Lawrie Metcalf

Lawrence James Metcalf (1928–2017) was a New Zealand horticulturalist, botanist, conservationist and author of gardening and plant identification books.[1] Metcalf popularized and advocated for the planting of native or indigenous plant species in both public and private gardens and pioneered their propagation techniques (horticulture).[2][3] In 1991 the British Royal Horticultural Society recognized his work on the cultivation of New Zealand's native plants, with the Gold Veitch Memorial Medal.[4]

Lawrie Metcalf
Lawrie Metcalf
Lawrie Metcalf
Born18 August 1928
Died18 August 2017 (aged 89)
OccupationHorticulturalist and botanist
NationalityNew Zealand
CitizenshipNew Zealand
GenreGardening and plant guides
SubjectNative and introduced plants in New Zealand. Hebes
Notable worksThe Cultivation of New Zealand Trees and Shrubs Hebes: A Guide to Species, Hybrids and Allied Genera
Notable awardsCompanion of the Queen's Service Order
RelativesDaughter: Victoria Metcalf

Professional work

Metcalf was a global authority on the ''Hebe'' (plant) genus, indigenous to New Zealand, [5] and planted widely around the world in public gardens with temperate climates[6][7][8][9]

The Lawrie Metcalf Herbarium in Christchurch Botanic Garden
The Lawrie Metcalf Herbarium in Christchurch Botanic Garden

As the Assistant Curator (later Assistant Director) of Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Metcalf founded and expanded its International Seed Exchange programme.[10][11]

After more than 20 years at Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Metcalf became the Director of Parks and Recreation at the Invercargill City Council until his retirement in 1992.[4] During his retirement Metcalf wrote many popular books on identifying New Zealand plants, and on native plant propagation and gardening,.[4][12][13]

Pressed Griselinia littoralis specimen collected by Lawrie Metcalf in Christchurch Botanic Garden Herbarium
Pressed Griselinia littoralis specimen collected by Lawrie Metcalf in Christchurch Botanic Garden Herbarium

In 2017, the Herbarium at Christchurch Botanic Gardens was named in his honour.[14] It contains many dried plant specimens collected by Metcalf during his time as Assistant Curator and Assistant Director.

Awards
  • 1975: Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Park and Recreation Administration.
  • 1978: The Loder Cup, presented to “encourage and honour New Zealanders who work to investigate, promote, retain and cherish our indigenous flora”.
  • 1988: Associate on Honour (AHRIH) of the RNZIH.[15]
  • 1988: Ian Galloway Outstanding Achievement Award, which “Recognizes outstanding contribution in the Parks, Amenity Horticulture and Open space”.
  • 1991: Gold Veitch Memorial Medal, the highest honour from the Royal Horticultural Society to people outside the United Kingdom.
  • 1999: Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects,
  • 2010: Appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO)
  • 2017: The Christchurch Botanic Gardens Herbarium was officially renamed the “Lawrie Metcalf Herbarium”.[10]


Bibliography
  • Barnett, M. J., Gilpin, H. G. and Metcalf, L. J. Editors (1963) A Garden Century: the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, 1863–1963. Christchurch: Christchurch City Council.[16]
  • Metcalf, L. J. (1972) The Cultivation of New Zealand Trees and Shrubs. Wellington, New Zealand: A. H. & A. W. Reed.[17]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (1993) The Cultivation of New Zealand Plants. Auckland, New Zealand: Godwit Press.[18]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (1995) The Propagation of New Zealand Native Plants. Auckland, New Zealand: Godwit Press.[19]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (1998) The Cultivation of New Zealand Native Grasses. Auckland, New Zealand: Godwit Press.[20]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2002) A Photographic Guide to Trees of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: New Holland Publishers.[21]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2003) A Photographic Guide to Ferns of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: New Holland Publishers.[22]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2006) Hebes: a guide to species, hybrids and allied genera. Portland, Oregon, USA: Timber Press.[5]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2006) Know Your New Zealand Trees. Auckland, New Zealand: New Holland Publishers.[23]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2006) A Photographic Guide to Alpine Plants of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: New Holland Publishers.[24]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2007) The Propagation of New Zealand Native Plants (revised). New Zealand: Random House.[12]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2008) The Cultivation of New Zealand Native Grasses (revised). Auckland, New Zealand: Godwit Press.[13]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2009) Know Your New Zealand Native Plants. Auckland, New Zealand: New Holland Publishers.[25]
  • Metcalf, L. J. (2011) The Cultivation of New Zealand Trees and Shrubs (revised and updated edition). Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand: Raupo, Penguin Group.[4]
  • Metcalf, Lawrie and Edwards, Roy. (2014) New Zealand Native Ground Cover Plants: a practical guide for gardeners and landscapers. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.[26]

