WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS By Carla L. Pastore A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University pC Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for t~e degree of Master of Science in Public Horticulture Aqministration ! August 1988 Copyright 1988 Carla L. Pastore All Rights Reserved WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS By Carla L. Pastore Approved: James E. Swasey, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: James E. Swasey, Ph.D. Coordinator of the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture Administration Approved: Richard B. Murray, ph.D. Associate Provost for Graduate Studies When I put out a good tree it is better than the best law ever passed or the best symphony ever written or the best political speech. You know it's a creative thing that touches the lives of many, many people. Willet Wandell j \ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research paper would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of numerous individuals. I would like to thank my thesis committee members, Rick Darke, James Swasey, Judy Zuk and John Frett, for their keen insight and help which greatly improved this paper. Thanks are also offered to the Longwood Foundation for the Fellowship grant which made this work opportunity possible. In addition, my gratitude is extended to the many individuals who generously provided information on their work and candidly answered my many questions. My special thanks to Barbara Coe, James Briggs, Donald Egolf, Steve Hutton, Gary Koller, Bruce Macdonald, Phil Normandy, Harold Pellett, Benny Simpson, Mark Widrlechner, and Willet Wandell. I appreciated their honesty, patience and enthusiasm. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Phil Sebring, who never failed to provide the help, support, encouragement, patience, enthusiasm and sense of humor I needed to develop this research paper. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES . vi ii ABSTRACT . • ix INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER: 1 SELECTED PROFIT WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS ......••.•..•. 4 Conard-pyle Company - Rose Introduction Program 8 Discov-Tree Research and Development, Ltd .... 20 2 SELECTED NOT-FOR-PROFIT WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS .. ..•. • 29 Plant Breeding Programs 31 U.S. National Arboretum - Introduction Program for Improved Shrubs and Trees . 35 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - Breeding, Selection and Evaluation of Landscape Plants ... 44 Plant Selection Programs . • . · 52 University of British Columbia Botanical Garden - Plant Introduction Scheme of the Botanical Garden . • .. .. 53 Saratoga Horticul tural Foundation .. 68 United States Department of Agriculture .. 79 Agricultural Research Service • 79 Soil Conservation Service • • 82 v North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station - NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials Program . .. 87 Brookside Gardens - Plant Evaluation program . • . • . 97 Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Native Release Program. ••..... 107 Plant Advocate Programs 113 Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 115 North Carolina State University Arboretum Program for the Introduction of Plants to the Nursery/Landscape Industry .•. 124 3 GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING A WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAM . 134 Examining the Mission Statement 134 Analyzing Resources 135 Designing the Program 137 Plant Sources 138 Testing 139 Cooperators o • • G • ~ 140 Promotional Strategies . 142 J. Franklin Styer Award of Garden Merit 144 All-America Rose Selections 145 Plant Patents • • • 0 • • • • • 147 Trademarks . • 151 Conclusions 153 vi 4 DIRECTORY OF SELECTED WOODY PLANT INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA . 155 Categorical Listing 155 Alphabetical Listing . 156 APPENDICES • • . 167 Contents . 168 REFERENCE LIST . • . • . 219 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Components of woody Plant Introduction Programs 5 2. Conard-Pyle Company program Model . 9 3. Discov-Tree Research Program Model 21 4. U.S. National Arboretum Program Model •. 36 5. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Program Model 45 6. University of British Columbia Botanical Garden program Model . • . .. 54 7. saratoga Horticultural Foundation program Model 69 , l 8. USDA Soil Conservation Service Program Model. 83 9. NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials Program Mod e 1 . • . • • • . • . •. .••.•. 88 10. Brookside Gardens Program Model . 98 11. Texas Agticultura~ Experiment Station Program Mode 1 • . • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • . .. • • 108 12. Arnold Arboretum program Model . 116 13. North Carolina State University Arboretum Program Model . • • . • . • . • . 125 viii ABSTRACT Plant introduction is often a primary goal of profit and not-for-profit horticultural institutions. In the past many introduction programs were designed to collect, test and select superior woody plants, but did not include a structured system to promote introductions to the wholesale or retail nursery trade. This study examines more recent programs that include a strong promotional component. woody plant introduction programs in the United States and Canada are analyzed in this research paper. These programs contain a combination of components including testing, selection, registration, patenting, trademarking, royalty collection, promotion and marketing. The purpose of the paper is threefold. First, it is to provide an understanding and appreciation for a variety of introduction programs through an examination of their components and organizational models. Second, it is to supply information on designing and implementing a new program or modifying an existing program. And third, it is to direct the reader to sources for more information on this topic. ix Research methods used to collect data on this subject were primarily site visits and telephone interviews with initiators and cooperators of these programs. Information on each program has been standardized to provide the reader with a basis for comparison. Since no two woody plant introduction programs will be exactly alike, each should be tailored to serve the needs of the institution, the geographic region, and the horticulture industry. The design process begins with an examination of the institution's mission statement and available resources. Planning includes the preparation of written goals and objectives, five year budget and program model. A working knowledge of plant registration, patenting and trademarking is essential. The design should include a promotional program which maximizes resources and targets a large audience. Open communication and participation with the horticulture industry should be fostered. And finally a strong leader, with an understanding of the introduction process, contacts in the horticulture industry, and energy and enthusiasm, is critical to the success of a woody plant introduction program. x INTRODUCTION Numerous individuals and institutions in the United states and Canada are actively involved in research to identify and select superior woody plants for the landscape. However, only a few have a bona fide plant introduction program or scheme, which includes a mechanism for the promotion of these introductions. In this research paper plant introduction is defined as the process whereby plants from clonal / I selections or breeding are tested, evaluated, selected, registered, and promoted. Plant introductions may be patented and/or trademarked and royalties collected. For definitions of these terms, as they pertain to this research, see page 6. A more traditional use of the term plant introduction refers to the process of importing plant materials into the United states. Although importation is the source of many plants for testing in plant introduction programs, it is not the author's intention to examine this process. 1 2 In order to evaluate each plant introduction program, a measurement of success must be established. In this paper the word success will be defined as the achievement of specified goals. Each institution's plant introduction program mission or purpose will be used as the basis for determining success. Goals vary considerably. Although plant introduction is the one common objective, the actual quantity of new introductions is often of lesser importance that related benefits, such as;-making a profit, providing improved plants for the consumer in a specific region, gaining recognition for the institution, staff or cooperators, or improving industry relationships. Since relatively little has been published on plant introduction programs, library research yielded minimal information. Data for chapters land 2 was collected primarily through site visits and telephone conversations with initiators and cooperators of these programs. The goal of this research paper is to provide information for not-for-profit institutions that want to design a woody plant introduction program or improve a current program. Through the examination of profit and not-for-profit models, in&titutions ca~ gain an understanding and appreciation for the process involved in implementing an introduction program. 3 This paper is divided into four sections. Chapter 1 examines and analyzes profit woody plant introduction programs using examples from commercial nurseries. Chapter 2 examines and analyzes not-for-profit woody plant introduction programs organized by arboreta, botanical gardens, univetsities and state and federal government. Chapter 3 provides guidelines for developing or modifying a woody plant introduction program and chapter 4 is a directory of selected plant introduction programs in the United states and Canada. CHAPTER 1 SELECTED PROFIT