Hybridizer Henry Groff

Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Henry Groff (1853-1933) was a banker, amateur gardener and world famous hybridizer of gladioli. After his retirement he began breeding irises and, using his past experience, very rapidly produced thousands of iris varieties. He imported many of the best European (especially French) varieties to work with and probably had not only the first, but the largest planting of Frederick Cayeux’s TB 'Plie D'Or' on this continent. This he used freely for pollen in most of his crosses. Mr. Groff's garden was designated an official AIS Display Garden and became the mecca for thousands of visitors wishing to see the huge iris collection until the early 1940s. The Ontario Horticultural Society awarded their first Silver Medal to Groff for his work. (AIS '39 p.39; CIS-N v22 n1 p18).

After Henry’s death in 1933, work connected with his garden was carried on by one of his heirs, his nephew J.G.Trafford, (CIS-N v23 n1 p27 & AIS Bull 56 p16 March 1935) and Henry’s iris were posthumously registered under advice of William Miles, Regional Vice-President AIS. (AIS ‘39 p.39) Miles had worked with Groff for several years before the latter’s death, and it is thought by some, many of the registrations between 1935 and 1941 made under Groff’s name, were to some degree the work of Miles. (CIS-N v22 n1 p18) (Researched by Don McQueen)

Registrations/Introductions:

Tall Bearded: 'Airforce Blue', 'Almeda', 'Anchors Aweigh', 'Arctic Circle', 'Black Gnat', 'Black Out', 'Bluzugraf', 'Brown Hackle', 'Colour Music', 'Coral Sands', 'Courer De Bois', 'Crystal Stipple', 'Dracula', 'Dusty Miller', 'Egret', 'Fiery Cross', 'Flashed Opal', 'Gunga Din', 'Gypsy Sweetheart', 'H. H. Groff', 'Hon. H. A. Bruce', 'Inkpot', 'Jack O'Lantern', 'Java Head', 'Jungle Ginger', 'June Skies', 'Lagoon', 'Lake Louise', 'Lamplighter', 'Laura Secord', 'Lights Out', 'Mary Nissley', 'Miss Simcoe', 'Mother O' Mine', 'Mrs. Herbert Bruce', 'Mrs. J. G. Trafford', 'Naughty Marietta', 'Nina Naas', 'Nutmeg', 'Olive Dun', 'Paddle Song', 'Pauline Johnson', 'Pearly Peak', 'Platinum Blond', 'Recessional', 'Red Ibis', 'Roberta', 'Royal Canadian', 'Royal Dragoon', 'Salvo', 'Shadowy Wake', 'Ship Ahoy', 'Sir Frederick Banting', 'Snow Lady', 'Spitfire', 'Sundog', 'Super X', 'Symphony In Blue', 'Temple Bells', 'Trader Horn', 'Trail Of '98', 'Typhoon', 'Ursa Minor', 'Vice Regal', 'West Wind', 'White Crest', 'Wigwam', 'Yellow Cap', 'Yellow Jacket'.

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18