Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the HILA Class of 2026 print edition of Nursery Management under the headline “Peter Kruger.”
Watch a video of Peter from the Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards at Cultivate'26 here.
Peter Kruger’s tenure at Ball Horticultural Company spans nearly four decades and multiple roles, including leading the creation of Ball Ornamentals, which was later integrated into Star Roses and Plants.
He travels the world, seeking out new plants across all genera, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, tropicals and foliage. He works with breeders globally, helping to shepherd their plants into North America and the rest of the world.
Pete on adapting to change: “When you’re competitive and you’ve had success, you like to think that your game’s sharp and you don’t need to change. But I have certainly learned that change is constant and it’s necessary.”
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