Yoshiike in Yosemite
unknown year 1
Hiroshi "Kan" Yoshiike (1858 - 1930s) was the pioneer of chrysanthemum floriculture in California. Living With Flowers: The California Flower Market History calls him the "father of chrysanthemum floriculture" and says he was the first Japanese in America to commercially raise chrysanthemums.
Yoshiike was born in Nagano Prefecture in Japan in 1858. He came to the U.S. in 1882 for post-graduate studies. 1
From c.1888-1891, his nursery was at 1064 - 22nd St. at Linden. By 1892, he had moved to the corner of 16th and Willow.
1895 2
The Domoto Brothers followed his research and began raising chrysanthemums, too. 3
After the 1906 earthquake, Yoshiike quit the flower business to invest in real estate in San Francisco. He later returned to Japan, where he died in the early 1930s. 1
Links and References
- Living With Flowers: The California Flower Market History Gary Kawaguchi California Flower Market, Inc. 1993
- A Descriptive List of Chrysanthemum Novelties and Standard Varieties for 1895 H. Yoshiike
- Japanese Festival of the Chrysanthemum To Be Staged Here Redwood City Times Gazette May 8, 1931
