Visit trial gardens to see new plants before they hit stores

When you pick up a new plant at the garden center, you might not think about all the steps it took to end up in your cart. New plants don’t sprout up out of nowhere. They’re the result of years of scientific testing and careful evaluation. One important step in the process includes testing not-yet-available plants in trial gardens. These spaces, often located in public areas, are designed to expose new plants to a variety of weather and environmental conditions. Once companies determine how they fare, they can decide whether a plant is ready to be offered to the public or if it needs further tweaking before it lands in gardens across the country. Here’s how you can visit trial gardens to see exciting new plants, and where you might find them locally.

What Is a Trial Garden?

A test garden, or trial garden, is a place where new plants are evaluated by growers and researchers before they enter large-scale production. In these real-world conditions, growers and scientists evaluate plants for hardiness, disease resistance, water requirements and more. They ensure that the best possible new plants make it to the public for purchase. Less ideal varieties are ruled out.

Where Can I See Trial Gardens?

Some trial gardens are accessible only to the scientists and members of a company’s plant development team because the information surrounding their unreleased plants and studies is proprietary. However, some trial gardens allow the public to visit and see the plants being tested. Always call ahead or visit the website to verify details before you go. Whether you’re looking for a garden near you or planning a trip, here are some types of trial gardens you might be able to visit, and how to do so.

College Campus Trial Gardens

Many college campuses are home to test or trial gardens, and they are often open to the public. These gardens are generally located at public state universities. Some smaller campuses have them too. Penn State, Michigan State and Colorado State all have on-campus gardens.

Major Nurseries or Horticultural Companies

If you’re interested in seeing a specific company’s test garden, it’s best to call ahead. Not all are open to the public. Occasionally, gardens with restricted access will open for annual public or garden club events. Walters Gardens, for example, keeps its test gardens open to the public, while Ball Horticultural Co. opens its gardens for seasonal events. Proven Winners tests its plants at a variety of locations. Access may vary. To find a Proven Winners test garden, visit the company’s website.

All-America Selections Test Gardens

All-America Selections is a nonprofit organization that sends new flowers and vegetables to their test gardens for trials run by volunteer horticulture professionals. There are trial gardens throughout Canada and the United States. Plants can be evaluated in various regions, and the plants undergo performance and quality testing to determine whether they earn the prestigious title of AAS Winner.

AAS has more than 200 Display Gardens in the United States in which they showcase current and past winners. To find one near you, visit the AAS website and use its “find an AAU Display Garden” feature.

READ ON: Learn how a Wisconisn gardener developed Knock Out Roses