References
  1. Dawson, Murray (December 2017). "Obituary – Lawrence James Metcalf QSO AHRIH (18 August 1928 – 18 August 2017)" (PDF). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter. 130: 16–20.
  2. "Life story: Horticulturalist Lawrie Metcalf popularised native plants". Stuff. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  3. "Life story: Remembering Lawrie Metcalf – Plantsman". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  4. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928– (2011). The cultivation of New Zealand trees and shrubs (Rev. and updated ed.). Auckland, N.Z.: Raupo. ISBN 978-0-14-356561-1. OCLC 753700257.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2006). Hebes : a guide to species, hybrids, and allied genera. Portland, Or.: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-773-3. OCLC 62430764.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Eaton, Joe; Sullivan, Ron (18 November 2012). "The Dirt: New Zealand's strange flora". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. Hebe Society. "Information about Public Gardens with Hebe collections". www.hebesoc.org. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  8. "Pacific Horticulture | Late Season Hebes for Northwest Gardens". Pacific Horticulture. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  9. Pennell, Francis W. (1921). ""Veronica" in North and South America". Rhodora_(journal). 23 (265): 1–22. JSTOR 23297887 – via JSTOR.
  10. "Obituary- Lawrence James Metcalf QSO, AHRIH". Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  11. EPIC. "The International Plant Exchange Network". Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  12. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2007). The propagation of New Zealand native plants (Rev. ed.). Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1-86962-131-5. OCLC 174092440.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928– (2008). The cultivation of New Zealand native grasses (Rev. ed.). Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN 978-1-86962-148-3. OCLC 229141267.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. "Naming Botanic Gardens Herbarium the Lawrie Metcalf Herbarium | Christchurch City Council Streaming". councillive.ccc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  15. "RNZIH – AHRIH Award". www.rnzih.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  16. Morris, Matt (2006). A history of Christchurch home gardening from colonisation to the Queen's visit: gardening culture in a particular society and environment. hdl:10092/936. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  17. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (1972). The cultivation of New Zealand trees and shrubs. Wellington [N.Z.]: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-00631-2. OCLC 658447.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (1993). The cultivation of New Zealand plants. Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN 0-908877-23-4. OCLC 28439249.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (1995). The propagation of New Zealand native plants. Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN 0-908877-71-4. OCLC 34110077.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (1998). The cultivation of New Zealand native grasses. Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN 1-86962-023-2. OCLC 41712299.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2002). A photographic guide to trees of New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN 1-877246-57-3. OCLC 49043671.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2003). A photographic guide to ferns of New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN 1-877246-94-8. OCLC 53001284.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2006). Know your New Zealand-- trees. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN 978-1-86966-098-7. OCLC 144595167.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2006). A photographic guide to alpine plants of New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN 978-1-86966-128-1. OCLC 166311371.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928- (2009). Know your New Zealand-- native plants. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN 978-1-86966-205-9. OCLC 319210848.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. Metcalf, L. J. (Lawrence James), 1928– (March 2015). New Zealand native ground cover plants : a practical guide for gardeners and landscapers. Edwards, Roy, 1950–. Christchurch, New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-927145-61-6. OCLC 899248045.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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