Landscape Plant Evaluations

Consumers and landscape professionals are demanding new or improved landscape plants and nurseries are scrambling to discover, develop, release and promote such plants. In the rush to market new plants, few efforts have been made to evaluate plants for adaptability, resistance/susceptibility to plant pests, or potential invasiveness under Florida conditions.

Xylella fastidiosa
Jon Jon Magnolia flower		 Glassywinged Sharpshooter
Osage Crape Myrtle flower

UF/IFAS-NFREC faculty, Gary Knox and Jeff Norcini, collect and evaluate new, underused or improved landscape plants. Their ongoing programs are conducted in cooperation with regional and area nurseries, botanic gardens, State botanists, UF/IFAS faculty, horticulturists from regional universities and plant enthusiasts. Evaluation results usually include information about plant growth, ornamental characteristics, pest susceptibility, maintenance needs, invasive potential (for non-natives) and overall adaptability to USDA Hardiness Zone 8 (the north Florida area). Results of these evaluations are helping consumers and the nursery and landscape industries select the best species and cultivars for production and landscape use in Florida.

Xylella fastidiosa
Turn-of-the-Century Hibiscus flower

Short-term goals are to inform nursery/landscape professionals and consumers about the results of these evaluations and persuade these audiences to choose the best-adapted plants identified by these evaluations. Long-term goals are to identify or develop superior landscape plants for Florida and introduce or promote them to Florida consumers and nursery/landscape professionals.

Plants Under Evaluation

Plants under evaluation include:

More Information

For more information on Landscape Plant Evaluations, contact Gary Knox.

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