IPPS SR 45th Annual Meeting Speaker Profile: Kim Shearer
Kim Shearer
Tree and Shrub Breeder, The Morton Arboretum
Program Details: Chicagoland Grows® Plants for the Future
In 1998, Brennan and Bachtell introduced the plant introduction program Chicagoland Grows® to IPPS at an Eastern Region meeting. Twenty-two years later, this program continues to persist and has introduced trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from The Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, and others. In this talk, Kim will review some of its successes and failures and provide a glimpse into the future of trees and shrubs.
Bio: Kim Shearer manages the Haerther Charitable Trust New Plant Development Program at The Morton Arboretum. In her role there, Kim develops breeding objectives and strategies for a diverse palette of trees and shrubs, conducts breeding research, and focuses on native plant exploration. In addition to breeding, Kim works with regional and national nursery industry leaders in brining Chicagoland Grows® plant selections to market.