Robert Fortune
In later journeys he visited Formosa (now called Taiwan) and Japan, and described the culture of the silkworm and the growing of rice. He introduced many trees, shrubs and flowers to the West, including the cumquat, a climbing double yellow rose ('Fortune's Double Yellow' (syn. Gold of Ophir) which proved a failure in England's climate) and many varieties of tree peonies, azaleas and chrysanthemums. A climbing white rose that he brought back from China in 1850 was named R. fortuniana (syn. R. fortuneana) in his honor. This rose also proved a failure in England, preferring warmer climates.  Today both of these roses are still widely grown by antique rose fanciers in mild winter regions.  R. fortuniana is also  a valuable rootstock in Australia and the southern regions of the United States.