Veitch Nurseries

The James Veitch Nursery Collectors

Main source of reference: Hortus Veitchii.

Details of the plant hunters employed by Messrs. James Veitch, the places they explored and some of the plants they introduced to Britain:

William Lobb (1809-1864)
Collected in Brazil and Chile (known at that time as Chili), between 1840-1844
Brazil, Chile, 1845-1848
California and Oregon, 1849-1853
California, 1854-1857

Dipladenia splendens
This exquisite greenhouse climbing plant introduced by William Lobb from Brazil in 1841 for James Veitch's Nursery in Exeter. It was amongst the very first parcel of plants to be sent home to Exeter. "Only three plants were met with, and these all reached Exeter in a living state".
(Curtis' Botanical Magazine).

Some Plants Introduced by William Lobb
Berberis darwinii
Desfontainea spinosa
Dipladenia splendens
Embothrium coccineum
Escallonia macrantha
Fitzroya patagonica
Lapageria rosea
Libocedrus tetragona
Philesia buxifolia
Podocarpus nubigena
Saxe-Gothaea conspicua
Sequoia gigantea [Sequoiadendron giganteum]
Thuia Lobbii [Thuja plicata]

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Thomas Lobb (1818-1894)
Collected in Singapore, Java, India, Malaya, Borneo and the Philippines between 1843-1860 over several trips.

Vanda coerulea
The highly sought-after blue orchid, Vanda caerulea, native of India.
First discovered by William Griffith in 1837. Introduced by Thomas Lobb for James Veitch's Nursery in Exeter where it first flowered in 1850.

Some Plants Introduced by Thomas Lobb
Aërides Fieldingi
Aërides multiflorum Lobbii
Aërides multiflorum Veitchii
Calanthe rosea (Limatodes)
Calanthe vestita
Coelogyne lageneria (Pleione)
Coelogyne maculata
Coelogyne speciosa
Cypripedium barbatum
Cypripedium villosum
Dendrobium infundibulum
Lobbia dependens
Nepenthes ampullaria
Nepenthes Rafflesiana
Nepenthes sanguinea
Nepenthes Veitchii
Phalaenopsis intermedia
Rhododendron Brookeanum
Rhododendron Jasminiflorum
Rhododendron javanicum
Rhododendron Lobbii
Vanda coerulea
Vanda sauvis
Vanda tricolor

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Richard (William) Pearce (circa1836-1867)
Chile, (known at that time as Chili), Patagonia, Peru, Bolivia, 1859-1862
South America including Peru and Bolivia, 1863-1866

Begonia veitchii
Discovered by Richard Pearce in Peru from where it was introduced.

Some Plants Introduced by Richard Pearce
Aphelandra nitens
Begonia boliviensis
Begonia Pearcei
Begonia Veitchii
Eucryphia pinnatifolia
Gymnostachys Pearcei
Hippeastrum Leopoldii
Hippeastrum pardinum
Lapergeria rosea alba
Mutisia decurrens
Nierembergia rivularis
Nierembergia Veitchii
Ourisia coccinea
Ourisia Pearcei
Palava flexuosa
Podocarpus nubigena
Prumnopitys elegans
Sanchezia nobilis
Thibaudia acuminata

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John Gould Veitch (1839-1870)
Japan and the Philippine Islands, 1860-1862
Australia and South Sea Islands, 1864-1866

Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'
Introduced by John Gould Veitch, from Japan in 1861 for James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea.

Some Plants Introduced by John Gould Veitch
Abies Alcockiana
Abies firma
Abies microsperma
Abies Veitchii
Acer palmatum
Ampelopsis Veitchii (Vitis inconstans)
Aralia Veitchii
Cryptomeris japonica elegans
Cupressus obtusa
Juniperus chinensis aurea
Larix leptolepis
Lilium auratum
Pandanus Veitchii
Picea ajanensis
Picea polita
Pinus densiflora
Pinus parviflora
Pinus Thunbergii
Primula cortusoides
Primula japonica
Sciadopitys verticillata
Thuiopsis dolobrata
Tsuga diversifolia

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David Bowman (1838-1868)
Brazil, 1866

Some Plants Introduced by David Bowman
Dieffenbachia Bowmanii
Paullinia thalictrifolia

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Henry Hutton (unknown-circa 1868)
Java and the Malay Archipelago, 1866-1868

Some Plants Introduced by Henry Hutton
Cymbidium Huttoni
Dendrobium Huttoni
Saccolabium Huttoni (Aërides Huttoni)

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Carl Kramer (dates unknown)
Japan, 1867
Costa Rica and Guatemala, 1868

Some Plants Introduced by Carl Kramer
Odontoglossum citrosmum
Odontoglossum Krameri

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Gottlieb Zahn (unknown-1870)
Central America, 1869-1870

Some Plants Introduced by Gottlieb Zahn
Tillandsia Zahnii (Caraguata Zahnii)
Other plants to be established.

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George Downton (unknown-1895)
Central America and Costa Rica, 1870
Chile, 1871-1873

Some Plants Introduced by George Downton
To be established.

