Plants native in China have been produced and utilized all over the world. There are the good (like kiwi), the bad (like Chinese privet) and many, many more. This presentation will look at how these plants have impacted horticulture and landscapes everywhere.
Dr. Mengmeng Gu currently serves as the Director of the Campus Extension Program at Colorado State University, following a three-year tenure as Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Prior to her roles at CSU, she built a distinguished career as an Extension Specialist and Professor of Horticulture at both Mississippi State University and Texas A&M University System.
As Director of the Campus Extension Program and former department head, Dr. Gu is deeply committed to fostering a more inclusive, innovative, and vibrant academic environment. She actively engages internal and external stakeholders through open dialogue, ensuring their insights and experiences are valued and integrated into program development.
Dr. Gu’s research and extension efforts have focused on addressing critical challenges in the green industry, including Japanese beetle management, development of alternative potting substrates, sensor-controlled nursery irrigation, and control of crapemyrtle bark scale. Her work has been supported by over $6 million in funding from industry partners as well as state and federal agencies. She has disseminated her findings through more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous trade and extension publications. She has spoken to many national and international events, such as Cultivate and International Plant Propagators’ Society (IPPS) Conference.
Dr. Gu is a highly regarded member of both the academic and professional horticultural communities. She has made significant contributions to leading organizations, including American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), International Society for Horticultural Science, and IPPS. Her leadership roles include serving as Vice President of ASHS’s International Division, and in recognition of her impact, she was named an ASHS Fellow in 2022. She will graduate soon as a fellow from the Food System Leadership Institute.
Passionate about mentoring future leaders in horticulture, she takes great pride in the achievements of her graduate students—four of whom have gone on to secure faculty positions. Deep down, she is a certified Plant Geek.
