Cecil F Patterson

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
1892-1961

Hired by the University of Saskatchewan to set up the Department of Horticulture at the University and he remained there for nearly 40 years where he juggled the roles of administrator, teacher and research scientist.

He was also an author. Owner of Riverside Gardens. Carried on active lily breeding program from 1934 – 1952. Contribution in other plant fields were also significant and internationally known (i.e. apples, plums, pears, cherries, gladioli, vegetables and other small fruit). Stated goal was to develop pink and white lilies hardy to the prairies (in the Asiatic group). Began with a few Stenographer lilies and Species.

Was interested in creating tetraploid lilies with the use of colchicine to induce doubling of chromosomes from 24 to 48. Many of his lilies turned out to be aneuploid (odd number of chromosomes) which produced attractive lilies but rendered them infertile.

 

 

Was a charter member of:

  1. Agricultural Institute of Canada
  2. American Society for the Advancement of Science, fellow 1940
  3. Inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1973
  4. E.H. Wilson Award NALS posthumously in 1999.

He held honorary life memberships in:

  1. The Western Canadian Society for Horticulture
  2. The Saskatchewan Horticultural Societies Association

The Canadian Prairie Lily Society grants the C.F. Patterson Award yearly for the best downfacing Asiatic hybrid.

ln the book, “Lilies: A Guide for Growers and Collectors”, Ed McRae called Dr. Patterson’s cross of L. davidii var. willmottiae x L. cernuum one of the most important contributions to hardy lily breeding on the Canadian prairies.

He is credited with the first cross of L. cernuum with other Asiatic species.

Patterson Gardens, a tree and shrub collection at the University of Saskatchewan was named to honor Dr. Patterson.

Excerpted from “Canadian Lily Hybridizers and Their Lilies – A Working Garden Reference” by Leanne Dowd
Photo courtesy of the University of Saskatchewan