Rudolph Boysen
Encyclopedia
Charles Rudolph Boysen was the California horticulturist who created the boysenberry
, a hybrid between several varieties of blackberries
, raspberries
, and loganberries
.
in the 1920s. In 1923, his hybrid successfully grew and bore fruit. However, unable to make his new berry a commercial success, Boysen abandoned his crop after breaking his back in an accident. When Boysen moved to Orange County, he brought with him what was described as "the sensation berry of the 20th Century." Years later, a fellow grower named Walter Knott heard about the berry and tracked down Boysen. Walter Knott
was able to bring a few dying vines back to life at his farm, now known as Knott's Berry Farm
in Buena Park, California
. Knott named the fruit after Boysen.
Boysen worked as Anaheim
City Parks superintendent from 1921-1950.
and a Boysen Avenue in Anaheim, California
, both named for Rudolph Boysen. Boysen Park, a 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) public park in Anaheim was named in his honor. It features playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a large lawn, and a stucco-coated, Korean War-vintage Navy jet as a children's climbing toy. The Anaheim Tennis Center is located adjacent to Boysen Park, located at 951 S. State College Blvd. Rudolph Boysen died at the age of 55, and is interred at the Melrose Abbey Cemetery in Anaheim.
Boysenberry
A boysenberry is a cross between a European Raspberry , a Common Blackberry , and a Loganberry ....
, a hybrid between several varieties of blackberries
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
, raspberries
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...
, and loganberries
Loganberry
The loganberry is an hexaploid hybrid produced from crossing an octaploid blackberry and a diploid red raspberry. The plant and the fruit resemble the blackberry more than the raspberry, but the fruit colour is a dark red, rather than black...
.
Boysenberry
Rudolph Boysen experimented with various berry crosses in Napa, CaliforniaNapa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
in the 1920s. In 1923, his hybrid successfully grew and bore fruit. However, unable to make his new berry a commercial success, Boysen abandoned his crop after breaking his back in an accident. When Boysen moved to Orange County, he brought with him what was described as "the sensation berry of the 20th Century." Years later, a fellow grower named Walter Knott heard about the berry and tracked down Boysen. Walter Knott
Walter Knott
Walter Marvin Knott was an American farmer who created the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in California....
was able to bring a few dying vines back to life at his farm, now known as Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
in Buena Park, California
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
. Knott named the fruit after Boysen.
Biography
Charles Rudolph Boysen was married to Margaret Bruton. Their son, Robert Matt Boysen, was born in 1924.Boysen worked as Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
City Parks superintendent from 1921-1950.
Legacy
There's a Boysenberry Lane in Placentia, CaliforniaPlacentia, California
-Local: Placentia is a Charter city with an elected city council and professional city manager. Placentia City Council*Mayor- Scott W. Nelson*Mayor Pro Tem- Jeremy Yamaguchi*Council Member- Joe Aquirre*Council Member- Constance Underhill...
and a Boysen Avenue in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, both named for Rudolph Boysen. Boysen Park, a 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) public park in Anaheim was named in his honor. It features playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a large lawn, and a stucco-coated, Korean War-vintage Navy jet as a children's climbing toy. The Anaheim Tennis Center is located adjacent to Boysen Park, located at 951 S. State College Blvd. Rudolph Boysen died at the age of 55, and is interred at the Melrose Abbey Cemetery in Anaheim.