Luther Burbank
American botanist who developed over 800 plant varieties.
Luther Burbank (March 7, 1849 – April 11, 1926) was an American botanist, horticulturist, and pioneer in agricultural science who developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 55-year career. He primarily worked with fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables, and his creations include the Shasta daisy, the plumcot, and the russet Burbank potato, which became the world's predominant potato in food processing.
- born
- March 7, 1849
- died
- April 11, 1926
- field
- Botany, horticulture, agricultural science
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Developing over 800 plant strains and varieties, including the russet Burbank potato and Shasta daisy
Lore & Background
Born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, Burbank grew up on a farm and received only a high school education. The thirteenth of fifteen children, he used his inheritance from his father's estate to buy a 17-acre plot in Lunenburg, where he developed the Burbank potato. There, he purchased a 4-acre plot and established a greenhouse, nursery, and experimental fields, inspired by Charles Darwin's work. Burbank became known through his plant catalogs, most famously 1893's "New Creations in Fruits and Flowers," and through word of mouth and press reports. offered Burbank $9,000 for the right to pick three of his new fruits, and Burbank credited the Stark family with making his work profitable. Burbank died on April 11, 1926, from a heart attack. Before his death, his will directed that his business and customer list be sold to Stark Bro's after his death, though he left everything to his wife Elizabeth. She later sold the business name and customer information to Stark Bro's, and the company introduced many of Burbank's unmarketed varieties.
Reader's Guide
Luther Burbank's significance lies in his prolific development of over 800 plant strains and varieties, which had lasting impacts on agriculture and horticulture. His russet Burbank potato, a natural variant of his earlier Burbank potato, became the most widely cultivated potato in the United States and is used extensively in food processing, including by McDonald's for french fries. Burbank also developed the Shasta daisy, the plumcot, and a spineless cactus for cattle-feed, among many other fruits, flowers, and vegetables. After his death, his wife Elizabeth worked with Stark Bro's to patent 16 of his fruits and flowers, with Burbank listed as inventor. The gardens today feature a thornless rose, spineless cactus, rainbow corn, and a hybrid mulberry tree.
Did You Know?
- The russet Burbank potato, a natural sport of the Burbank potato, is the most widely cultivated potato in the United States and is used for McDonald's french fries.
- Burbank developed a spineless cactus useful for cattle-feed through selective breeding.
- After his death, his wife Elizabeth sold the business name and customer information to Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Luther Burbank?
Luther Burbank was an American botanist and horticulturist who devoted more than five decades to breeding new plant varieties. He is widely regarded as a founding figure in modern agricultural science.
What are Luther Burbank's most famous plant creations?
He is best known for producing the Shasta daisy, the plumcot, and the russet Burbank potato. The russet Burbank potato in particular went on to become the dominant variety used in global food processing.
How many plant varieties did Luther Burbank develop?
Across his roughly 55-year career, Burbank successfully created over 800 distinct strains and varieties of plants. His work covered fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables.
Why is Luther Burbank important in the history of botany?
He is credited with demonstrating that systematic cross-breeding could reliably yield commercially vital new cultivars on a massive scale. His output essentially laid the groundwork for modern plant-breeding programs in agriculture.
When was Luther Burbank born and when did he die?
He was born on March 7, 1849, and died on April 11, 1926. His active period of plant development spanned approximately 55 years.
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