and breeders to share seeds, plants, and ideas, improving the genus in a way not done in decades before. The Club now handles registration of new cultivars and handles judging and standards for shows of that terrific genus around the world.
Prince, Robert - American's first nurseryman (Prince's Nursery founded 1737). He helped plant the streets of New York and surrounding states as they matured to large cities. He was one of the first to grow plants discovered by Lewis and Clark on their expeditions. While the business first thrived on practical fruit crops (42 pear cultivars, 33 plums, etc), they expanded to include street trees and other ornamentals. Among their many famous customers was  George Washington who is said to acquired several fruit trees for his estate.
Prince, William - grandson of American nursery pioneer Robert Prince, nurseryman (Prince Nurseries of Flushing Landing, New York) and one of the first great promoters of rare, new, and superior ornamentals in the New World.  Their Linnean Botanic Garden grew to 111 acres. In many ways, Prince Nurseries led to the great nursery culture of New York, Long Island, and New Jersey. Their influence on the great estates of the Hudson River is unrivaled. Prince's Treatise on Horticulture of 1828 was one the first important American books on serious gardening. His 1846 MANUAL OF ROSES was a big seller. Their dynasty ended in 1865 with closure of the nursery and botanic garden.
Pringle, James.S. (Dr.) - taxonomist at the Royal Botanic Garden, Hamilton, Ontario. Clematis and Syringa expert. He worked with Joan Brown and Hugh Pearson including crosses of some very rare species.
Pritchard, Maurice - British nurseryman specializing in hardy Geranium.
Probst, Darrell - world's expert in garden Epimedium and breeder of many fine clones from it. His Lysimachia congestiflora 'Persian Chocolate' is also a real treasure. He also works in Tricyrtis with T. affinis 'Lunar Landing' with subtle bicoored green variegation being a fav of variegation nuts and shade plant collectors. His dwarf T. 'Lemon Twist' in dwarf with yellow flowers is also a new find of merit.
Proudley, Brian & Valerie - Erica and Calluna experts and authors of leading book called Heathers in Colour. They also wrote a popular Fuchsia book.
Przypek, Walger and Sybil - Hemerocallis breeders of note. Their variegated leaf 'Secured Borders' is colorful much of the year and has good flowers too.
Pugsley, ? - breeder of several Bergenia cultivars.
Purdom, William (1880-1921) - British plant explorer who worked mainly in China and other parts of Asia. He traveled with his friend Farrer to Kansu and later visited Shensi and Shansi. Viburnum farreri was named for his friend. He died in Peking in 1921.
Purdy, Carl (1861-1945) - horticulturist specializing in California natives. He loved Liliium (lilies). He was the author of many bulb sections in LH Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture.
Pyne, Ken - British breeder of Clematis including the stunning bicolored 'Andromeda' and semi-d0uble 'Lilactime'.
Randolf, L.F. - Iris expert and author. His book Garden Irises has been very popular.
Randolf, Paul - Verona PA grower who virtually invented the modern, self-branching ivy in the 1920's with his mutation 'Pittsburgh'.
Rankin, Jesse and Ruth - North Carolina nursery owners known today for their extension collection of Ilex opaca. They found over a dozen yellow-fruited clones alone. Their knowledge and free sharing of plants made this species more popular throughout the US and the world.
Rankin, John (Dr.)(1891-1976) - American physician and plant collector. His large gardens at one time had over 500 different Syringa cultivars which he later used to make his own crosses. A few of his 25 cultivars of lilac are offered today. Father Fiala states that 'Edith Braun' (dark magenta-purple) is one of this very finest introductions.
Ranney, Tom - Professor of Horticulture at N.C. State University, woody plant evaluation expert. The Fletcher Research Station site has many useful resources including recommendations and articles from recent Metria proceedings.
Raulston, J.C. - Professor of horticulture at N.C. State University, founder of the Raulston Arboretum, introducer of many new plants, lecturer, nursery industry expert, and author. There are interesting accounts of his worldwide travels and large files on his many new cultivars on the Arboretum's site. J.C. was one of the century's leading evangelists for new, superior ornamentals.
