Veitch Nurseries, primarily through the London-based
James Veitch & Sons, was the most influential commercial plant nursery in the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their role in global plant collection was defined by funding high-risk, private expeditions that fundamentally transformed the diversity of British and European gardens.
Key Contributions to Plant Collection
Massive Species Introduction: By 1914, the firm was responsible for introducing 1,281 previously unknown or newly bred plants to Britain. This included 498 greenhouse plants, 232 orchids, and 153 deciduous trees and shrubs.
Pioneering Commercial Expeditions: James Veitch was the first nurseryman to recognize the commercial value of funding his own "plant hunters" rather than relying on government-funded botanical gardens like Kew.
Establishing the Chelsea Flower Show: Sir Harry Veitch was instrumental in establishing the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at its current home in 1912.
Orchid Hybridization: The nursery produced the first official orchid hybrid, Calanthe x dominii, and introduced over 200 species of orchids to cultivation.
Famous Plant Hunters and Their Discoveries
Veitch employed 22 to 23 specialized collectors between 1840 and 1912 who braved extreme dangers, including disease, hostile terrain, and shipwrecks.
Plant Hunter
Region
Major Discoveries/Introductions
William Lobb
South & North America
Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana), Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum), and many Fuchsias.
Thomas Lobb
Asia (SE Asia, India)
Numerous tropical orchids (Vanda caerulea, Phalaenopsis amabilis) and Pitcher plants (Nepenthes).
Ernest Wilson
China
Handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum), and Regal Lily.
John Gould Veitch
Japan, South Seas
First to visit Japan; introduced Japanese Larch, Magnolia stellata, and Japanese Maples.
Richard Pearce
South America
Tuberous Begonias, including Begonia boliviensis, which pioneered modern hybrids.
Global Legacy
The nursery's history is recorded in the comprehensive volume Hortus Veitchii, published by James Herbert Veitch in 1906. While the London nursery ceased trading in 1914, their name remains visible in countless plant names ending in veitchii (e.g., Boston Ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii'). Today, much of the original Exeter nursery site forms part of the University of Exeter gardens