SELECTION AND INTRODUCTION OF WOODY LANDSCAPE ORNAMENTALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Abstract

The Department of Horticulture has introduced over 20 new plants into the Georgia and southern nursery trades. The program serves as a conduit for evaluating and distributing plants from the U.S. National Arboretum, Arnold Arboretum, individuals and nurseries. Propagation requirements and cold hardiness estimates are determined for most of the potential introductions. Cooperating nurseries provide real-world assessments of container and field cultural criteria. Further, plants are tested under field conditions at the Department's research farm. Plants are promoted through lectures, articles, and distribution to any interested Georgia nursery. Numerous trade, popular, and refereed articles were spawned from the program. Selected plants have been provided to commercial tissue culture labs for stock increase.To date, the University has realized no financial return. A genuine need exists to generate income from royalties to sustain and enlarge the program.A list of the Georgia introductions will be available to all participants and several of the more notable introductions will be discussed.