George Russell (horticulturist)

George Russell
Born1857 (1857)
Stillington, North Yorkshire
Died15 October 1951(1951-10-15) (aged 93–94)[1]
Known for
Development of Russell Hybrid Lupins
Awards1937  Veitch Memorial Medal
Scientific career
FieldsHorticulture
Close up of a Russell hybrid lupine in a typical garden setting, UK, England

George Russell (1857–1951) was born in Stillington[2] and lived in York, England. He is most notable for his work developing the Russell Hybrid Lupins.[3] A gardener by occupation, he began experimenting with Lupins in his fifties, after being inspired by the sight of a vase of the flowers at the home of one of his employers.[4]

Over more than twenty years, he used natural pollination by bumble-bees to develop hybrids with flower spikes that were larger and more colourful than the original Lupinus polyphyllus. He was 79 when he first exhibited at Chelsea,[5] and the Royal Horticultural Society awarded him the Veitch Memorial Medal in 1937 for his achievements.[6]

In 2013, when the RHS held a vote to determine their 'plant of the centenary', Russell Hybrid Lupins were selected as the top plant to have debuted during the period 1933-1942 and voted second overall.[7]

Some of the Lupins created by Russell were named after his friends and neighbours. These include the 'Mrs Micklethwaite', for the employer who originally inspired his work, and the 'Mrs Noel Terry' named after Kathleen Terry of the Terry's chocolate-manufacturing family.[8] At one time there were 152 named varieties[6] but in the years after Russell's death many of these were either lost to Cucumber mosaic virus or allowed to self-sow enabling them to revert to their original colours.[5]

Selective List of Russell Hybrid Lupins (with colours if known)

  • Bluejacket : blue and white[8]
  • Catherine of York[9]
  • Gallery White[10]
  • Gallery Yellow[10]
  • Helen of York[9]
  • Joan of York[9]
  • Masterpiece[10]
  • Manhattan Lights[10]
  • Mrs Micklethwaite[9]
  • Mrs Noel Terry : pink[8]
  • My Castle[10]
  • Nellie B. Allen : salmon pink[8]
  • Noble Maiden[10]
  • Purple Swirl[10]
  • The Chatelaine[10]
  • The Governor[10]
  • Thundercloud : purple and mauve[8]

References

  1. ^ Ray Desmond, ed. (1994). Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. p. 599. ISBN 9780850668438. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. ^ "5 - Stillington People". Stillington Village Online. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. ^ "The Lupin Man of York – George Russell". God’s own Country. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. ^ "The man who made lupins his life". Yorkshire Post. 29 February 2004. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Falling in love again". The Telegraph. 9 March 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Simply Loopy". The Telegraph. 24 June 2000. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Plant of the Centenary". RHS. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e "LUPINUS – Lupin". Gardening Data Files. GeneratePress. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d "1938 Amateur Gardening magazine supplement cover showing russell lupins". FotoLibra. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Plant Family / Lupinus - Lupines". gardenia.net. Retrieved 13 June 2016.