About Barry

Barry Schlueter has spent a lifetime studying, hybridizing and growing every manner of plant material. He has published more than 500 articles about horticulture, and his background includes years as a technical writer for NASA. He inherited his love of gardening from his father, Al Schlueter, for whom he named a stunning Hibiscus bloom. Barry retired from the Clear Creek Independent School District in 2000 after 30 years of teaching science to gifted students.

A master hybridizer of new flowering plants, Barry has more than 100 Hibiscus cultivars in commerce, with thousands more under evaluation. Several of his cultivars have been evaluated for consideration for American Hibiscus Society Hibiscus of the Year, with Double Date winning this coveted title in 1999. And in 2002 his Atlantis was the winner. Barry's Climax won Hibiscus of the Year honors in June of 2006. For 2007, his Susan Schlueter, named for wife Susan, is doing very well in the competition for this honor. Another of Barry's cultivars, Remembrance, is being used for fundraising around the world. He holds patents for about fifteen of his exotic Hibiscus at this writing, with many more to come.

Several years ago Barry was chosen by Hines Horticulture to breed their new exotic hibiscus. At present his creations are being sold in nearly every state except Florida, under the banner of Bahama Bay Hibiscus. To find a dealer near you that sells Bahama Bay Hibiscus, click here.

Schlueter seedlings not selected by Hines Horticulture may then be sold by other growers like Matt Martindale.

Barry is a past president of the Houston Rose Society, and still contributes articles to its newsletter The Rosette. He is also the editor of the Tropical Hibiscus Handbook, available from the American Hibiscus Society.

-- from the introduction of the Tropical Hibiscus Handbook