Victorian Plant Collectors

Prominent Plant Collectors of the Victorian Era (Global)

These individuals were among the most famous "plant hunters" of the era, introducing thousands of species to European gardens, many of which are still common today. 

• Robert Fortune (1812–1880): A Scottish botanist who was perhaps the most successful plant hunter, known for his expeditions to China and the introduction of tea plants to India, as well as plants like the Chinese windmill palm and star jasmine.

• Ernest Henry "Chinese" Wilson (1874–1932): Though his main expeditions began at the very end of the Victorian era (1899), he is one of the most well-known plant hunters, credited with introducing over 1,000 Asian plant species to the West, including the dove tree (Davidia involucrata).

• Marianne North (1830–1890): A remarkable and wealthy Victorian artist and traveler who documented over 900 plant species with her paintings during solo travels around the world. Her detailed botanical records are housed at Kew Gardens.

• David Douglas (1799–1834): Known for the Douglas fir, he was an explorer and adventurer who collected extensively in North America, facing many perils.

• William Lobb (1814–1864): A collector for the Veitch nursery, he introduced several species from South America, including the Chilean lantern tree and Chilean myrtle.