Among his favorite genera which he built large collections of are the genera Nandina, Styrax, and Cercis.
Rawdon, Lanny - nurseryman at Arborvillage Nurseries, MO USA. If you are looking for rare trees in the US you will find this nursery sooner or later. Cornus racemosa 'Cinderella' is one of this recent discoveries.
Reath, David - Paeonia breeder who worked with A.P. Saunders collections and named a number of popular cvs.
Reckamp, ? - leading daylily breeder.
Reed, Sandra - Research Geneticist at the US National Arboretum with a focus on ornamentals. Her work of late converges on Hydrangea breeding and her interspecific crosses sound absolutely the stuff of dreams. Her focus with Hydrangea includes interspecific combos, flower colors, dwarfness, hardiness, remontant flowering, and general adaptability. She has developed new breeding techniques applicable to Hydrangea and likely other shrub genera. Other research concentrates on pink-flowered, compact Clethra including interspecifics there. Frost-resistant, late-leafing Styrax are in the works. Mildew resistance in Cornus is underway. Even variegation in Callicarpa has been studied. In my opinion, Drs. Pooler, Reed, and Olsen signal the return of the USNA to greatness in creating yummy, useful, highly commercial, and scientifically superior woody plants. Breathtaking is within their range. Changing the woody world deeply is attainable and I'll predict that 2020 will signal them all as transforming stars of modern landscape. When you next grumble about federal taxes, take a look at the USNA website and pretend all your money goes to this hyper-talented, dedicated, and highly informed group of people. It is no mistake that it takes about six Ph.D.'s to even begin to replace Don Egolf.
Reeves, John (1774-1856) - British tea inspector working in China. He spent his free time studying the rich garden flora of that land, introducing good varieties of mums and azaleas to the UK . His study, culture, flowering, and introduction of Wisteria sinensis to western gardens (England 1816) remains his signal accompllishment. The epithet reevesii  in our literature often honors his work.
Rehder, Alfred - One of the 20th century's leading woody plant experts around the world. Few horticultural taxonomists have had a much influence on modern nomenclature. He collected, studied, described, and named literally hundreds of cultivars, many of them vital in modern landscapes. His Manual was unsurpassed for decades and still valuable for its keys today.
Reinelt, Frank - Czech-born plant breeder who worked in California and is famous for 'Pacific Giants' strain of hybrid Delphinium. That strain had a virtual monopoly in American gardens  on the Delphinium for many decades.  All subsequent breeders in the genus owe much to Frank Reinelt for his improvement of the genetics.
Rice, Graham - Helleborus expert and author of a popular book on same. His website offers many useful articles on annuals, beddings plants, and his our writings.
Rinz, J - breeder of Ghent Hybrid azaleas in the late 1800's.
Rober, Ernest - California Pelargonium breeder who developed many large-flowered zonals in new and bright colors. He is credited with hundreds of named clones. His scented hybrid 'Rober's Lemon Rose' c. 1940 is a lemon-rose blend of the highest quality and is found in many herb catalogs to this day.
Roberts, Don - breeder of superior Lavandula cultivars including the noteworthy 'Buena Vista' and 'Sachet'.
Rock, Joseph - Vienna born plant collector, Rhododendron expert, and botanist. His work was sponsored by the USDA, National Geographic Society, and Harvard University. He introduced many ornamental plants and used his knowledge of eight languages to assist in his travels.
Rodd, Edward - nurseryman with Raraflora Nursery, PA. He has named some dwarf Acer palmatum including 'Elizabeth'.
Roderick, Wayne - introducer of superior cultivars of native California plants. A number of his introductions are offered by Native Sons.
Rogers, Owen (Dr.) - University of New Hampshire horticulturist and plant breeder. He is known lilac expert and wrote one of the most complete checklists to that group. Working with university stock from Professors Yaeger, Meader, and Pike, he has produced some wonderful S. x prestoniae hybrids.
Rogerson, Brewster - Professor of English at Kansas State Univ. and Clematis expert.
Rose, Peter - British ivy expert and author of a leading book on Hedera.
