Oscar Ronalds
Oscar Ronalds on a trip to London in 1926 viewing the bust of Sir Francis Ronalds at Kelmscott House Museum
Alfred Ronalds' grandson Oscar Ronalds (1873-1955) established a very successful farm at Jindivick, in Gippsland, and some of his descendants still live there. His other interests included fishing, family history and, particularly, horticulture.
He has been described as "one of the greatest Daffodil breeders who ever lived". His new pink daffodil called Mrs Oscar Ronalds "created a sensation among the judges" when it debuted at the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria show in 1946 and his golden trumpets were also revered. He won the society's coveted Boyce Perpetual Challenge Cup several times. Fourteen years after his death, the Victorian Daffodil Society established the Oscar Ronalds Perpetual Memorial Trophy and it is still awarded today. Many of the daffodil hybrids Oscar raised and named, and also a number of his new lilies, are listed in the British Royal Horticultural Society's registers.
Further Information
Article on Oscar's yellow trumpet daffodils
- published by the American Daffodil Society in 1984
Ronalds Nurserymen in Brentford and Beyond (2017)
- published by the Gardens Trust