Alan Branhagen

Presenting: Shrubs and Small Trees in Landscape Design and Ecosystem Function

Alan J. Branhagen is the Executive Direct of the Natural Land Institute. Prior to this, he served as the Director of Operations at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum since 2017. For over 20 years he was Director of Horticulture at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s Botanical Garden and prior to that he had a nearly decade-long duty as Deputy Director of Resource Development for the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District in Rockford, Illinois.

Alan Branhagen received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University with emphasis on design with nature. He wrote The Gardener’s Butterfly Book in 2001 and in November 2016, Timber Press published his book Native Plants of the Midwest. The Midwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-friendly Garden was released in July, 2020. Beyond public garden management, Mr. Branhagen is an all-around plantsman and naturalist specializing in birds, butterflies and botany.