Richard E. Bir Extension Horticulture Specialist Emeritus
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Science

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Responsibilities Prior to Retirement

Extension (100%): Culture, production and utilization of nursery crops, primarily woody plants.

Professional Experience

• Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University, Fletcher, NC 1979-2004.
• Extension Agent, Alachua County, Gainesville, FL 1975-1979. Pinellas County, Largo, FL 1972-1975.
• Graduate Research Assistant, UMass, Amherst, MA 1970-72.

Education

• 1976-78, Graduate Courses in Agronomy, Plant Growth and Adult Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
• 1973-74, Graduate Courses in Adult Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
• 1967-8, 1971-2, M. S. in Plant Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
• 1963-67, B. S. in Plant and Soil Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.

Horticulture Information

• Information on Plants, Propagation and General Information
• NCSU Horticulture Info on Commercial Nursery Production
• NCSU Horticulture Info on Landscape Design, Installation & Maintenance
• NCSU Dept of Horticultural Science, Nursery Crops Science

Publications

Book

Bir, Richard E. 1992. Growing and Propagating Showy Native Woody Plants. University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, NC.

Research, Extension and Trade Articles (Since 1995)

• Bir, Richard E. 2003. Big Flowers from Bigleaf Hydrangeas. Fine Gardening 92:44-48.
• Bir, Richard E. 2003. Phlox Get Humidity Test. Am. Gardener: 82(3): 19.
• Bir, Richard E. 2003. The Asheville Bittersweet Sweep. Wildland Weeds: 6(3):11.
• Bir, Richard E. 2002. Care-Free Shrubs. Chapter in Care-Free Plants. Readers Digest Books. P.236-266.
• Bir, Richard E. 2002. Bigleaf Hydrangeas. NMPRO 18(2):59-60.
• Bir, Richard E. and J. L. Conner. 2001. Color Crop Time to Market Is Influenced by Fertilizer Form. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 46:18-20.
• Conner, J. L. and R. E. Bir. 2001. Propagating Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' and Keeping it Alive. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 46:400-401.
• Bir, Richard E. 2001. Ornamental Plants. Plant Sciences. Ed. Richard Robinson. Macmillan Reference USA, New York, NY.
• Bir, Richard E. 2001. Plant Propagation. IN Biology, ed. Richard Robinson and Mark Davis. Macmillan Library Reference
• Bir, Richard E. 2001. Which forsythias are best? NMPRO:17(2):53-55.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Invasive plants and the nursery industry. Proc. IPPS. 50:42.44.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Book Review: Building My Zen Garden. Amer. Gardener 79(6):53-54.
• Bir, Richard E. and J. L. Conner. 2000. Loropetalum chinensis in the Spring: USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 45:441-442.
• Bir, Richard E. and J. L. Conner. 2000. Container Grown Azalea Growth Response to Bonzi Sprays. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 45:281-284.
• Bir, Richard E. and J. L. Conner. 2000. Landscape Survival of Hydrangea Macrophylla and Serrata Cultivars in USDA Zone 7. Proc. SNA Res. Conf 45:443-444.
• Bir, Richard E. and J. L. Conner. 2000. Flowering of Hydrangea Macrophylla and Serrata Cultivars in USDA Zone 7 Landscapes. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 45:445-446.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Book Review: The Greenhouse and Nursery Handbook by Francis Jozwik. HortTechnology 10(4):835.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. America's Wisterias. Amer. Gardner. 79(3):43-47.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Forgotten Native Azaleas. The Rosebay. 27(1): 13, 14, 23.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Mildew Resistance in Monarda. NMPRO 16(3):67-70.
• Polomski, B., D. Shaughnessy, and R. E. Bir. 2000. Rhododendron. Clemson HGIC Fact Sheet 1073.
• Bir, Richard E. 2000. Book Review: The New England Wild Flower Society. Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada. Amer. Gardener. 79(3):52.
• Bir, Richard E. 1999. Increase Rhododendron Flowering. NMPRO15(11):31-34.
• Bir, Richard E. and Richard Hawke. 1999. Monarda Mildew Resistance. Proc. IPPS 49: 394-396.
• Bir, Richard E. and Thomas Banko. 1999. Flower Power. American Nurseryman 189(11):52-57.
• Bir, Richard E. 1999. Perennial cuttings. With plants, how and when matters. NMPRO 15(5):40-41.
• Bir, Richard. 1999. Phlox without fail. Organic Gardening 46:52-55.
• Bir, Richard E. 1999. Which possum haw is best? NMPRO 15(3)40-45.
• Banko, T. J. and Richard E. Bir. 1999. Use of growth retardants to promote flowering of mountain laurel, Kalmia Latifolia L., J. Environ. 17(1)11-17.
• Bir, Richard E. 1999. Yellowwood, A Native Tree That's a Natural for Southeast Landscapes. Carolina Gardener Sampler. Spring 1999.
• Bir, R. E. 1998. A fresh look at our forgotten natives, azaleas. NMPRO 14(11):14,15,73,74.
• Davis, J. M. and R. E. Bir. 1998. Medicinal Plants with a Potential Niche Market for Propagators. Int. Herb Soc. Newsletter. May/Jun 1998:17-18.
• Bilderback, T. E. and R. E. Bir. 1998. Best of the Best. American Nurseryman 188(7):56-64.
• Bir, Richard E. 1998. Determining the Cause of Discoloring Leaves. Suffolk Ag. News 82(9):10-11.
• Bir, Richard E. 1998. Out of the Wild. American Nurseryman 188(7)83-89.
• Bir, Richard E. 1998. Out of the Woods. American Gardener. 77(2):53-58.
• Davis, J. M. and R. E. Bir. 1998. Medicinal Plants with a Potential Niche Market for Propagators. Perennial Plants 6(1):4-7.
• Bir, Richard E. and Joseph L. Conner. 1998. Increasing flowers on container grown hybrid rhododendron. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 43:282-285.
  
