Difference: HybridizerGroffHenry (r10 vs. r9)

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:

-- Main.RPries - 2012-05-18