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Shasta Daisy
About
Luther Burbank (1849-1926)
Luther Burbank is America's greatest breeder of plants. Well over 1000 varieties of fruits, flowers, nuts, vegetables, etc. were developed by him. His hybrids are not extinct, just "lost." Please help find the remaining hybrids: see Prof. W.L. Howard's Luther Burbank's Plant Contributions [Bulletin 691; March, 1945] for names and abbreviated descriptions.
Burbank Plant Research Station
Plans are to create a living collection of all of Luther Burbank's plant hybrids.
The location and funding are yet to be determined but the site will be preferably located in Southern California (ideally in the Chino Valley). The research, web site, non-profit corporation, etc. are works in progress.
Roy Wiersma, Ph.D. Research Scientist
Dr. Wiersma is the lead investigator in finding all of Luther Burbank's plant creations. He had phenomenal success in finding the lost Burbank spineless cactus hybrids resulting in the Luther Burbank Spineless Cactus Identification Project [2008], talks given to the California Rare Fruit Growers association, cactus society, radio interviews, cactus festivals, etc.
Comments
Burbank Plums and Plumcots
Over 100 plums and plumcots were developed by Luther Burbank. This is the current focus of research - to find his lost plums and plumcots. In the gallery not all of the plums pictured are Burbank's. And in some cases like Lieb and Ballena the plums featured are labelled according to the name attached to the scionwood but clearly were mislabelled: Lieb shown is probably the original Blood Plum of Satsuma and Ballena shown is probably Burbank's Corona plumcot. Formosa is certainly mislabelled; the plum labelled "Mystery" may be the true Formosa. Late Santa Rosa is not a Santa Rosa at all but possibly Prize or Lieb. Many more varieties are to be found in New Zealand and South Africa for those who wish to aid in the search.
Burbank Perpetual Rhubarbs (pics of those found coming soon)
More than 36 giant perpetual rhubarb varieties were developed by L. Burbank in addition to Australian Crimson Winter [1900] still around today. Most of these are likely to be found in backyard gardens in California.
Ornamentals
About 10 years ago seeds of Golden Marrubium (yellow-foliaged form of common horehound) were available for purchase. Is anyone growing it now?
Mayflower Verbena - very fragrant and probably re-named and then replaced by better hybrids
Roses - about a dozen released some unnamed
Pinnacle Lavender was sold in 1923. Where is it now?
Two varieties of Lippia repens (Phyla nodiflora) were developed by Burbank:
Dixie [1909] and Mohave[1911].
Strawberries: Robusta, Yosemite, Evergreen White, Black Leaf are some listed
Pearl Barley did not originate with Burbank but was sold by him
Burbank Varieties passed down through families
National Clonal Germplasm Repository
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