Dr Wilbert G Ronald

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.

First interest in lilies dates back to 1968 when he joined the staff of the Morden Research Station in Manitoba. In 1974, after studies at the University of Minnesota, he returned to the research station to work as a research scientist. He had trained in embryo rescue, pollen compatibilities and had gained a wide knowledge of lily species and their relationships. He excelled in the areas of tree, shrub and lily research.

He was quick to notice a lack of innovative interspecific hybridization in lilies. He used pollen tube studies and embryo culture as a basis for future success with breeding of interspecific crosses. Research scientist for Agriculture Canada at Morden Research Station, Morden, Manitoba till 1982 when he went into the nursery business, becoming the owner of Jeffries Nursery east of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, a family business.

Did much work collaboratively with Lynn Collicutt at Morden Research Station. His objectives included development of fertile hybrids of longiflorurn x aurelian hybrids, Asiatic x aurelian hybrids, aurelian x oriental hybrids and hybrids using ‘Black Beauty’. He had specific hybridizing goals for each of these groups of crosses. Developed the first crosses of oriental/trumpet and longiflorum/trumpet lilies to be prairie hardy.

Author of “Trees for Northern Landscapes” in conjunction with his son Phillip. In addition, he has published more than 20 research papers and more than 100 miscellaneous publications, presented numerous trade and public talks, both as a researcher and business owner. A true pioneer in the hybridization of OTs and Asiapets in Canada.

Awards and Recognition:

  1. Received the Earl N. Hornback Award 1977 for a deep wine-coloured cross between ‘June Fragrance’ (C. Robinson’s L. candidum var. salonikae x L.monadelphurn) x Asiatic hybrid. He repeated the Earl N. Hornback Award in 1979 for ‘Starburst Sensation; an aurelian ‘Damson’ x L. speciosurn var. rubrum hybrid
  2. Received the Stevenson Commemorative Award from the Manitoba Horticultural Association in 2002 (honors a person who has achieved a career and lifetime of excellence in the field of practical horticulture. A.P. Stevenson was a pioneer who dedicated his life to the development of better fruit varieties for the Prairies. His work in the Morden, Manitoba area led to the government’s establishment of the Morden Research Station in 1915)
  3. Specifically, he was recognized for his contributions in plant breeding, selection of new plant introductions, propagation research, involvement in associations such as the NALS, and his role in providing leadership in the horticulture and nursery industry
  4. Received the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) Norman J. Coleman Award for noteworthy contributions to nursery industry research in the areas of trees, shrubs and lilies, 2003
  5. Recipient of Slate MacDaniels Award NALS 2000 and E.H. Wilson Award NALS 2005
  6. Prairie Garden Award for Excellence (in horticulture on the Northern Great Plains) 2006
  7. Founding member and first president of Manitoba Regional Lily Society, 1984
  8. NALS President 1992, 1993. Accredited NALS judge. Did much work at the NALS level strengthening the NALS Research Trust Fund
  9. He received the Wodarz Award from the North Dakota State Horticultural Society in 2004

Has also held past-President seats in the Western Nursery Growers Group and the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation.

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