Charles Rudolph Boysen (July 14, 1895 – November 25, 1950) was a California
horticulturist
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
who created the
boysenberry
The boysenberry is a cross between the European raspberry ('' Rubus idaeus''), European blackberry (''Rubus fruticosus''), American dewberry ('' Rubus aboriginum''), and loganberry (''Rubus'' × ''loganobaccus'').
It is a large aggregate fr ...
, a hybrid between several varieties of
blackberries,
raspberries, and
loganberries.
Boysenberry
Rudolph Boysen had experimented with various berry crosses in
Napa, California
Napa is the largest city and county seat of Napa County and a principal city of Wine Country in Northern California. Located in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, the city had a population of 77,480 as of the end of 2021. Napa is a major ...
, during the 1920s. When Boysen first moved to
Orange County, he brought berry vines with him which he planted on his in-law’s farm in Anaheim. Boysen worked as
Anaheim
Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-mos ...
City Parks superintendent from 1921 to 1950. In 1923, his hybrid grafted successfully and grew to bear fruit. However, unable to make his new berry a commercial success, Boysen abandoned his crop after breaking his back in an accident. In 1927, he took specimens to Coolidge Rare Plant Nursery in Altadena. Years later, a fellow grower named
Walter Knott heard about the berry and tracked down Boysen. Knott was able to bring a few dying vines back to life at his farm, now known as
Knott's Berry Farm in
Buena Park, California
Buena Park (''Buena'', Spanish for "Good") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census its population was 84,034. It is the location of several tourist attractions, namely Knott's Berry Farm. It is about 12 m ...
. He named the fruit after Boysen.
Biography
In 1930, Charles Rudolph Boysen was married to Margaret Bruton (1892-1970). They were the parents of Robert Matt Boysen (1924-1980).
Legacy
Boysenberry Lane in
Placentia, California, and Boysen Avenue in
Anaheim, California
Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...
, are both named for Rudolph Boysen. Boysen Park, a public park in Anaheim, was named in his honor. It features playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a large lawn, and a stucco-coated
Grumman F9F-6P Cougar as a children's climbing toy. The Anaheim Tennis Center is located adjacent to Boysen Park, located at 951 S. State College Blvd. A garden of desert plants collected by Boysen during several trips to the deserts of southern California, Arizona, and Mexico are showcased at Pearson Park in Anaheim. Rudolph Boysen died at the age of 55, and is interred at the Melrose Abbey Cemetery in Anaheim.
How Orange County's places got their tags
(Orange County Register. January 25, 2007)
References
External links
Google link for Boysen ParkCharles Rudolph Boysen, Anaheim Superintendent of Parks
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boysen, Rudolph
American horticulturists
1895 births
1950 deaths
American people of Danish descent
People from Anaheim, California