Ross, Henry - Director of Gardenview Horticultural Park in Ohio and Malus expert. His plants Malus 'Coralburst' and 'White Cascade' are distinct and showy. His use of polyploids for double-flowered and weeping clones broke new ground.
Rothschild, Lionel de - British estate gardener known for his work with the Knap Hill azalea hybrids. His work was so significant they are known often called the Knap Hill - Exbury hybrids.
Rubtsov, L.I. - Russian/Soviet Syringa expert and author.
Ruh, P. - Hosta breeder.
Ruprecht, Franz (1814-1870) - Russian botanist
Russell, James - nurseryman (Sunningdale Nurseries), perennial expert, and collector. His nursery introduced numerous superior ornamentals. He was also a colleague of Graham Stuart Thomas.
Ruys, B. - nurseryman (Ruys), Dutch breeder of Phlox including the much loved 'Spitfire'. They are also known for Delphinium x ruysii 'Pink Sensation'.

DISCOVER THE BEST ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS....

click logo

Sampson, D.R. - Philadelphus breeder.
Sanders, D.F. - Orchid expert, breeder, and author.
Santa Lucia, Vic - Hosta expert, known for H. 'Alex Summers' among others.
Santamour, Frank - Cytologist at National Arboretum (staff page), author of numerous woody plant cultivar checklists, expert in many genera.
Sargent, Charles Sprague - Director of the Arnold Arboretum, prolific author on Asian and woody plants, and taxonomist. Bean describes his "admirable skill and energy" that brought hundreds of ornamental plants not only to America but to all of Europe. Indeed he did much to inform North Americans about the little known wonders that grew in their own woods at a time when rare, European species were often considered a status symbol. Many ornamentals bear his name including juniper and apple species. The C.S. Sargent Archives at the Arnold Arb. are now online.
Sass, Hans - Paeonia breeder who enjoyed widespread success.
Saul, Richard - nurseryman (ItSaul Plants, GA) and expert in superior selections and hybrids of US native plants. His Echinacea hybrids in colors from gold to orange and red are striking and compete more the well with Dr. Ault's creations from Chicago.
Saunders, A.P. - breeder of numerous fine peonies, many of which still hold high merit today. Prof. Saunders was one of the most creative plant breeders of his time. He tried to introduce every known species into his germplasm.
Saunders, William - first Director of the Central Experimental Station in Ottawa and a early pioneer in plant evaluation. He was doing comparitive trials of herbaceous perennials in 1887 (which some modern professors seem to think they just invented) using a mile-long border!
Savage Jr, Philip J - Magnolia expert and author.
Savill, Sir Eric - British estate owner known for introducing many fine plants. His work with Windsor azalea hybrids is remarkable. He and his staff managed to raise over 12,000 seedlings a year for 25 years!
Savory, Dennis P. - Hosta breeder known for many breakthroughts
Scanlon, Edward H. - woody plant expert and originator of superior clones under the Scanlon and Olmstead names.
Scarchuk, John - University of Connecticut researcher who with Joseph Lent released Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal', one the more important ornamental herbs of the last few decades.
Schacht, Wilhelm - herbaceous perennial expert and co-author with Jelitto of the monumental Hardy Herbaceous Perennials.
Scheepers, John - bulb importer beginning in 1905. John Scheepers & Co. became a large American bulb supplier. One of their most important promotions was introduction of lily-of-the-valley at affordable prices, making it a regular gem in American gardens.
Schilling, Tony - botanist, plant collector, and introducer of many fine plants. His Hedychium densiflorum 'Steven' found in Nepal is a beautious thing of real quality.
Schlauer, J. - expert on carnivorous ornamentals, author.
Schmid, W. George - leading Hosta expert, collector, and breeder. His monumental Hosta volume is a model in horticultural taxonomy and brought sanity and clarity to that endlessly difficult genus. His articles in the Hosta Journal are also recommended. Most recently his Encyclopedia on shade-loving perennials has brought clarity and personal experience to this neglected group of herbaceous plants.
Schmidt, William - Pelargonium breeder from California. He worked mostly in the ivy, regal, and zonal groups. 'Grand Slam' is one notable release.