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J. Henry Chesterton (unknown-1883)
South America, 1870-1878

Some Plants Introduced by J. Henry Chesterton
Masdevallia coccinea Harryana
Miltonia vexillaria
Odontoglossum crispum Chestonii

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A. R. Endres (dates unknown)
Costa Rica, 1871-1873

Some Plants Introduced by A. R. Endres
Epidendrum Endresii
Odontoglossum Warscewiczii (Miltonia Endresii)
Utricularia Endresii

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Gustave Wallis (1830-1878)
Philippines, 1870
Grenada (known at that time as New Grenada), 1872-1874

Some Plants Introduced by Gustave Wallis
Anthurium Wallisii
Batemannia Wallisii
Curmeria Wallisii
Dieffenbachia Wallisii
Epidendrum Wallisii
Maranta Wallisii
Masdevallia Wallisii
Stenospermation Wallisii

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Walter Davis (dates unknown)
South America including Peru and Bolivia, 1873-1876

Some Plants Introduced by Walter Davis
To be established.

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Peter (Christian Massyn) Veitch (1850-1929)
Australia (1875 & 1877), Fiji Islands, South Sea Islands, Australian Colonies (1876), New Zealand (1877) and Borneo (1877), (to collect with F. W. Burbidge), 1875-1878

Some Plants Introduced by Peter C. M. Veitch
Notospartium Carmichaeliae
Other plants to be established.

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Guillaume Kalbreyer (1847-19??)
West Coast of Africa, 1876-1877
Columbia, 1877-1878
Columbia, 1878-1879?
Columbia, 1879-1880
Columbia and Grenada (known at that time as New Grenada), 1880-1881

Some Plants Introduced by Guillaume Kalbreyer
Acrostichum (Gymnopteris) juglandifolium
Acrostichum (Gymnopteris) polybotryoides
Acrostichum (Gymnopteris) suberectum
Acrostichum (Polybotrya) botryoides
Alsophila ? late-vagans
Alsophila hispida
Alsophila podophylla
Asplenium (Diplazium) longisorum
Asplenium (Euasplenium) filicaule
Brachycorythis Kalbreyeri
Danaea serrulata
Dicksonia pubescens
Gardenia Kalbreyeri
Gymnogramme vellea
Nephrodium (Lastrea) longicaule
Nephrodium (Lastrea) valdepilosum
Nephrodium (Sagenia) antiquoianum
Pachystoma Thomsoniana
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) antiquoianum
Polypodium (Phegopteris) sylviculum
Selaginella longissima
Trichomanes Kalbreyeri

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Christopher Mudd (dates unknown)
South Africa, 1877

"...Mudd, who seemed to have no special aptitude for collecting, and entirely lacked the explorer's instinct, sent home little of horticultural value..."
[Hortus Veitchii].

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Frederick (William) Burbidge (1847-1905)
Borneo, 1877-1878

Some Plants Introduced by Frederick W. Burbidge
Aërides Burbidgei
Alocasia guttata
Alocasia pumila
Alocasia scabriuscula
Alsophila Burbidgei
Asplenium (Diplazium) porphyrorachis
Asplenium (Diplazium) xiphophyllum
Bulbophyllum Leysianum
Bulbophyllum mandibulare
Burbidgia nitida
Cryptocoryne caudata
Cyathaea suluensis
Cypripedium Dayanum
Cypripedium Lawrenceanum
Davallia Veitchii
Dendrobium Burbidgei
Dendrobium cerinum
Jasminum gracillimum
Lindsaya crispa
Lindsaya Jamesonioides
Nepenthes bicalcarata
Nepenthes Edwardsiana
Nepenthes Rafflesiana nivea
Nepenthes Rajah
Nephrodium (Sagenia) nudum
Phalaenopsis grandiflora
Phalaenopsis Mariæ
Pinanga Veitchii
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) Burbidgei
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) Leysii
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) minimum
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) streptophyllum
Polypodium (Eupolypodium) taxodiodes
Polypodium (Phegopteris) oxyodon
Polypodium (Phymatodes) holophyllum
Polypodium (Phymatodes) stenopteris
Pothos celatocaulis
Pteris Treacheariana
Wormia Burbidgei

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Charles Maries (1850-1902)
Japan, China and Taiwan (known at that time as Formosa), 1877-1879

Davallia mariesii
The Squirrel's Foot Fern or Ball Fern, native of China and Japan.
Introduced by Charles Maries for James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea.

