Allan M. Armitage

2006 D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching

Department: Horticulture

Allan M. Armitage is well known throughout the world as a writer, speaker and researcher. He has evaluated garden plants in Montreal, Quebec; East Lansing, Mich.; and now in Athens, Ga. He holds his bachelor's of science from MacDonald College, Quebec; master's of science from University of Guelph, Ontario; and his doctorate from Michigan State University.

A prolific and well-respected writer, Dr. Armitage has written over 350 articles and journal papers as well as a monthly column for Greenhouse Grower Magazine in which he discusses new crops and new trends. The author of 11 books, he is best known for his classroom and reference text, "Herbaceous Garden Perennials, a Treatise of Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes." In 2005, he was nominated for Georgia author of the year for "Armitage's Specialty Annuals."

As a teacher and speaker, Dr. Armitage has lectured in Canada, United States, Colombia, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. He teaches courses in greenhouse production, greenhouse crop management and herbaceous plant identification and use; and he has received numerous teaching, writing and research awards.

He is presently seen weekly on Smart Gardening TV and also serves as a guest correspondent for the Victory Garden television series. He also served as an adviser for the Garden Book Club of America and has consulted for Scholastic Books.

Dr. Armitage's research is multi-faceted. His long interest in new crops for the garden, greenhouse and field has taken him to gardens all over the world. His New Crop Program has resulted in numerous introductions to the ornamental trade. Lately, his research focuses on the use of woody shrubs for the greenhouse and retail industry.

His research on commercial cut flower production led to the development of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. The organization established a special award, the Allan Armitage Leadership Award, to be awarded to the individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the specialty cut flower industry.

In January 2001, Dr. Armitage was the only living person chosen among the top 10 Spheres of Influence in the floriculture business by his colleagues. In 2001, he was presented with the UGA Alumni Award, and in 2002 he was presented with UGA's Best Teacher Award.

Dr. Armitage is also in charge of UGA's Horticulture Gardens, which is supported by growers and seed breeders around the world.

He has also worked on numerous CD-ROMs and in 2006 launched a website, www.allanarmitage.net, for people in need of plant images for websites, catalogs or labels.