Schneider, Camillo K. (1876-1951) - Austrian botanist. He was a Syringa expert in his time.
Schollhamer, Albert - German Phlox breeder whose work spanned more than 50 years. 'Pax' and 'Summer Joy' are two of his triumphs.
Schwarz, Tassilo - developer of a series of ornamental Miscanthus cvs.
Schwerdtgeder, Louise - Begonia breeder.
Seaver, Mildred - Hosta breeder and expert.
Sellers, V. - nurseryman (Iron Gate Gardens) and breeder of both Hemerocallis and Hosta. The Iron Gate series of daylilies are justly famous.
Seneclauze, A. - French nurseryman and originator of many fine conifer cultivars in the 1800's.
Shammarello, Anthony "Tony" - azalea breeder who emphasized cold hardiness. 'Red-Red' and 'Desiree' are two of his choice offerings. He has also introduced some Yak Rhododendrons including the remarkable 'Yaku Princess' and 'Yaku Prince' as well as Great Lakes hybrids from 40 years of work.
Sharpiro, Ben and Marion - Rhodie breeders with numerous breakthroughts in the genus.
Sharonova, Maria F. - Russian Clematis breeder known fro C. 'Georg Ots'.
Shibamichi, Akira - Japanese nursery who is perhaps best known for his spectacular Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'.
Shigo, Alex L. - leading expert on tree biology and arboriculture. His many writings, books, and videos have brought new and original knowledge to the science of tree care.
Sieber, Josef - German professor and international registrar of perennial cultivars.
Siebold, Philipp F. von - plant explorer whose journeys to Japan and China beginning in 1823 opened a whole new world of wonderful treasures to the West. Many species bear his name still. His Flora Japonica is still essential reading for students of Asian woody plants. Among his worthy introductions are Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana' and C. pisifera 'Squarrosa'
Simon, Dick - nurseryman (Bluemount Nurseries of MD), herbaceous perennial expert. Bluemount has introduced many fine cultivars.
Simon, Hans - German perennial expert and originator of superior cultivars. His Panicum virgatum 'Shenendoah' with purple foliage has changed the world of grasses.
Simon, James E. (Dr.) - American professor at the Center for New Crops and Plant Products at Purdue University, expert on herb and medicinal plant chemistry. Dr. Simon's most recent contribution to ornamental horticulture is the 1998 All-America Selection (AAS) Ocimum basilicum 'Sweet Dani', a lemon-scented basil with ornamental flowers.
Simpson, Robert C. - deciduous Ilex expert and breeder of numerous superior clones along with other members of his family. 'Winter Red' and 'Afterglow' among this fine introductions. He began work in Indiana in the 1940's when neither the physical nor nursery climate was ready for his breakthroughs. His Malus BRANDYWINE is also a breakthrough, combining scented double pink flowers with a neat upright vase-shape. Their M. CENTURION is perpaps even better. As Father Fiala said so aptly "one could plant a whole garden of Simpson's excellent introductions".
Singh, B. - Bougainvillea expert and author of checklist.
Skinner, Frank Leith (1882-1967) - Scotish-born rancher, farmer, and later Horticulturist at Dropmore, Manitoba; expert in many herbaceous and woody genera. His Clematis hybrids 'Blue Bird' and 'Blue Boy' are well loved. His lily 'Dropmore Colcoor' won the RHS's prestigeous Cory Cup in 1933. He was one of the first to work with the magnificent variety S. oblata var. dilatata. His work forms the basis of modern S. x hyacinthiflora breeding today. 'Maiden's Blush' (single light pink) and 'Pocahontas' (single purple) are much loved today. His pioneering hybrid 'Donald Wyman' (S. villosa x S. reflexa) in rosy-purple took us to new places in this stunning genus as did his magenta 'Hiawatha' of that same parentage.
Skinner, H.T. - Ilex breeder noted for the the useful 'John T. Morris' and 'Lydia Morris'
Skrocki, Ed - probably the most successful breeder of Sempervivum. His numerous cultivars include many breakthroughs in size, color, and form. He also does Hosta.
