Chicago Botanic Garden

Plant Collections — Staff

Andrew C. Bell

Curator, Woody Plants

PHOTO: Andrew BellAs the Curator of Woody Plants, Andrew serves as the Garden’s expert on the cultivation of woody plant species and is responsible for the development, display, use, and interpretation of the woody plant collection.

Andrew’s research interests and professional expertise include evaluating and promoting plants for sustainable landscapes. Previous research includes a taxonomic review of simple-leafed species of Sorbus from the Himalayan region and investigating host plant resistance to fire blight among cultivated varieties of Malus, Pyrus, and Chaenomeles. Andrew has participated in plant collecting expeditions in Asia and throughout the United States.

Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science and Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University, a M.S. in Plant Taxonomy from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Botany from the University of Tennessee. In previous positions, Dr. Bell worked as a Curatorial Associate at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and as the Associate Director at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.