(Video) Century-old pine trees tower over acres of lush landscaping at the Hammond Research Station. Established in 1922 as the Fruit and Truck Experiment Station, the facility has traditionally served the strawberry and vegetable industries. Today, the research focus is landscape horticulture, including plant selection, fertility, weed control and plant growth regulators. Scientists evaluate more than 500 ornamental plants per year in the largest research garden display in Louisiana.

A handy reference chart with information on changing soil pH with lime and sulfur applications.

Listing of retail businesses that sell Louisiana Super Plants.

Growing information and photos of 'Aphrodite' althea.

Information about Super Plants selected for each season, beginning Fall 2010.

(Video) Century-old pine trees tower over acres of lush landscaping at the Hammond Research Station. Established in 1922 as the Fruit and Truck Experiment Station, the facility has traditionally served the strawberry and vegetable industries. Today, the research focus is landscape horticulture, including plant selection, fertility, weed control and plant growth regulators. Scientists evaluate more than 500 ornamental plants per year in the largest research garden display in Louisiana.

Growing information and photos of Louisiana Super Plant, Bandana lantana.

Growing information and photos of the Louisiana Super Plant, Little Ruby alternanthera.

Learn more about Louisiana Super Plants, including where to purchase. Louisiana Super Plants is a program that highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes.

One of the most impressive camellia gardens in the state is located between Hammond and Robert at the Hammond Research Station.

Links to key LSU AgCenter horticulture and home gardening publications as well as websites.

This report provides information on future plans, program significance, industry facts and research highlights for the Hammond Research Station.

(Video 11/5/12) The LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill highlights the tough and beautiful Sorbet viola. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Audio 11/05/12) Most cool-season bedding plants enjoy growing in full sun to part shade. If you have a shady area, consider planting Camelot foxglove and Swan columbine. Both are Louisiana Super Plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 11/09/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Fall – November through early December – is the best time to plant hardy trees in Louisiana. Are you are thinking about adding shade trees, small spring or summer flowering trees or trees for screening? If you are, this is time of the year to head out to local nurseries and purchase trees to plant in your landscape.

(Video 11/5/12) The LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill highlights the tough and beautiful Sorbet viola. (Runtime: 1:50)

Caladiums are known for their beautiful leaf color in partial shade. Some varieties perform well in sun, and more new varieties are being developed for full-sun landscapes. When planted in full sun, the appearance of caladium plants can be very different from that in partial shade. In addition, watering and fertilization requirements may also change.

(Video 10/22/12) The LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill highlights the Conversation Piece azalea, a beautiful blooming machine. (Runtime: 1:47)

(Audio 10/22/12) Gardeners transitioning their bedding plants may want to plant the hardy Louisiana Super Plant Sorbet viola. It is considered the best viola out there. Look for Louisiana Super Plant displays at garden centers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 10/22/12) The LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill highlights the Conversation Piece azalea, a beautiful blooming machine. (Runtime: 1:47)

Caladiums are wonderful foliage plants that add color to Southern landscapes from May to October. Variety trials in full sun and partial shade were conducted at the Hammond Research Station in 2011 and 2012. Recommendations are made for selecting cultivars that can do well in either sun or partial shade.

(For Release On Or After 10/26/12) The Sorbet series violas are the best-flowering violas in LSU AgCenter trials. As a result, they are a fall 2012 Louisiana Super Plants selection. These vigorous plants produce inch-wide, bright flowers that cover the plant from late fall through spring.

(Distributed 10/05/12) The most popular and widely sold variety of Robin Hill azalea in Louisiana is Conversation Piece. It has been named our first LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plant for this fall.

Fifty-five caladiums were planted in full sun and partial shade landscape beds on April 20, 2012. Their landscape performance were evaluated from May to October. Plants were rated for emergence uniformity, visual quality, and sun damage. Presented in this photo gallery are the top performers in both sun and shade.

Not all Louisiana gardeners have a green thumb. And consumers may want beautiful landscaping, but they may not be sure about which plants will work well in their yards. LSU AgCenter’s Super Plants to the rescue!

Entomosporium leaf spot, caused by the fungus Entomosporium mespili (formerly E. maculatum), is a common disease of various woody ornamentals in the family Rosaceae. In Louisiana landscapes, however, it is most commonly a problem on Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica) and red tip photinia (Photinia fraseri).

Photos of spring blooms in the garden.

Azaleas are spring showoffs, even though some newer varieties now bloom in other seasons. Most of us may not realize that azaleas represent the main nursery crop grown in many states in the southeast and along the Gulf Coast. In Louisiana, they represent 7% of all nursery plants grown.There are many factors that play a role in the success or failure of an azalea planting in a landscape. These issues include planting time, sun exposure, soil pH, bed preparation and more. . .

