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 became Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture (HLA) in July 2022 after a successful career as an Extension Specialist and Professor of Horticulture at Mississippi State University and Texas A&M University. Her research and extension interest focuses on solving problems in the green industry represented by the nursery and landscape associations, such as Japanese beetle, alternative potting mixes, sensor-controlled nursery irrigation and crapemyrtle bark scale. She has been very active in academic and professional societies, such as the American Society for Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) and the International Plant Propagators’ Society. She was Vice President of the International Division of ASHS and was inducted as an ASHS Fellow in 2022. As HLA department head, Mengmeng is actively engaging with internal and external stakeholders through open dialogues to collectively build a more inclusive, innovative and vibrant environment by valuing and integrating their insights and experiences.