About Our Woody Ornamentals Program
Breeding and Product Development
In a class of plants that can take upwards of 10 years to breed, how do you choose future products to fill industry gaps? In the Woody Ornamental Department at Star® Roses and Plants, the breeding journey begins with either a plausible solution to a problem or the conception of a novel idea.
After identifying a breeding objective, we select the best parents for the desired traits. Using advanced laboratory techniques in combination with traditional breeding, our team develops the beautiful, resilient, and low-maintenance plants that you find in our pipeline.
Take our Sweet Starlight™ Hydrangea. Hydrangea paniculata are known for their large blooms and white-to-pink coloration, but often exhibit frustrating qualities as they age, such as flopping and overgrown habits. Our team was able to successfully breed a new variety with earlier blooming and color onset, non-flopping stems, and a more compact habit to increase versatility of use in the landscape.
Trialing Process
Before introduction, woody plants undergo rigorous testing to be sure they’re market worthy. We test various types of products, including fast-turn color shrubs, evergreens, bare root trees, and edibles.
A period of screening in nursery containers and field conditions is performed before evaluation in commercial comparison trials. Varieties are tested onsite and at numerous trial locations and universities across the country to determine performance in different hardiness zones and climates. Plants are only released if they prove to perform better than their peers across numerous environments.
In addition to identifying disease resistance and attributes, the trial process helps determine the timing and protocol for finishing product. This is most helpful in comparison to other varieties on the market. If a plant does not demonstrate an improvement over industry standards, it is not introduced.
Our goal in executing such detailed evaluation is to ensure each introduction delivers new or improved attributes to the customer.
Partner With Us
Our team deeply values collaborating with breeders to fully develop and introduce novel plant genetics to the market. When you bring your breeding initiatives to Star® Roses and Plants, you receive the backing of 125 years of successful plant trialing and introductions. We carefully invest in each new variety, from nation-wide comparison trialing to on-site testing and evaluation. Plants selected as an introduction to our woody ornamentals program receive high-quality, multichannel marketing from initial launch to establishment as a known market variety. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our team.
Contact Our Woody Team