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Daike Tian, son of Bangzhi Xian and Renwang Tian, was born in 1968, in Longshan, Hunan, People's Republic of China. He began to amass plant knowledge planting fruit trees, ornamentals, and vegetables when he was a child.
In August 2004, he entered Auburn University as a Graduate Research Assistant to pursue a Doctor of Science degree in Horticulture. He was awarded his PhD on August 9, 2008. Recently, Daike worked on production and postharvest of lotus (Nelumbo) in containers (part I of dissertation), tissue culture of peony (part II of dissertation), introduction, propagation and evaluation of herbaceous peonies and lotus, and insects of lotus plants (extension projects). His recent research has led Auburn University to have the most extensive collection of lotus in North America.
Enthusiasm for plants, passion for seeking and breeding new ornamental plants, experience in both the field and lab, his knowledge, education and contacts with many cultures, good relationships with many universities, botanical gardens, and nurseries, are rounded out by skills in computer, photography, and landscape design, as well as his multi-language ability.
Daike’s Favorites
Holy Fire
Pink Bowl
Green in Pink Layers
New Leaders
White Chrysanthemum
Jade Tower with Drunkard
Red-edged White
Dense Dew
Long-petal Peach-Red
Gunfei Zhujiui
Sparks
Whenever we have a question about how to grow lotus Daike has the answer! His knowledge of the scientific and practical facts about growing lotus is astounding. Many thanks, Daike, for your unfailing patience with our questions! Check out the articles that Daike has published in The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society on-line magazine.
