Harold Comber
Introduction
Harold Frederick Comber was a prominent English horticulturist and plant collector, particularly known for his expertise in the study of lilies (Lilium sp.). Born on December 31, 1897, in Nymans, Staplefield, Sussex, he grew up in a family deeply connected to horticulture; his father, James Comber, served as the Head Gardener at Nymans. Comber’s educational journey took him from Handcross Council School to Ardingly College, where he displayed remarkable observational skills despite not excelling academically. His early exposure to gardening and plant collection laid the foundation for a career that would see him contribute significantly to botany and horticulture throughout the 20th century.
Early Life and Education
As the eldest of three children, Harold was raised in an environment that fostered a love for nature and gardening. His father’s role as Head Gardener provided him with unique insights into plant care and cultivation from a young age. After attending Handcross Council School until the age of 12, he moved on to Ardingly College for two years. While his academic performance did not shine—he failed his Oxford Local examinations—his keen powers of observation and ability to remember intricate details about plants set him apart from his peers. These traits would become invaluable in his future endeavors as a botanist.
Career Beginnings
Upon leaving Ardingly College, Comber returned to work alongside his father at Nymans. During this time, he also visited notable gardens such as Leonardslee, where he caught the attention of Sir Edmund Loder. Loder’s recommendation led Comber to Henry Elwes at Colesbourne Park in Gloucestershire. At just 17 years old, Comber began making significant contributions to the field; he managed glasshouses and botanical collections due to the older staff being called up for military service during World War I. A knee injury prevented him from serving on the front lines, but he was redirected to work on national importance projects, specifically related to the production of Lewis guns.
Academic Pursuits and Plant-Hunting Expeditions
After World War I, Comber resumed his horticultural career by taking a position at Bletchingley Castle Gardens. His talents were recognized by Elwes and Loder, who sponsored him to study for a Diploma in Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. His academic performance there was outstanding—he achieved perfect scores in Cryptogam Botany and near-perfect scores in other subjects. This accomplishment facilitated his participation in two significant plant-hunting expeditions to the Andes between 1925 and 1927. Despite facing considerable hardships during these expeditions, Comber successfully collected seeds and herbarium specimens from over 1,200 species, including notable plants like Embothrium coccineum and Nothofagus antarctica.
Professional Growth and Contributions
Following his studies and explorations, Comber took on the role of head gardener for the McEacharn family at Galloway House until its sale in 1930. Later that year, he embarked on a plant-hunting expedition to Tasmania where he collected seeds from 147 different plants. After returning from Tasmania, he managed Burnham Lily Nursery in Buckinghamshire, which shifted focus to vegetable production during World War II. Post-war, Comber briefly worked at Exbury Gardens before joining R.H. Bath Ltd. at Wisbech.
In 1952, his expertise led him to address a Royal Horticultural Society lily meeting attended by Jan de Graaff from Oregon Bulb Farm. This meeting culminated in an offer for Comber to work as a lily hybridiser in Gresham, Oregon—a position he accepted enthusiastically. In Oregon, Comber excelled at developing new strains of lilies such as those in the Green Magic Group while also reorganizing record systems and enhancing production methods until his retirement in 1962.
Later Years and Legacy
Even after retiring, Comber remained actively engaged in botany; he contributed written works and catalogued native plants for the Native Plant Society of Oregon. In 1965, he traveled to Sabah in British North Borneo with his son James for three months of specimen collection for the Kew Herbarium; this trip also afforded him opportunities for fishing and hunting with local communities.
Personal Life
In March 1928, Harold Comber married Lilian Bertha Boughtwood (1894–1962). The couple had three children: their elder son James (1929–2005), who became an orchidologist affiliated with Kew; their second son Richard; and their daughter Mary Comber-Miles who served as a resident botanical artist at the University of British Columbia. Family life was intertwined with their shared passion for botany and horticulture.
Death and Eponymy
Harold Comber passed away on April 23, 1969, at the age of 72 in Gresham, Oregon. He was laid to rest at Cliffside Cemetery in Sandy. His contributions to botany have been commemorated through various plant namesakes including Solanaceae genus Combera and several cultivars named after him such as Escallonia × stricta ‘Harold Comber’ and Gaultheria leucocarpa ‘Harold Comber’. Additionally, the North American Lily Society honors aspiring growers with the Harold F. Comber Award for excellence in lily cultivation during its annual shows.
Conclusion
Harold Frederick Comber’s life represents a profound dedication to horticulture and botany that spanned several decades. From his formative years under the guidance of his father to his esteemed career as a plant collector and hybridiser, Comber demonstrated an unwavering commitment to understanding and enhancing plant species—especially lilies. His extensive travels and expeditions not only expanded botanical knowledge but also inspired future generations of horticulturists. Through his publications and awards named in his honor, Harold Comber’s legacy continues to thrive within the world of botany today.
Artykuł sporządzony na podstawie: Wikipedia (EN).