Slater, Leonard - lilac collector and breeder of the notanle Agincourt lilac series. 'Agincourt Beauty' (1968) is dark purple and of huge dimensions. His columar S. reticulata 'Ivory Silk' is also a very major contribution to gardens.
Slavin, Arthur D. - son of Bernard Slavin who continued work with woody plants at Rochester. Malus coronaria 'Nieuwland' is a very important one of his introductions. It not only has double, fragrant pink flowers but good disease resistances.
Slavin, Bernard H. - Director of the Rochester Parks, New York. He was influential in building those large woody plant collections, once second only to the Arnold Arboretum in the US. He introduced a number of woody plant cultivars including conifers and a dogwood. He clarified the nomenclature on many woody cultivars, splitting and naming as needed. Magnolia 'Slavin's Snowy' is named for him.  One of his most pretty tree creations is Malus ioensis 'Fimbriata', a cherry-like flower with up to 34 petals.
Slinger, Leslie - Irish nurseryman (Slieve Donard). Among their perennial hybrids are Dierama and Kniphofia breakthroughs.
Slocum, Elinor V. - Begonia breeder.
Slonecker, Howard - breeder of Knap Hill type azaleas for west coast US conditions.
Smale, Peter - NZ lavender expert known for cultivars including 'Blue Bun', a floriferous dwarf clone suitable for hedging
Smith, Don and Hazel - American nurserymen (Watnong Nursery of NJ), conifer experts, and originators of many fine cultivars. A lovely blue Sequiadendron named 'Hazel Smith' and quite a few conifers called 'Watnong' came from them.
Smith, Eric - British Hosta expert and breeder. His very blue Tardiana type cultivars are now world famous. He has also worked with Aster.
Smith, John Alan - known for the spectacular Magnolia virginiana 'Mattie Mae Smith', the finest variegated clone in that entire genus.
Smith, Richard (and Co.) - British nurseryman known for many find plangs in the later 1880s. The Clematis 'Beauty of Worcester' is just one of his creations still beloved today.
Smith, Tom - British nurseryman (Daisy Hill Nursery) and perennial expert. Specialized in offering Euphorbia, Hosta, Helleborus, Bergenia, Eryngium, and ornamental grasses. His plants influenced many British designers of the 1900's include Gertrude Jekyll.
Smith, William - important British nurseryman who raised many fine plants. In the 1830's he worked on the Belgian Indian hybrids azaleas, some of them termed English Indian hybrids.
Smithers, Sir Peter - Magnolia expert and collector.
Smittle, Doyle - Hedychium breeder whose Tai series of cultivars have added much to gardens.
Solberg, Bob - nurseryman (Green Hill Farm of NC), Hosta breeder, and author. Among his cultivars is the outstanding and very gold 'Saint Elmo's Fire'
Solomone, Joe - California nurseryman specializing in wholesale Clivia, emhasizing yellow and variegated cultivars. The "Clivia King" of America started in the early 1960's and that grew to almost 2 acres of them under glass. He plants about 100,000 seeds a year to obtain his stock and find new, interesting mutations of all kinds. His variegated yellow stock combines two rare mutations and is the envy of collector's around the world. He has also found valuable mutations in orange tepals, dimaters to 4 inches wide, spider forms, bell-shaped flowers, wide-leaved giants, and dwarf yellows. Much of his stock of seed grown yellow is aimed at the large Japanese market for this rare color. That strain is widely known as 'Solomone Yellow' and is also sold in the US by Monterey Bay Nursery.
Soules, Marjorie. - Hosta breeder and expert.
Soulie, Jean Marie (Abbe) - French Jesuit priest who collect widely in China from 1900 to 1910. He was killed in Yunnan.
Spaeth, Ludwig and family - famous Berlin nurseryman whose number of woody plant introductions would fill this page. The Spaethiana and Spaethii epithets are still widely seen today on wonderful clones.
Sparkes, J.W. and Peter - father and son Erica/Calluna breeders and experts. 'Blazeaway' is well known and well named.
Speichert, C. Greg - aquatic Iris expert, breeder, and nurseryman (Crystal Palaca Perennials).