Alternanthera is what we used to call Joseph’s coat. The foliage of most Joseph's coats is multi-colored. The most spectacular of these is Brazilian Red Hot. We are currently evaluating the following varieties at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Green industry professionals attending the landscape horticulture field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in June were given the opportunity to “pick their winning plants” from the sun garden evaluation trial gardens at the station. Over 340 varieties were planted this year. The planting mostly consists of annual bedding plants and herbaceous perennials, but new roses and some “companion” woody ornamental shrubs (such as Southern Living plants) are also included.

The current effort with the Margie Jenkins Azalea Garden at the Hammond Research Station.

The beginnings of the Margie Jenkins Azalea Garden at the Hammond Research Station.

Vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is a very popular warm season annual bedding plant. Recommended cultural practices include a full sun planting location, acid soil, a well-drained bed, limited irrigation and correct variety selection.

Crape myrtles are the most popular summer flowering landscape tree in Louisiana. Here are the keys to blooming issues.

Green industry professionals, home gardeners and Louisiana Master Gardeners participated in the People’s Choice plant award selections at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in May 2010.

(Audio 06/18/12) Just about everyone loves a colorful flower bed in the summer. Pentas are wonderful, reliable plants that come in a variety of beautiful colors and sizes. Hear more about planting pentas in your flower bed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 05/21/12) In Louisiana, hydrangeas typically bloom once – in May. But the Super Plant Penny Mac hydrangea keeps reblooming many times until the end of summer. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill visits the Hammond Research Station and looks at the Penny Mac hydrangea – a reliable and beautiful plant for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:40)

Photos of interesting and blooming plants at Hammond Research Station in early to mid-April.

(Video 05/28/12) Buddleia is also called butterfly bush because it attracts butterlflies. It’s a tough, flowering bush that comes in many sizes and colors. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how the dwarf buddleia Blue Chip is a good choice for vibrant color and nice fragrance.(Runtime: 1:37)

History and mission of the Hammond Research Station.

Unfortunately, some plants used for landscapes in Louisiana are considered poisonous in some situations. Click on the link for a list of some that are commonly grown.

320 Louisiana Master Gardeners attending an “Appreciation Day” at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station on Friday, May 13 were provided an opportunity to vote for their two “favorite” plants in the sun garden plant trial evaluation area at the station.

Over 500 cultivars of annual bedding plants (cool- and warm-season), herbaceous perennials, roses and companion shrubs are being evaluated currently at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station in the sun garden trial area. Here is a brief summary of a few of these plants from February-May 2011.

There are seven new lantanas from Plant Introductions in Georgia that we are evaluating at the Hammond Research Station.

(For Release On Or After 05/04/12) Hydrangeas have a long tradition of use in shady Southern gardens. From late April through July, huge flower heads of light pink, pink, rosy red, lavender, light blue, bluish purple and blends of those colors as well as white appear above the rich green leaves.

(Audio 04/23/12) Hydrangeas are a traditional Southern shrub. They bloom beautifully in partial shade. A great variety to try is the Penny Mac hydrangea, a spring 2012 Louisiana Super Plant selection. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/12/12) In 2010, the LSU AgCenter introduced a new ornamental plant education, promotion and marketing program called Louisiana Super Plants. It highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. Plant selections are announced each spring and fall.

(Video 04/16/12) Spider flowers are traditional summer annuals grown in the South. But they have tiny spines that can be unpleasant to handle. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a new type of spider flower that has virtually no spines and even more beautiful flowers than the others. It’s the Senorita Rosalita, and it’s a tough, durable Louisiana Super Plant. (Runtime: 1:54)

(Video 04/09/12) The LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the BabyWing begonia – a Louisiana Super Plant that will provide nice color all the way through to October. (Runtime: 1:41)

Here are photos of the new Early Bird series of crape myrtles in bloom at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, mid-June.

Description and photos of the Louisiana Super Plant Sorbet violas.

Description and photos of Evergreen sweetbay magnolia

Description and photos of the Louisiana Super Plant Coversation Piece azalea.

(Distributed 02/02/12) The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station plays a vital role in the horticulture and landscape industries of the state, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the station.

(For Release On Or After 02/03/12) Last fall, the LSU AgCenter announced three outstanding Louisiana Super Plant selections for Louisiana landscapes. If you haven’t planted them yet, February is an excellent time to add these beautiful plants to your gardens.

