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The Experiment Station again has an active rose breeding program with several new releases on the horizon.

The Horticultural Research Center develops and tests varieties of shade trees, shrubs, fruit trees, berries, grapes and ornamental grasses.

The inspiring beauty of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 1,040 acres of display gardens, model landscapes, and natural woodlands is a year-round oasis, located only 45 minutes southeast of Minneapolis. But beneath the beauty is a firm foundation of science and research. Since its inception on remote woods and wetlands in 1958, the University’s showcase has blossomed into one of the premier horticultural field laboratories and public display gardens in the nation.

At the Arboretum, research is a quiet undercurrent that the public may not see, but at the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) just a half-mile west, research is foremost. The two sites are linked through the Department of Horticultural Science.

Established in 1908 as the University’s Fruit Breeding Farm, the Center’s earliest goal was to develop apple varieties that would thrive in Minnesota. The HRC, on 230 acres, is one of only a few facilities in the world dedicated to breeding and developing cold-hardy fruit and woody landscape plants.

The Research Center sale room is a where visitors can sample and purchase surplus fruit including U of M varieties and sometimes get a taste of a potential new variety.

“Honeycrisp” apple has become one of the most popular new apples in the U.S.

It is particularly noted for its development of several favorite apple varieties, including the Haralson, released in 1923, Fireside (1943), and Sweet Sixteen (1978). Recent years have seen superb releases such as Honeycrisp (1991) and Zestar! (1998). Widespread renown also exists for the “Lights” series of fragrant and colorful azaleas, the “Northern Sun” forsythia, and berries and grapes. Once the perennial plants are successfully bred to survive through severe Minnesota winters, researchers go beyond that to enhance other qualities, such as color, and disease and insect resistance.

University researchers use the two facilities to study the breeding, growth, and propagation of woody landscape plants; to develop high quality grapes, berries, and tree fruits; to devise integrated pest management and fruit production systems; for breeding and evaluating ornamental grasses, and to develop methods for restoring wetland and prairie ecosystems.

The “Lights” series of azaleas are popular releases bred to withstand Minnesota’s winters. The U of M has released 13 different colors of “Lights.” including “White Lights.”

Grape varieties developed here are the hardiest wine varieties. The Center has a new winery to test the grapes for their wine-making properties.

The location makes it ideally suited for studying plant performance in urban and suburban environments, and breeding and selecting varieties to survive and thrive in them.

The Arboretum’s historical Andersen Horticultural Library, therapeutic horticultural programs, and children’s garden programs have gained international recognition.