PanAmerican Seed commemorates 75 years in the industry with a look back at decades of accomplishments and a vision to the 

future filled with more amazing discoveries.

WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, January 2022: This year, PanAmerican Seed®

reaches its diamond anniversary in the horticulture industry. 

The company celebrates 75 years spanning decades of innovations and firsts in the world of seed through dedication and long-term, 

solutions-driven teamwork. Throughout 2022, to mark such a momentous occasion, PanAmerican Seed will share a historical look 

back through a video timeline, as well as share memories through blogs and social media posts of several groundbreaking product 

introductions and other milestones developed by the company and its plant breeders over the years.

“Reaching our 75th Anniversary is truly a team effort and one that wouldn’t be possible without our customers and colleagues,” says 

Anne Leventry, President of PanAmerican Seed. “So often we focus on the future and the next big accomplishment that it feels quite 

rewarding to take a moment to look back at all that’s come before and the impact it’s had on the industry. We’re thrilled to celebrate 

our past and take this company into the next age of seed development.”

• PanAmerican Seed Co. began in 1946 in Paonia, Colo., USA, as an idea of industry pioneers Claude Hope, Bob Holley and 

Charlie Weddle. Double Petunias, Begonias, and Snapdragons starred in the initial assortment; the Costa Rica production 

facility broke ground in the 1950s.

• The company joins Ball Horticultural Company in 1962; by 1969, the introduction of the Elfin Impatiens forever changes 

bedding plant sales across the globe. The series is improved in 1980 with Super Elfin® – the best-selling impatiens in their 

class.

• The PanAmerican Seed Elburn, Ill., USA, facility opened, and development continued through the 1970s and 1980s.

• More revolutionary plants emerged in the 1990s, such as award-winning Wave® Petunias and Dragon Wing® Begonias.

• In the early 2000s, Waller genetics brought Sorbet® Violas and Pacifica Vincas into the assortment; the Kieft Seed™ 

acquisition in 2009 expanded the perennial category.

• The introduction of the HandPicked Vegetables® Collection in 2015 amplified efforts to sell vegetables and herbs for both 

home garden and fresh market growers.

• Beacon®

Impatiens launched and brought disease resistant I. walleriana back to shade gardens worldwide in 2019.

• In 2021, the Artisan™ Collection of Echinacea becomes the first F1 hybrid seed Echinacea of individual colors, further

diversifying PanAmerican Seed’s innovative portfolio in perennials and seed technologies.

Visit www.PanAmSeed.com and watch the video for the full walk down memory lane and to explore the products and milestones that 

have left their mark along 75 years of innovation.