The Ornamental Plant Trialing Program at Star Roses and Plants

Star® Roses and Plants (SR&P) is a leading breeder and distributor of perennials, shrubs and roses.  Its products include the Knock Out® rose.  NovaFlora is SR&P’s breeding division.  Trialing is an integral part of the breeding process and comprehensive screening can be the difference between a financial success and failure.  In addition, it builds a well-respected reputation for the company or institution that results in the consumer eagerly awaiting the next great product.  The trialing process at SR&P is a multi-year, multi-region process involving numerous cooperators from industry, academia, and public gardens.  SR&P has been trialing rose varieties for decades, and a program to evaluate woodies and perennials was instituted in 2009.  The trial has grown to evaluate more than 250 new varieties annually for landscape performance, grower traits, and overall aesthetic appearance. Varieties developed by NovaFlora and licensed-in from university and private  breeders are evaluated and compared to industry standards both in containers and in-ground trials to provide the grower and consumer a thorough understanding of growth habits and aesthetic benefits from beginning to end.  Information garnered benefits not just growers and consumers but can be utilized for patent-filing and marketing departments for promotion and distribution.