Andy Pulte, Ph.D., teaching professor and undergraduate coordinator in the Department of Plant Sciences at the UT Institute of Agriculture – Knoxville, approaches horticulture as art and science - and plant breeding is no different.
For more than a decade, Pulte has focused on developing hardy hibiscus varieties that thrive in Tennessee and across the Southeast, combining long-term observation with a focus on beauty and resilience.
Through a partnership with UTRF, Pulte can focus on the creative and scientific side of plant breeding while UTRF manages the commercialization process. “They’ve been a great partner in allowing me to focus on what I do best,” Pulte said.
His work aims to help gardeners succeed by delivering plants that are not only visually striking, but also durable, adaptable, and easier to grow. East Tennessee’s fluctuating temperatures, humidity, insects and disease pressure make it a demanding environment for ornamental plants, but an ideal proving ground for breeding tougher, more reliable varieties.
Pulte evaluates hundreds of hibiscus plants each year, with the vast majority never making it past the testing phase. Longevity, consistency, disease tolerance, and market readiness factor into whether a plant advances toward commercialization. “Not being too quick to say, ‘this is the one’ takes patience,” he said. “Many very good plants still end up in the compost pile.”
UTRF recently licensed a new variety of hardy hibiscus created by Pulte that is highly remontant, meaning it doesn’t produce just one flush of blooms. “It continuously blooms throughout the season...producing hundreds of blooms in one year” he said.
As a land-grant institution, he also sees this work as part of UT’s responsibility to serve the people of Tennessee. The goal is practical innovation that improves outcomes and enjoyment for gardeners across the state. “I work for the people of Tennessee,” he said. “If we can bring forward good plants people can be successful with, that’s what we’re here for.”
