J. C. Raulston, described by the New York Times upon his untimely death as “a generous-spirited giant among horticulturists,” changed the availability of plants in North Carolina, the South, and beyond. Bobby J. Ward, the foremost authority on Raulston’s life, offers a portrait of the legendary figure that will captivate general readers, amateur gardeners, and horticulturists alike.

Chlorophyll in His Veins chronicles Raulston’s life from his Oklahoma boyhood, through his horticultural education, army service in Vietnam, research and teaching, and experiences as a gay man. It also includes his greatest achievements: the establishment of the arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh (now bearing his name), the creation of a free plant distribution system for the nursery industry, and the mentorship of some of today’s most prominent horticulturists. The fraught personal life revealed in Raulston’s journals and letters contrasts with his outgoing public persona, reflecting the influences and pressures that produced his triumphs and heartbreaks. This book includes lists of Raulston’s honors and excerpts from his lectures, plant introductions, and personal writings that illuminate the care, passion, and dedication that Raulston brought to his mantra: “Plan—and plant for a better world.”