Francis J. LeClair was born in Belgium, but later emigrated to the United States. Working in many nurseries across the nation, LeClair developed his horticulture and botany skills. Later, after finding employment with the United States Government, LeClair traveled to North Carolina. During his time in North Carolina, LeClair resided on his farm in the Oakland Township outside of Pittsboro, located now is called Holly Ridge Road. LeClair also worked for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at one point being promoted to the university’s landscape architect. LeClair not only created many natural settings at the university including the Morehead Planetarium’s Rose Garden but also developed new variations of hollies such as the “Pearle LeClair,” named after his wife.