Henry Marshall was born and raised on a farmstead in Miami, Manitoba where he developed an early love of native plants. As a young man, he served in WW2 in England, where he received his only formal training in horticulture while waiting to be shipped home. Upon his return to Canada after the war, Marshall was hired as a gardener at the Brandon Research Centre. Keen for knowledge, he borrowed books from the centre, learning all he could about botany, genetics, and statistics. Although he was not a researcher at the centre, Marshall began breeding on his own by crossing hardy native species such as heuchera, monarda and roses. Rose lovers will know his plants: Marshall was crossed the native Rosa arkansana with showy floribunda roses and originated the famous Parkland rose series, one of the first truly hardy Canadian roses. Pictured is Rosa 'Assiniboine'.
Marshall developed more than 35 new cultivars of vegetables, trees, and ornamentals during his career. A keen observer plants native to Manitoba, he wrote The Pembina Hills Flora in 1989. Marshall was bestowed an honorary doctorate from Brandon University and inducted in the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Marshall developed more than 35 new cultivars of vegetables, trees, and ornamentals during his career. A keen observer plants native to Manitoba, he wrote The Pembina Hills Flora in 1989. Marshall was bestowed an honorary doctorate from Brandon University and inducted in the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.