Charles O. Dexter
Encyclopedia
Charles Owen Dexter was an American rhododendron
hybridizer. Using the Chinese
species
Rhododendron fortunei, he produced hybrids characterized by dense foliage
, large stature and flower
s of superior size and color, many of which were also fragrant. Notable examples of his work include Scintillation, Betty Hume, Parker's Pink, GiGi, Mrs. W.R. Coe, Wheatley and Westbury.
Between 1921 and 1943 Dexter carried on a massive breeding program at his 76 acres (307,561.4 m²) estate in Sandwich
, Massachusetts
. There he produced between 5,000 and 10,000 seedlings annually and gave thousands of plantings away to private gardens, nurseries and public botanical collections.
His estate is now operated as the Heritage Museums and Gardens
which contains plantings of 125 of the known 145 Dexter cultivars.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
hybridizer. Using the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
Rhododendron fortunei, he produced hybrids characterized by dense foliage
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, large stature and flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s of superior size and color, many of which were also fragrant. Notable examples of his work include Scintillation, Betty Hume, Parker's Pink, GiGi, Mrs. W.R. Coe, Wheatley and Westbury.
Between 1921 and 1943 Dexter carried on a massive breeding program at his 76 acres (307,561.4 m²) estate in Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. There he produced between 5,000 and 10,000 seedlings annually and gave thousands of plantings away to private gardens, nurseries and public botanical collections.
His estate is now operated as the Heritage Museums and Gardens
Heritage Museums and Gardens
The Heritage Museums and Gardens , formerly the Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, is a collection of museums and gardens located at 67 Grove Street, Sandwich, Massachusetts. It includes museums of art, American history, and automobiles, with both permanent and visiting exhibits, as well as extensive...
which contains plantings of 125 of the known 145 Dexter cultivars.
External links
- Gateway to Rhododendrons in New England, featuring several Dexter varieties