David Roberts is the Director of Plant Breeding at Bailey Innovations, where he leads breeding direction and coordinates breeding objectives. David has been instrumental in advancing Bailey Innovations as it continues to grow and evolve. He has provided us with an exciting peek behind the curtain on what’s growing on. Of course, none of this would be possible without the help of his phenomenal team!
Inside the Greenhouse
At Bailey Innovations, our plant breeders are the driving force behind the fresh genetics that power beloved brands like Endless Summer® Hydrangeas and First Editions® Shrubs & Trees. Developing meaningful intellectual property in the ornamental plant market is no small feat, especially in a profession crowded with passionate breeders all striving to stand out. But that’s exactly the challenge we love.
Our mission? To create breakthrough cultivars in familiar, established categories while keeping an eye out for the next big thing in ornamental horticulture. Here’s a look at the talented team and forward-thinking projects that are shaping Bailey’s breeding efforts in 2025 and beyond.
Meet the Team
David Roberts – Director of Plant Breeding
David Roberts brings expertise and vision to Bailey Nurseries. As Director of Plant Breeding at Bailey Innovations, David not only defines the strategic direction for breeding programs but also ensures the development of standout cultivars that resonate with both growers and gardeners. With a Master’s Degree in Horticultural Science, specializing in Ornamental Plant Breeding, David is deeply committed to inspiring the “weekend gardener” through innovative, beautiful, and resilient plants. Since joining Bailey Innovations in 2015, following formative work with renowned plant breeders Dr. Dennis Werner and Dr. Tom Ranney, David has continued to channel his passion into creating high-performing plants and captivate the market.
Oren McBee – Senior Plant Breeder & Plant Health Expert
Oren brings his wealth of plant knowledge to the team having obtained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Horticulture from the University of Georgia under the guidance of Dr. Micheal Dirr. Before joining the Bailey team, Oren had been the Greenhouse and Nursery Manager at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville, and at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum.With over a decade at Bailey, Oren provides his expertise on plant health and breeding expertise. His deep knowledge has shaped many standout selections in the First Editions® lineup.
Becca Orazi – Plant Breeder & Trial Coordinator
Becca coordinates all external plant trials in Georgia, ensuring new genetics are evaluated thoroughly and efficiently. This ensures that Bailey genetics are tested under real-world grower conditions before they hit the market. In addition to this, Becca has also spearheaded her own innovative breeding projects. Her initiative and ambition showcase both her technical expertise and creative vision in plant breeding.
Joanna Roberts – Assistant Plant Breeder
Joanna has swiftly become an integral part of the team. She supports ongoing breeding efforts while also leading projects focused on driving innovation and expanding the potential of our breeding program.
Alexander Schaller – Lead Plant Breeder
Alexander brings a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genomics from the University of Florida. Since joining the team, he has eagerly immersed himself in trialing a wide array of plant species, demonstrating both scientific rigor and an enthusiasm for discovery. Alexander is poised to advance our breeding program into a new era of cutting-edge research and collaborative innovation.
We are excited to see what the team will bring to the table for 2025!
Creating Perfection Through Precision and Patience
As we look ahead, Hydrangea macrophylla remains a central focus of our breeding and evaluation efforts. Known for its stunning blooms and wide popularity, this species exemplifies the balance of beauty and resilience we strive to achieve. To ensure exceptional garden performance, our hydrangeas undergo rigorous multi-year evaluations across diverse climates and growing conditions. Each plant is trialed for 3 to 5 years in a range of environments to assess hardiness and adaptability. We test heat and humidity tolerance in Georgia, cold hardiness in Minnesota, and evaluate performance in Oregon and Illinois to account for varying soil types, microclimates, and other environmental factors.
Our Hydrangea macrophylla program places particular emphasis on reblooming capacity, which we assess through targeted production trials. Disease resistance is also a key metric, evaluated across all trial locations and conditions whether it’s in-ground or container-grown.
We maintain a broad set of goals across our different hydrangea programs. While high production performance and distinctive aesthetic qualities are universally valued, each hydrangea species is developed with its own tailored objectives. These priorities can vary significantly from one crop to the next, reflecting the unique potential and challenges of each plant type.
Expanding Horizons Beyond Hydrangeas
While hydrangea breeding is a cornerstone, Bailey Innovations also invests heavily in categories like vitex, crape myrtle, hibiscus, and many other emerging shrubs with high landscape and retail potential. Each program has its own goals, from compact growth to efficient production, to extended bloom for consumer delight, to improved drought tolerance for long-term landscape success.
From Concept to Cultivar
At Bailey Innovations™, we’ve spent years developing and releasing exceptional plant introductions that elevate gardens and landscapes. Among our most groundbreaking introductions are the Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea and Little Hottie® Panicle Hydrangea. Each stands out in its own remarkable way.
Eclipse® is the first truly dark-leaved Hydrangea macrophylla, offering a striking contrast with its vivid cranberry-pink blooms. Little Hottie®, on the other hand, is our most compact panicle hydrangea. Delivering brilliant white blooms that can stand up to the sun without burning. In the fall, the flowers fade to an antique shade of pink. Other shrubs like Vitex (including the award winner Queen Bee™ and Violet Mist®), Lagerstroemia Lunar Magic®, and Buddleia Trippy Pink® show Bailey’s track record in multiple genera.
True horticultural innovation doesn’t happen overnight. It takes vision, dedication, and collaboration. At Bailey, our passionate team works alongside strategic partners and sets bold goals to continuously push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Whether it’s hydrangeas or the next underutilized shrub with untapped potential, bailey Innovations is shaping the varieties that will define gardens and landscapes for decades to come.