Dr. Brian Whipker, Professor of Floriculture at NC State University
Dr. Brian E. Whipker earned the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture and Agricultural Education, Agricultural Economics, and Horticulture, respectively. All four degrees were from Purdue University. Brian was a Regional Extension Specialist with Commercial Greenhouse and Vegetable crops in Northern Indiana from 1988 to 1991. He also was an Assistant Professor with responsibilities in floriculture at Iowa State University from 1995 to 1997.
In 1997, he became an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at North Carolina State University. His responsibilities are in Floriculture with an 80% Extension and 20% Research split. In 2002, he was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2007 to Full Professor. Research interests include the areas of plant nutrition, plant growth regulators, and diagnostics. He has published over 110 scientific articles. Extension interests include the development of problem solving guides for growers. Emphasis has been in the development of photographic guides and cultural manuals for problem solving. Photographic guides have been developed for Nutrient Disorders, Pansies, Poinsettias, Bedding Plants, Vegetative Annuals, and Fall Crops (Garden Mums, Asters, and Ornamental Kale). Manuals have been developed on PourThru Monitoring, Plant Root Zone Management, Poinsettias, Pansies, and Outdoor Cut Flowers.
He has received the Outstanding Extension Publication Award from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences three times (for the Pansy Manual, Plant Root Zone Management Manual, and Nutrient Disorder Photocards), the ASHS Outstanding Extension Specialist Award American Society of Horticultural Sciences (2019), and Society of Alex Laurie - American Florist Outstanding Career Award (2017).
Horticultural Science Department
Since 1901, the faculty, staff and students of the Department of Horticultural Science have been providing innovative teaching, research and outreach to the citizens of North Carolina, the nation, and the world. Our research and extension programs are recognized worldwide for their contributions to applied horticultural production and to discovery science. We generate and extend knowledge about fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and landscape design for the purpose of increasing food security and food safety, sustaining the environment, enhancing economic vitality, and improving the quality of life for individuals and their communities.
