Brandon Miller

smiling person in front of tall bushes
Assistant Professor
he/him/his
[email protected]
254 Alderman Hall

1970 Folwell Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55108
United States

Education
  • Ph.D., Cornell University, Horticultural Biology, 2021
  • M.S., Iowa State University, Horticulture, 2017
  • B.S., Iowa State University, Agronomy and Horticulture, 2015

Areas of Interest

Underutilized plants; germplasm collection and evaluation; nursery production; landscape horticulture

Biography

Brandon Miller is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. His research program aims to solve production issues that limit the development of novel nursery crops, especially those of underutilized taxa with horticultural merit. His extension program is centered on education of landscape horticulture practices and supports the introduction and application of emerging nursery crop species and selections. Brandon works with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and uses plant exploration to seek out unique species and provenances of plants with desirable traits for horticulture.

Research

My research program aims to support the nursery and landscape industries through the development, production, and use of novel specialty perennial horticultural crops adapted to cultivation in northern climates. Projects are centered on the identification, assessment, and characterization of unique, underutilized species and selections of woody and herbaceous ornamental perennials tolerant of stressful landscape conditions, especially drought, high soil pH, and cold temperatures. Other goals of this program are to explore new and alternative practices, including harvest and post-harvest techniques to bolster tree transplant success, that solve production and planting issues currently limiting the application of desirable taxa.

Outreach

Using my research program and in collaboration with industry and academic partners, I aim to provide solutions to production barriers for novel crop development as well as emerging challenges facing managed landscapes. My extension programming supports education on landscape horticulture including plant identification, selection, installation, management, as well as site assessment.

Select Publications

  • Miller, B.M. and N.L. Bassuk. 2022. Carya Species for Use in the Managed Landscape: Predicted Drought Tolerance. HortScience 57(12):1558-1563.
  • Miller, B.M. and N.L. Bassuk. 2022. Gibberellic Acid 4+7 Influences Shoot Growth of Seedling Pecan and Bitternut Hickory. J. Env. Hort. 40 (2):39-45.
  • Miller, B.M. and N.L. Bassuk. 2022. Supplemental Nickel Corrects Mouse Ear Disorder of Bitternut Hickory. J. Env. Hort. 40 (1):18-21.
  • Miller, B.M. and N.L. Bassuk. 2020. p. 219-228. Enhancing Tree Transplant Success Through the Manipulation of Root Hydraulic Conductance. The Landscape Below Ground IV. International Society of Arboriculture. Champaign, IL.
  • Miller, B.M. and W.R. Graves. 2019. Root Pruning and Auxin Alter Root Morphology of Hickories. HortScience. 54 (9):1517-1520.