ABOUT
About / Vision Statement for Garden District
The Garden District Collection is redefining excellence in ornamental plants by introducing a new standard of beauty and resilience. We combine groundbreaking plant genetics with unmatched growth characteristics and pest resistance to inspire and elevate landscapes everywhere. Our dedication to quality ensures that each plant is not only visually captivating but also crafted for enduring success, giving our customers a superior plant that will thrive and stand out in any setting.
Dr. Michael Dirr
Dr. Michael A. Dirr is a renowned American horticulturist and professor emeritus at the University of Georgia, celebrated for his expertise in woody plants. With academic roots in Plant Physiology—holding a B.S. and M.S. from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1972)—he has left an indelible mark on horticulture through teaching, writing, and plant breeding.
Over his career, Dirr helmed the Georgia Plant Introduction Program, successfully introducing more than 40 new cultivars to the nursery trade. He has authored over 300 publications and seven books, including the iconic Manual of Woody Landscape Plants—a mainstay reference in horticulture and landscape architecture education—and Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs
Beyond his literary contributions, Dr. Dirr has championed practical plant innovation. He’s been central to propagating and introducing a wide array of commercially valuable cultivars—from Bignonia capreolata ‘Jekyll’ and Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’ to cultivars of Ulmus parvifolia and Viburnum bracteatum.
In recent years, Dr. Dirr has actively advanced plant genetics research through his work with Plant Introductions, Inc. His efforts span the controlled breeding of numerous genera—such as Abelia, Buddleia, Hydrangea, Chamaecyparis, Clethra, Osmanthus, Lagerstroemia, Cephalotaxus, and Itea—all aimed at developing garden-worthy cultivars with improved traits.