Biography

English cotton-broker and seedsman from Liverpool who founded the plant nursery and seed suppliers of Ness Nurseries of A. Bee & Co., later known as Bees Ltd. The company originally occupied part of Bulley's garden at Neston but later moved to Sealand (1911). Bulley was one of the most important twentieth-century patrons of plant collecting and engaged G. Forrest, F. Kingdon-Ward, R.E. Cooper and W. Siehe to collect live material from Asia, much of which was grown in his own garden. In 1921 he caused a major controversy when he tried to introduce plant species from Tibet and China to Snowdonia. With his death in 1942 and neglect from the years of the Second World War, the gardens fell into decline but were subsequently endowed as the Botanic Garden of Liverpool University (1948-), later being known as 'Ness Botanic Gardens'. The genus Bulleya Schltr. was named in his honour.