• Bir, R. E. and J. L. Conner. 1998. How and when herbaceous cuttings are stuck affects winter survival. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 43:312-314.
• Bir, R. E. 1998. How and When Cuttings of Herbaceous Perennials are Stuck Influences Winter Survival. Proc. IPPS 48:455-456.
• Bir, R. E. 1998. Increasing Flowers on Container Grown Hybrid Rhododendrons with Uniconazole Sprays. Proc. IPPS 48:453-454.
• Evans, E. and R. E. Bir. 1998. Smooth and Oakleaf Hydrangeas. NCCES Hort. Info. Lflt. No. 8625.
• Ranney, T. G., M. A. Powell and JR. E. Bir. 1997. Recommended Trees for Urban Landscapes: Proven Performers for Difficult Sites. NCCES Hort. Info. Lflt. No. 617.
• Bir, R. E., T. E. Bilderback, J. E. Baker and R. K. Jones. 1997. Commercial Boxwood Production. NCCES Hort. Info. Lflt. No. 407.
• Davis, J. M. and R. E. Bir. 1997. Medicinal plants with potential for propagators. Proc. IPPS 47:495-497.
• Bir, Richard E. 1997. Rhododendron maximum for the Next Millennium. Proc. IPPS 47:548-550.
• Bir, R. E., T. G. Ranney and J. L. Conner. 1997. Carryover Affects of Sumagic Treatments on Kalmia latifolia Cultivars. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 42:330-331.
• Bir, R. E. and J. L. Conner. 1997. Cut Florist Branches. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 42:178-181.
• Bir, Richard E. 1997. Shrub Roses: Survival of the Fittest. Carolina Gardener 9(4):22-26.
• Bir, Richard E. 1997. Yellowwood: A Native Tree That's A Natural. Carolina Gardener 10(2):36-37.
• Bir, R. E. 1997. Shrub Roses: Survival of the Fittest. Carolina Gardener. 9(4):22-26.
• Bir, Richard E. 1996. What it takes to market a native. NMPro 16(10):50-51.
• Bailey, D. A., T. E. Bilderback and R. E. Bir. 1996. Water Considerations for Container Production of Plants. NCCES Hort. Inf. Lflt. No. 557.
• Bir, Richard E. 1996. Grow Great Mountain Laurels. Fine Gardening. 52:46-47.
• Bir, R. E. and T. E. Bilderback. 1996. More Than a Drip in the Bucket. Amer. Nurs. 183(12): 55-57.
• Bir, R. E. 1996. Rooting Stem Cuttings of Some Eastern Native Rhododendrons. J. Amer. Rhod. Soc. 50(2): 65-67.
• Bir, R. E. 1996. These Natives are Getting Restless. Amer. Nurs. 183(8):33-41.
• Bilderback, T. E., R. E. Bir and S. L. Warren. 1996. Best Management Practices for Field Production of Nursery Stock. NCCES AG-511.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. The Secrets to Success with Mountain Laurels. Carolina Gardener. 8(3): 23-26.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. Azaleas for Spring, Summer, Fall. Fine Gardening. 46:34-39.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. Soil Drainage, chapter in Healthy Soil. Taunton Press, Newtown, CT.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. Why Native? SC Bot. Gdn. Qtly. 5(3):12-13.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. Bottlebrush buckeye. Amer. Nurs. 181 (10): 42-47.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. A goddess in pink and white. Fine Gardening. 43:30.
• Bir, R. E. 1995. Yellowwood. Fine Gardening. 42: 30.
• Bir, R. E. and T. E. Bilderback. 1995. Fertigating Field Grown Nursery Crops. Nursery Notes 29(5):15-16.
• Bir, R. E. and T. E. Bilderback. 1995. Drip Irrigation for Field Grown Nursery Crops. Nursery Notes 29(5):78-80.
• Bir, R. E., J. L. Conner and C. Deyton. 1995. The effect of pine bark soil amendment on bed grown hybrid ericaceous shrubs. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 40:152-154.
• Bir, R. E., T. G. Ranney and J. E. Shelton. 1995. No-spray rose trial. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 40: 320-322.
• Ranney, T. G. and R. E. Bir. 1995. North Carolina Urban Tree Evaluation Program. Landscape Plant News. 6(1): 9-10.
• Ranney, T. G., E. P. Whitman, II, and R.E. Bir. 1995. Effects of copper hydroxide treated containers and water-reservoir_ containers on root and shoot growth of four tree species. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 40: 122-124.

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828-684-3562 ~ Fax: 828-684-8715

Maintained by: Bryan A. Konsler

Updated February 12, 2009