LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings, right, describes his research results to attendees at the Hammond Research Station field day May 13. (Photo by Joey Quebedeaux.)

A new program promoting Louisiana landscape materials was one of the highlights at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station annual landscape horticulture field day May 13.

The Louisiana Super Plants program is aimed at making consumers aware of landscape materials that grow well in Louisiana, said Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the Hammond Research Station.

“The program identifies superior plants that meet the criteria of performing well in all areas of the state,” Bracy said. “About five plants a year will be promoted as Louisiana Super Plants and marketed through retail establishments.”

She said LSU AgCenter evaluators in consultation with representatives of the state horticulture industry will notify nursery growers of the varieties selected for the program. The growers will propagate the plants for sale through commercial channels.

Bracy said the program is funded by the Louisiana Specialty Crops Competitiveness Program provided through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

At the field day, Bracy and other researchers showed off the results of research projects at the station.

“As part of our ongoing research, we have more than 150 plant observations in the shade garden and more than 500 plants in the sun garden,” Bracy said. “Attendees also received the latest information on plant growth regulators and fertility research on landscape shrubs.”

Yan Chen, LSU AgCenter horticulturist at the station, said the shade garden features 60 hosta varieties making this the largest hosta variety landscape trial in the South.

“The Drift series roses from Star Roses have been impressive in our trials,” Allen Owings, an LSU AgCenter horticulturist, said about the newest landscape shrub roses in trials at the station.

“We invited the public to come out and see what’s new in shrubs and herbaceous perennials during the past year,” Bracy said. As field day attendees toured the sun garden, they were given the opportunity to vote for their favorite plants in the “People’s Choice Awards.”

“The winners were Carefree Marvel Rose as the gold winner, Pinstripe Petunia was the silver winner and Dark Secret Heuchera and Black Velvet Petunia were the bronze winners,” Owings said.

He also discussed his pruning research to control the size of Knock Out roses and promote continuous bloom.

Results from Chen’s study of consumer tolerance to thrips damage on impatiens potted plants showed that this information can be used to help growers reduce pesticide sprays by knowing when to spray based on action thresholds.

Chen also provided an overview of her research using plant growth regulators in the landscape.

“We had significant results using a granular growth regulator in the landscape to control the size of loropetalum,” she said. “Loropetalums often outgrow their landscape space and require multiple prunings per year. This research provides an alternative to pruning, which can save landscape maintenance businesses time and money.”

LSU AgCenter agronomist Ron Strahan provided a show-and-tell display of the top landscape weeds in Louisiana.

The field tour also included a visit to the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden. Bracy said the 5-acre garden is a collection of azaleas and companion plants and includes many unusual and native shrubs and trees.

About 65 professionals ranging from growers to retailers and landscapers attended the May 13 field day and toured the research plots.

For more information about the landscape horticulture research from the Hammond Research Station call 985-543-4125. The station is located approximately 6 miles east of Hammond at 21549 Old Covington Highway (Louisiana Highway 1067).