Meet Our Team  »  Dr. John Ruter

Dr. John Ruter

Dr. Ruter grew up in Southern California and started working at a commercial wholesale nursery when he was 14. For 22 years, Dr. Ruter served as a nursery crop research and extension specialist in Georgia. Today, he is the director of the Trial Gardens, the Armitage Endowed Professor of Horticulture, and an ornamental plant breeder at UGA. 

More About Dr. John

Many of his specimens can be found planted in the garden. When he is not researching, attending conferences, teaching classes, or eradicating weeds,  Dr. Ruter enjoys traveling and "doing whatever his family wants to do". His favorite place to travel is to the mountains of the Western U.S.; the plant life there is something he finds remarkable.