Sandra B. Wilson, Ph.D.

Professor of Environmental Horticulture
Department of Environmental Horticulture


picture of Professor Sandra B. Wilson, Ph.D.
Expertise:

Invasive ornamentals, Native propagation

Contact Information:

Department of Environmental Horticulture
108 Mehrhof Hall, PO Box 110675 Gainesville, Florida 32611-0675
Phone: (352) 273-4576 | Cell: (772) 834-7619
Fax: 392-1413
Email: sbwilson@ufl.edu

UF Environmental Horticulture information can be found on http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu, Facebook, and Flickr

Appointment:

60% Research, 40% Teaching

Education:

Ph.D., 1996, Plant Physiology, Clemson University
M.S., 1993, Horticulture, University of Delaware
B.S., 1989, Animal Science University of Delaware



Details:

Dr. Sandra Wilson is a Professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida's main campus in Gainesville. She received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Delaware and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Clemson University. Dr. Wilson completed postdoctoral studies at both Clemson University and Chiba University, Japan.

Dr. Wilson teaches courses on Florida Native Landscaping, Plant Propagation, and Annual and Perennial Gardening. She has been recognized nationally for her scholarship in teaching and development of interactive online materials on plant propagation, plant family classification and greenhouse education. This includes honors such as the University of Florida (UF) CALS Undergraduate Teacher of the Year Award (2006), the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Career Award (2009), the UF Roche Professorship (2011), ;and the ASHS Graduate Educator Career Award (2018). Wilson holds Fellow distinction in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), the International Society of Plant Propagators (IPPS), and ASHS. Dr. Wilson's research focuses on (1) propagation and evaluation of native plants and (2) characterizing the invasive potential of ornamental plants in Florida. Her training and expertise encompass numerous aspects of plant production including techniques to overcome seed dormancy, evaluation of containerized media, optimizing plant growth under varying environmental conditions, and trialing of new plants in the landscape.

Dr. Wilson is very active in graduate student mentorship and advising. She takes a hands-on approach to their course scheduling, research advising, teaching involvement, publishing, grant writing, and career placement. Her teaching and research programs have are witnessed by authorship of more than 185 refereed publications and proceedings. In 2018, she became the newest co-author of the 9th edition world standard textbook, Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices.

For full CV, click here (pdf)



