Author of seven books and 10 book chapters, Allan is best known for Herbaceous Garden Perennials, A Treatise of Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes, a standard reference for gardeners, professionals, and students. In 1997, the American Horticultural Society designated it as one of the 75 most important horticultural books written in the last 75 years. In 1999, Choice, the publication of current reviews for academic libraries, named it among the top three percent of academic books reviewed in 1998.

Another of Allan’s publications, Allan Armitage on Perennials, a guidebook to perennials throughout North America, won the prestigious Garden Communications Award from the Garden Writers Association of America.

As a teacher and speaker, Allan has lectured in the United States, Canada, Columbia, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. He has visited research centers and production centers throughout the world and is constantly studying annual, perennials, cut flowers, and greenhouse crops in various climates. He teaches at the University of Georgia and is in charge of the university’s horticulture gardens.

Allan and his wife Susan live in Athens, Georgia and have raised three children, Laura, Heather and Jonathan.