Isabella Preston | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1881 Lancaster, England |
| Died | January 31, 1965 (aged 83) Georgetown, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | Ontario Agricultural College |
| Known for | plant hybridization |
Isabella Preston (September 4, 1881 - January 31, 1965) was a horticulturist and public servant widely recognized for her achievements in plant hybridization and extensive work in ornamental plant breeding. She is Canada’s first female professional plant breeder.[1] During her 26-year career, she produced nearly 200 new hardy hybrids of lily, lilac, crab apple, iris and rose plants for Canada's cold climate. While female plant breeders were rather rare in her day, she quietly challenged gender bias and set the stage for new generations of breeding programs at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and elsewhere.