Selected Publications:
  • Wilson, S.B., R. Mallinger, H. Kalaman*, and E. Momol. 2024. Development and evaluation of a web application for attracting bees to your garden. Horticulturae. 10(1),77. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010077.
  • Silva*, J.J., S.B. Wilson, G.W. Knox and R.E. Mallinger. 2024. Effects of plant provenance and moisture availability on growth and flowering performance of Florida native and non-native ornamentals. HortTechnology. 34:629-643. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05470-24.
  • Mikell*, L., S.B. Wilson, S.C. Marble, W. Vendrame, and E. van Santen. 2023. Sexual and asexual propagation of wild like (Zanthoxylum L. Sarg.), A native Florida plant with ornamental and ecological value. J. Environ. Hort. 42(3):131-139. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-42.3.131.
  • Campbell Martinez*, G., S.B. Wilson, M. Thetford, C. Steppe*, and H.E. Perez. 2024. Cutting propagation and landscape performance of an underutilized southeastern native herb, coastalplain honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia). J. Environ. Hort. 42(2)46-53. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-42.2.46.
  • Campbell Martinez*, G., M. Thetford, D. Miller, S.B. Wilson and C. Gomez. 2023. Effect of fertilizer rate, substrate, and container type on greenhouse performance of sandhill milkweed. HortScience. 58:1230-1236. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17118-23.
  • Rostan*, V., P.C. Wilson, S.B. Wilson, and E. Van Santen. 2024. Influence of pesticide application method, timing, and rate on contamination of nectar with systemic and non-systemic pesticides. J. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 0:1-12. https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/etc.5989.
  • Deng, Z., S.B. Wilson, and D. Czarnecki. 2020. 'UF-1013-1': An Infertile Cultivar of Lantana camara. HortScience. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14911-20.
  • Fetouh, I.F., Z. Deng, S.B. Wilson, C.R. Adams, G. Knox. 2020. Induction and characterization of tetraploids in Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour.). HortScience.
  • Steppe, C., S.B. Wilson, Z. Deng, K. Druffel, and G.W. Knox. 2019. Morphological and cytological comparisons of eight varieties of trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) grown in Florida. HortScience. 54:2134-2138. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14443-19.
  • Kalaman, H., G.W. Knox, S.B. Wilson, and W. Wilber. 2020. A master gardener survey: Promoting pollinator-friendly plants through education and outreach. HortTechnology. 30:163-167. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04460-19.
  • Bechtloff, A., C.Reinhardt-Adams, S.B. Wilson, and Z. Deng. 2019. Alternatives to potentially invasive plant species for the horticultural industry in the southeast United States. J. Environmental Horticulture. 37(1): 9-18.
  • Wilson, S.B., R.L. Geneve and F.T. Davies. 2018. An online study tool for reviewing plant propagation terms and concepts. HortTechnology. 28(6):851-854.
  • Thetford, M., A. O’Donoughue, S.B. Wilson, H. Perez. 2018. Landscape performance of 3 Polygonella wildflower species native to Florida. Native Plants Journal. 19:239-247. doi:10.3368/npj.19.3.239.
  • Deng, Z., S.B. Wilson, X. Ying and D.M. Czarnecki II. 2017. Infertile Lantana camara cultivars 'UF-1011-2' and 'UF-1013A-2A. HortScience 52:652-657.
  • Fetouh, M.I., A. Kareem, G.W. Knox, S.B. Wilson and Z. Deng. 2016. Induction, identification, and characterization of tetraploids in Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum). HortScience. 51:1371-1377.
  • Smith, A.M., C. Reinhardt Adams, C. Wiese, and S.B. Wilson. 2016. Re-vegetation with native species does not control the invasive Ruellia simplex in a floodplain forest in Florida, USA. Applied Vegetation Science. 19:20-30.
  • Smith, A.M., S.B. Wilson, C. Reinhardt Adams, and C. Wiese. 2015. Germination of native species: Efforts to guide revegetation in a Mexican petunia-invaded floodplain in Florida, USA. Ecological Restoration. 33:237-241.
  • Smith, A.M., C. Reinhardt Adams, C. Wiese, and S.B. Wilson. 2015. Suppression of the ornamental invasive Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex) by native species in a greenhouse study. Ecological Restoration. 33(2) 207-214.
  • Wilson, S.B., G.W. Knox, Z. Deng, K.L. Nolan, and J. Aldrich. 2014. Landscape performance and fruiting of nice heavenly bamboo selections grown in northern and southern Florida. HortScience. 49:706-713.
  • Irani, T., S.B. Wilson, D. Slough, and M. Rieger. 2014. Graduate student experiences on and off Campus: Social connectedness and perceived isolation. J. Distance Education. 27(2), online.
  • Smith, A.M., S.B. Wilson, M. Thetford, K.L. Nolan, and C. Adams. 2014. Performance of nine Florida native wildflower species grown in varying container substrates. Native Plants Journal. 15:75-86.
  • Freyre, R. and S.B. Wilson. 2014. Ruellia simplex R10-105-Q54 ('Mayan Pink'). HortScience. 49:499-502.
  • Wilson, S.B., G.W. Knox, K.L. Nolan, and J. Aldrich. 2014. Landscape performance and fruiting of 12 privet selections grown in northern and southern Florida. HortTechnology. 24:148-155.
  • Wilson, S.B. and A.L. Flory. 2012. FloraGator: A novel, interactive and online multiple entry key for identifying plant families. HortTechnology. 22:410-412.
  • Freyre, R., A. Moseley, S.B. Wilson, and G.W. Knox. 2012. Fruitless Ruellia simplex R10-102 ('Mayan Purple') and R10-108 ('Mayan White'). HortScience. 47:1808-1814.
  • Freyre, R., A. Moseley, S.B. Wilson, and G.W. Knox. 2012. Breeding and evaluating for landscape performance and fruitlessness in Mexican Petunia (Ruellia, Acanthaceae). HortScience. 47:1245-1251.
  • Czarnecki,D.M., S.B. Wilson, G.W. Knox, R. Freyre, and Z. Deng. 2012. UF-T3 and UF-T4: Two sterile Lantana camara cultivars. HortScience. 47:132-137.
  • Thetford, M., A.H. O'Donoughue, S.B. Wilson and H.E. Pérez. 2012. Softwood cutting propagation of three Polygonella wildflower species native to Florida. J. Prop. Ornamental Plants. 12(1)58-62.
  • Campbell, K.R., S.B. Wilson, P.C. Wilson, and Z. He. 2011. Interactive online tools for teaching plant identification. HortTechnology 21:504-508.
  • Heather, A.E, H.E. Pérez, and S.B. Wilson. 2010. Non-deep physiological dormancy in seeds of two Polygonella species with horticultural potential. HortScience. 45:1854-1858.