About

Neil Anderson is the Department Head, a Full Professor and J. William Fulbright Scholar, directing the Herbaceous Ornamental Breeding Program for the University of Minnesota. His administrative duties include research, teaching, and extension arenas. Dr. Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in plant reproductive biology, invasive species biology, geophytes, rapid generation cycling crops, tissue culture, molecular biology, plant breeding and genetics. His program releases many commercial cultivars with Intellectual Property (IP) filings around the world; he is also an expert in IP. Two of his crops were bred and developed into rapid generation cycling geophytes (flowering <1 year from seed). Dr. Anderson is also a recognized plant explorer, having collected wild species of ornamental interest across the globe. His research focus is primarily on breeding winter-hardy herbaceous perennials for ornamental value as well as green pesticides (pyrethrum, sabadilla); complementary research / outreach includes hydroponics, aquaponics, controlled environments, and preventing invasiveness of ornamental crops during domestication. His research and expertise in controlled environmental agriculture complement outreach activities across Minnesota in the Research and Outreach Centers. Dr. Anderson leads a large team of research scientists, graduate and undergraduate students. He teaches a wide range of online and live horticulture classes in Aquaponics, Floral Design, Greenhouse Crop Scheduling and Spring Flowering Bulbs. He has been the Major Coordinator for the Plant Science Major and now directs the Horticulture Minor.