(Audio 01/09/12) Gardeners can plant cool-season bedding plants through the month of March. Some plants will do better if planted now. Try cool-season Louisiana Super Plants such as Camelot foxglove and Swan columbine. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/28/11) Three outstanding plants have been named fall 2011 Super Plants. They include Belinda's Dream rose, Swan columbine and Redbor kale. Try these plants in your landscape this season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 10/7/11) Belinda’s Dream rose is the first Louisiana Super Plant selection to be announced for the fall 2011 season. With beautiful flowers, excellent disease resistance and a bushy growth habit, it well deserves the recognition.

(Audio 12/05/11) Gardeners can add cool-season bedding plants to their winter flower gardens. Plants such as pansies, snapdragons and dianthus enjoy cool days and colder nights. Try the 2011 fall Super Plant Swan columbine. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 11/21/11) The saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” That slogan could apply to the obscure columbine. Not many Louisiana gardeners have ever heard of it. Until now. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why the Swan columbine is a great Louisiana Super Plant worthy of the spotlight. (Runtime: 1:30)

(Video 11/21/11) The saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” That slogan could apply to the obscure columbine. Not many Louisiana gardeners have ever heard of it. Until now. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why the Swan columbine is a great Louisiana Super Plant worthy of the spotlight. (Runtime: 1:30)

How long does it take for a newly planted tree to become fully established in the landscape? How much irrigation is required during establishment?

A current effort at the Hammond Research Station is the development of a “firewise” landscape around the new office building. We do not hear a lot about this topic in Louisiana, but “firewise” effort in home construction and landscaping needs to be considered.

The 'Drift' series roses from Conard-Pyle are being evaluated in landscape studies at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Center. Colors are red, pink, coral and peach. New for 2010 will be apricot and sweet.

(Video 10/10/11) Louisiana Super Plants are outstanding plants for landscapes throughout the state. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how the Super Plant Redbor kale is an ornamental plant as well as an edible vegetable. (Runtime: 1:38)

(For Release On Or After 10/14/11) Redbor kale is the first edible Louisiana Super Plants selection. It is an incredible multiuse annual for the cool-season flower or vegetable garden. Although perfectly edible, it is so attractive it is being promoted as an ornamental for planting in flowerbeds.

(Video) Take a visual tour of the landscape beds in the Sun Garden. In this garden, evaluations are conducted on over 500 varieties of annuals, herbaceous perennials, and ornamental shrubs.

(Video 9/26/11) Are you afraid to grow roses because you heard it was difficult? LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains there’s no need to have any fear about growing Belinda’s Dream roses. They’re the latest Louisiana Super Plant selection. (Runtime: 1:35)

A demonstration of different landscape mulch materials is on-going at the Hammond Research Station. Here are photos of the different mulches currently being evaluated.

The establishment of the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden means that the Hammond Research Station will have a continuing feature to honor a remarkable woman. This garden will be a source of information, an inspiration, a delight to visit….much as Ms. Margie is and has been during her lifetime. The beginnings of Ms. Margie's nursery career are discussed here.

(For Release On Or After 06/17/11) There is still time to add colorful bedding plants to your landscape, but it’s important for you to choose plants that are able to thrive in the intense heat of a Louisiana summer. Summer bedding plants come in a variety of heights, textures and colors, and they are adapted to grow in everything from moist, shady areas to hot, dry, sunny locations.

(For Release On Or After 06/17/11) There is still time to add colorful bedding plants to your landscape, but it’s important for you to choose plants that are able to thrive in the intense heat of a Louisiana summer. Summer bedding plants come in a variety of heights, textures and colors, and they are adapted to grow in everything from moist, shady areas to hot, dry, sunny locations.

(For Release On Or After 05/27/11) We all crave color in our landscapes. Beds full of annual and perennial flowering plants are often the primary source of landscape color, but they require a lot of work to keep them looking nice.

(For Release On Or After 04/15/11) An outstanding angelonia has been named a spring 2011 Louisiana Super Plant selection. Serena series angelonia is a long-blooming summer bedding plant with a tough constitution and a long blooming season.

(Video 4/11/11) The LSU AgCenter introduces various Louisiana Super Plants throughout the year. They’re superior plants for Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the fragrant Frostproof gardenia. It’s a Louisiana Super Plant with a super smell. (Runtime: 1:36)

The LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station has established the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden in recognition of one of Louisiana's most widely known nursery owners and nationally known lover, breeder and authority of azaleas.

The winter 2011 issue of Louisiana Agriculture is 20 pages with articles about research on medicinal plants; rice production; weeds in rice, corn and wheat; and farmers markets, among others. The cover features one of the new Super Plants. Read more in the magazine.

The Louisiana Super Plant program is an educational and marketing campaign that highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. Louisiana Super Plants have a proven track record having gone through several years of university evaluations and observations. Louisiana Super Plants are “university tested and industry approved”.

A quarterly newsletter from the Horticulture Division of the LSU AgCenter's School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences. (PDF Format Only)