Additional reporting by Heather Isherwood
Gardening is sometimes as simple as pushing a seed into the soil and watching it sprout. But introducing brand-new plant varieties requires precise and creative work that spans the globe and takes several years. With the basic process, new flowers and plants are developed, tested and retested repeatedly before finally being offered to home gardeners. Depending on the company and the plant, the trek from creation to a garden catalog can take five to 10 years. New varieties all have similar origins—breeders from around the world discover, nurture and test them—but various companies have vastly different ways of doing this. Some of these trial gardens are open to the public, and you can get a sneak peek at brand new plants before they appear in garden centers near you.
What Is a Trial Garden?
Phil Dramisino/Ball Horticultural CompanyThe Gardens at Ball Horticultural Company aren’t typically open to the public, but the company hosts occasional open house events.
When you add a new plant to your current arrangement, you might think you’re creating a “trial garden” — and while that’s one definition, it’s not the official one. A trial garden, to plant growers and researchers, is a place where new plants are evaluated before they enter large-scale production.
Also referred to as test gardens, these gardens are designed to “test” how plants fare under real-world conditions. Growers and scientists can evaluate plants for hardiness, disease resistance, water requirements, and more. In that way, trial gardens are essential. They ensure the best possible new plants make it to the public for purchase, while less ideal varieties are ruled out through the trial process.
Where Can I See Trial Gardens?
Ball Horticultural CompanyWave Petunias comparison garden
Some trial gardens are only available to the scientists and members of a company’s plant development team. If that’s the case, you likely won’t be able to stop by. In addition, some gardens are kept away from the public because the company or group operating the space wants to keep their unreleased plants private.
With that said, other trial gardens readily allow the public to visit and see what’s being worked on. Always call ahead or visit the website to verify details before you plan to go.
Here’s a list of trial gardens you might visit, if you’re inclined to make a trip.
College Campus Trial Gardens
Many don’t know that college campuses frequently feature test or trial gardens for plants. These gardens are frequently located at public state universities, although they sometimes appear at smaller campuses. They are also frequently open to the public. Examples of campus test gardens include Penn State flower trials, Michigan State’s trial gardens, and Colorado State’s trial gardens.
Major Nurseries or Horticultural Companies
Some growers’ test gardens are open to the public, and some aren’t. If you’re interested in seeing a specific company’s test garden, it’s best to call ahead. Occasionally, closed gardens will open for annual public or garden club events.
Walters Gardens, for example, keeps its test gardens open to the public, while Ball Horticultural Company limits its gardens to seasonal events. Proven Winners tests its plants at a variety of locations and access may vary. To find a Proven Winners test garden, visit the company’s website.
All-America Selections Test Gardens
All-America Selections sends plants to test gardens throughout America. There, the plants undergo performance and quality testing to determine whether they earn the prestigious title of “AAS Winner.”
With a network of more than 200 Display Gardens throughout the United States, there’s sure to be one within driving distance of most gardeners. To find one near you, visit the AAS website and use its “find a Display Garden” feature.
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