Spingarn, Joel - nurseryman, leading expert on dwarf conifers and introducer of many superior cultivars. Many of his plants contain the name Baldwin as he was a long-time resident of Baldwin, New York. His Acer palmatum 'Filigree' is another classic. See Joel Elias Spingarn below.
Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939) - professor and scholar of literature at Columbia University. He was also a board member of the New York Botanic Garden. Dr. Spingarn is best known as a Clematis expert who assembled the largest collection of taxa in the world. He also collected perennials and rock garden plants.
Spongberg, Stephen A. - Taxonomist at Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum, long time registrar of woody plant genera, author of numerous horticultural monographs.
Sprenger, M.  - Canna breeder working out of Naples, Italy in the 1890's. He used new species material to diversify the cultivars. He created new flower shapes and increased cold hardiness from thousands of tested seedlings. His hybrids were called Orchid-flowered Cannas in contrast to the Gladiolus-flowered ones from Crozy in France. His cultivar 'America' remains popular today with it's scarlet flowers and darkly veined foliage.
Spruyt, Jan - perennial breeder working in Geranium, Hosta, Papaver, and Phlox.
Stamile, Patrick & Grace - daylily breeders, nurseryman (Floyd Cove). Patrick received the Farr Silver Medal from the American Hemerocallis Society in 1997 for his pioneering work.
Stanley, Larry and family - nurserymen (Stanley and Sons), conifer collectors, and introducers of improved cultivars. If you just look at their nursery's Pinus list you'll be simply shocked at the amount of sophisticated selection going on today.
Stead, Edgar - New Zealand geower of Ilam azalea hybrids based on the Knap Hill series. He combined those with Rhododendron calendulaceum, viscosum, and molle to increase truss size and gain fragrance.
Stearn, W. T. - undoubtedly the century's top expert on botanical Latin and author the standard reference in that field. Unlike some botanists he was very aware of horticultural nomenclature and wrote much to clarify issues for nurserymen and gardeners.
Steffen Jr., Arthur "Bing" - Clematis breeder and nurseryman. He has named over 46 cultivars from 2500 crosses made since 1968. Their nursery has produced over a million Clematis in a single year.
Stern, Sir Frederick - Eremurus breeder known for the Highdown series.
Steward, Albert N. - botanist, plant explorer. His early Hemerocallis introductions from Asia formed the basis of breeding the modern cultivars. These included the diploid H. fulva, its pink flowered form, and the very useful H. multiflora (giving more flowers) and H. altissima (adding height).
Still, Steven - Herbaceous perennial expert, President of the Perennial Plant Association, and author of Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants.
Storey, Don - British Pelargonium breeder notable for work in the fancy leaf, variegated groups. His cultivars often have the "Don's" prefix
Stokes, Glen - nurseryman (Stokes Tropicals) and tropical plant expert. He has introduced a great many superior plants to the trade including Plumaria and rare Thai cultivars of Euphorbia milii.
Stout, Arlow B. - one of the leading experts on Hemerocallis of the century, author of several definitive works on daylilies and Coleus. The "Nobel Prize" for daylilies is called the Stout Medal in his honor. He is credited with making the daylily a common garden plant around the world. He also did work with hybrid poplars. His cultivars are still being grown. His 6 foot tall, orange and yellow, narrow-tepaled 'Challenger' (1949) is being grown by people like Tony Avent who find only the best of the genus truly "garden worthy".
Strachen, Ellis - English Clematis breeder known for the spectacular double-flowred 'Chalcedony'
Stringer, Rev. S.P. - British Pelargonium breeder who introduced many valuable plants since the 1970's. His successful plants are classed as Deacons in one series and Occold in another. The later is named for the place where he was a pastor. His Cascade Group cultivar 'Occold Shield' is popular worldwide for it's large central bronze zone and informal habit.
Stubbs, Anabel - American Fuchsia breeder known for numerous large doubles in the 1970's.
Stupka, Joseph - nurseryman (Stupka Nursery) frm PA USA, known for Acer palmatum 'Kandy Kitchen'.