Some Plants Introduced by Charles Maries
Abies mariesii
Abies sachalinensis
Abies veitchii
Acer polymorphum varieties
Conandron ramondioides
Crytomeria japonica
Daphniphyllum glaucescens
Davallia mariesii
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii'
Hydrangea rosea varieties
Iris Kaempferi varieties
Lilium auratum gloriosoides
Lilium auratum platyphyllum
Osmunda japonica corymbifera
Platycodon grandiflorum 'Mariesii'
Primula obconica
Spiraea palmata alba
Styrax obassia
Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'

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Charles H. Curtis (1869-1958)
Mauritius, Madagascar, 1878-1879
Malaysia; exploring Borneo (accompanied by David Burke), Sumatra, Java and the Moluccas, 1880-1884
First trip 1880-????
Second Trip to Malaysia, 1882-1883

Some Plants Introduced by Charles H. Curtis
Cypripedium Curtisii
Gastrochilus Curtisii
Medinella Curtisii
Nepenthes Curtisii
Nepenthes Northiana
Rhododendron Curtisii
Rhododendron multicolor Curtisii
Rhododendron multicolor
Rhododendron Teysmanni

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David Burke (1854-1897)
Borneo, as assistant to Charles Curtis, 1880
Guyana (known at that time as British Guiana), 1881
Followed by two trips to the Philippine Islands and (18?? and 1884)
Two trips to New Guinea, before exploring
Burma (the part known at that time as Upper Burmah) in 1891
Three trips to Columbia between 1894 and 1896
Sulawesi (known at that time as Celebes) and the Moluccas, 1896-1897

Some Plants Introduced by David Burke
Amasonia punicea (calycina)
Re-introduced Heliamphora nutans
Zygopetalum Burkei

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James (Herbert) Veitch (1869-1907)
Sri Lanka (known at that time as Ceylon), India, Java, Japan, Korea (known at that time as Corea), Australia and New Zealand, 1891-1893

Some Plants Introduced by James H. Veitch
Cerasus pseudo-cerasus James H. Veitch
Physalis Francheti
Rhododendron Schlippenbachii
Re-introduced Vitis Coignetiae

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Ernest (Henry) Wilson (1876-1930)
Central China 1899-1902
Western China 1903-1905
China

Some Early Plants Introduced by Ernest H. Wilson
Actinidia chinensis
Astilbe Davidii
Brandisia racemosa
Buddleia variabilis 'Veitchiana'
Clematis montana rubens
Davidia involucrata
Jasminum primulinium
Meconopsis integrifolia
Meconopsis punicea
Senecio clivorum
..."numerous Vines, Acers, Viburnums, Spiraeas, Roses and Magnolias."
[Hortus Veitchii].

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William Purdom (1880-1921)
China 1909-1912

Some Plants Introduced by William Purdom
Abies sutchuensis
Aesculus chinensis
Allium cyaneum
Anaphalis modesta
Aster flaccidus
Berberis gilgiana
Berberis vernae (Discovered by William Purdom, introduced by Ernest H. Wilson in 1910 for the Arnold Arboretum)
Betula utilis
Betula utilis
Clematis aethusifolia
Clematis alpina
Clematis macropetala
Clematis tangutica (Clematis orientalis var. tangutica) (Re-introduced by William Purdom in 1911)
Daphne giraldii
Indigofera amblyantha var. purdomii
Larix gmelinii var. principis rupfrechtii
Leptodermis purdomii (Discovered by William Purdom, introduced by Reginald Farrer in 1914)
Meconopsis quintuplinervia
Melia azedarach
Paeonia suffruticosa var. spontanea (Paeonia moutan var. spontanea. Paeonia arborea var. spontanea) (Introduced by William Purdom in 1910 for Messrs Veitch & the Arnold Arboretum)
Platycodon grandiflorum
Potentilla 'William Purdom' (Potentilla 'Purdomii') (Introduced by William Purdon in 1911 when collecting for Messrs Veitch & the Arnold Arboretum)
Potentilla × rehderiana (Potentilla fruticosa var. purdomii)
Potentilla fruticosa 'William Purdom'
Primula geraniifolia
Primula maximowczii
Primula purdomii
Primula szechuanica
Prinsepia sinensis (Introduced by William Purdon in 1911 to Arnold Arboretum and then to England a few years later)
Rhamnus arguta
Rosa xanthina f. spontanea
Trollius ledebourii (Trollius chinensis)
Ulmus pumila (U. humilis. U. microphylla. U. campestris var. parvifolia)
Viburnum 'Candidissimum'
Viburnum farreri (Viburnum fragrans)

Click here for more details about the Veitch Nurseries.

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Please contact me by email if you have spotted any errors in the details about the Veitch Nurseries or the plant collectors exploring for Veitch. I would also welcome any further information or references which help to fill any gaps in the above.

Links to other sites are for reference and further information.
No responsibility will be accepted for advice or views expressed by other organisations.

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Veitch Nurseries

Veitch is pronounced as if the 'eitch' part is in 'beach'.

Veitch Plants For Sale

Free postage and packing on all orders over £100.
Please note that ALL plants are only despatched within the UK.

For a list of Caradoc's plants for sale, which includes some rare and unusual plants, please click here.

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Jacket for Hortus Veitchii, scanned from an original, rare, surviving cover.

Stockists of the Centenary Reprint

• Click here to find the stockists of the centenary reprint

Download some page samples from the reprint here.

• Download Hortus Veitchii Contents Page.pdf

• Download Hortus Veitchii Family Tree Page.pdf

• Download Hortus Veitchii List of Illustrations Page.pdf

• Download Hortus Veitchii List of References Page.pdf