Robert Armstrong (geneticist)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Armstrong, Longwood Gardens
newly appointed Geneticist
, began a canna
breeding program in 1967, when it was realized that cultivars available at that time were not suitable for use on display in the Gardens conservatories and lakes.
As the project progressed, other cultivars and species were introduced from around the world. Seeds of five species were received from Lago Maggiore, Italy, Canna glauca was procured from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in 1972, Dr. John Creech of the US National Arboretum, added three Russian cultivars, C. ‘K.A. Timirazov’, ‘Krimsky Riviera’, and ‘Soleznaya Krasavaya’.
, which has roots that tolerate being submerged in water, was crossed with the terrestrial hybrids. In 1972, four cultivars were introduced:
These famous cultivars were all named after famous ships.
The measure of Dr Armstrongs' success can be judged in the way that, today at Longwood Gardens, cannas are used extensively in the Conservatory, Flower Garden Walk and Idea Garden. His aquatic cannas are popular with water gardeners all over the world.
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
newly appointed Geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
, began a canna
Canna (plant)
Canna is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae...
breeding program in 1967, when it was realized that cultivars available at that time were not suitable for use on display in the Gardens conservatories and lakes.
Goals
The goals were to develop:- a clear yellow-flowered dwarf canna and a pure white-flowered canna that could grow well in the Conservatory.
- to breed aquatic cannas, capable of thriving as marginal water plants, or in the border
Originating stock
New blood was required to create something new, and the project started with making crosses involving three cultivars, C. ‘Ambassadour’, ‘Moonlight’, and ‘Banner’, which were obtained from Yalta, Ukraine and South Africa.As the project progressed, other cultivars and species were introduced from around the world. Seeds of five species were received from Lago Maggiore, Italy, Canna glauca was procured from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in 1972, Dr. John Creech of the US National Arboretum, added three Russian cultivars, C. ‘K.A. Timirazov’, ‘Krimsky Riviera’, and ‘Soleznaya Krasavaya’.
Conservatory Group
With the new additions to the breeding stock, red, orange and pink cannas were developed for the Conservatory along with the original white and yellow. The selection criteria used were plant vigor, early flowering, foliar appearance, self-cleaning ability and good propagation qualities. Between 1972 and 1985, twelve cultivars were selected for release. Named for local historically significant places and events, they were:- Canna ‘Brandywine’
- Canna ‘Chesapeake’
- Canna ‘Conestoga’
- Canna ‘Constitution’
- Canna ‘Declaration’
- Canna ‘Delaware’
- Canna ‘Franklin’
- Canna ‘Freedom’
- Canna ‘Independence’
- Canna ‘Liberty’
- Canna ‘Lenape’
- Canna ‘Penn’.
Aquatic Group
Canna glaucaCanna glauca
Canna glauca L. is a species of the Canna genus, a member of the family Cannaceae. It originates from the wetlands of tropical America and was introduced to England in 1730. It is a perennial growing to 1.5m. It is hardy to zone 10 and is frost tender. In the north latitudes it is in flower from...
, which has roots that tolerate being submerged in water, was crossed with the terrestrial hybrids. In 1972, four cultivars were introduced:
- Canna ‘Endeavour’
- Canna ‘Erebus’
- Canna ‘Ra’
- Canna ‘Taney’
These famous cultivars were all named after famous ships.
Hawaiian cannas
Even after his retirement to Hawaii, Dr Armstrong continued breeding cannas and introduced two Hawaiian-themed cultivars:- Canna ‘Aloha’
- Canna ‘Pele’
The measure of Dr Armstrongs' success can be judged in the way that, today at Longwood Gardens, cannas are used extensively in the Conservatory, Flower Garden Walk and Idea Garden. His aquatic cannas are popular with water gardeners all over the world.
See also
- CannaCanna (plant)Canna is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae...
- List of Canna species
- List of Canna cultivarsCanna (Plant) GalleryThis is a gallery of named canna cultivars, representative of the various Canna cultivar groups. Names of cultivars are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, are registered with an International Cultivar Registration Authority and conform to the rules of the...
- List of Canna hybridists