EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPE USE IN LOUISIANA

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0229679
• Project Start Date: Jun 1, 2012
• Project End Date: May 31, 2016
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100

Performing Department
Hammond Research Station

Non Technical Summary
In the ornamental horticulture area, there is a constant release of new plant material that leads to a need for nursery/greenhouse production studies, landscape performance evaluation trials, disease and insect susceptibility studies, and climatic adaptability observations. These new plants are especially pronounced in the herbaceous plant material (annual bedding plants, herbaceous perennials, roses, daylilies, etc) segment of the industry. Organized plant trials in a simulated consumer and/or commercial landscape setting generate useful information on the suitability of particular ornamental plants in different geographical areas and hardiness/heat zones. Regional and state plant trials have led to successful programs such as Louisiana Select, Mississippi Medallion, Texas Superstars, Florida Plants of the Year, and others. In addition, more studies are needed to determine the "real" landscape performance in regional areas of such nationally promoted plants as All-America Selections (bedding, flower, and vegetable) winners, All-America Rose Selections, All-America daylily winners, and others. A Louisiana green industry survey in 2003 identified ornamental plant evaluation as a top research priority. A recent survey of the board of directors of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association also found new plant material evaluation is a high priority research area. The Louisiana Super Plant promotion, marketing and recommendation program was initiated by the LSU AgCenter in 2010. At the present time in the Southeastern and South Central United States, the largest organized plant evaluations, primarily of warm season annual trials, are conducted at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, Dallas Arboretum, Texas A&M University's Research Center in Overton, University of Georgia - Athens, Mississippi State University Truck Crops Experiment Station (Crystal Springs), and Mississippi State University's South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station (Poplarville). In addition, there are a number of All-America Selections display and trial gardens in these states. Previous research in the area of ornamental plant performance in landscape settings has evaluated daylilies, crape myrtles, cool season annual bedding plants, warm season annual bedding plants, lantanas, ornamental grasses, ornamental sweet potatoes, roses, gingers, and other ornamentals. Currently, this effort is continuing and on-going at the Hammond Research Station in Hammond (USDA Hardiness Zone 8b and AHS Heat Zone 9) and at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge. These trials result in People's Choice Landscape Award winners and also result in listings of plants available for Louisiana Super Plant (www.lsuagcenter.com/superplants) possible selection. Problems generally seen in the landscape performance of herbaceous ornamentals includes cultivar selection, inappropriate planting times, issues with growing/planting media in landscape beds (pH and physical properties), disease pressure, weed issues, mulching, and poor irrigation monitoring.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
203	2110	1060	20%
203	2123	1060	20%
205	2110	1160	20%
205	2123	1070	20%
205	2123	1160	20%

Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2110 - Ornamental trees and shrubs; 2123 - Bedding/garden plants;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 1160 - Pathology;

Keywords

roses

landscape performance

rose diseases

black spot

blackspot

bedding plants

annual flowers

Goals / Objectives
Objetives are: (1) Evaluation of roses for landscape performance under south Louisiana landscape growing conditions as determined by growth, flowering, vigor and disease (blackspot) susceptibility. (2) Evaluation of new and previously introduced warm season and cool season annual bedding plant cultivars and species, along with herbaceous perennials in landscape settings for adaptability to south Louisiana growing conditions. Goals include to be able to provide regionally the following (1) identification of new Louisiana Super Plants, (2) determination of the best landscape performing and minimal black spot susceptible cultivars in minifloras, Biltmore, Korder, hybrid tea, heirloom hybrid tea and Drift roses, (3) recommendation improvements for new and traditional cool season and warm season bedding plant cultivars, (4) provide improvements in information on alternative warm season and cool season bedding plant cultivars and genera for landscape use.

Project Methods
Through a cooperative effort with Texas A&M University, the performance of `Earth Kind' roses has been evaluated in the Baton Rouge area. An Easy Care rose garden containing the Earth Kind and other cultivars will be planted at the Hammond Research Station. Blackspot observations along with visual quality ratings will be conducted 2012-2016. Plants (1-gallon container-grown) will be laid out in unrandomized planting with five single plant replications of five plants per cultivar. Miniflora roses are a new group of roses being grown over the past five years. Cultivars to be included in Hammond Research Station landscape trials are Abby's Angel, Deju Blu, Show Stopper, Dr. Troy Garret, Foolish Pleasure, Memphis Blues, Whirlaway, Shameless, Focal Point, and Rocky Top. Blackspot observations along with visual quality ratings will be conducted over the next five years. Easy Elegance roses are another new group of 23 landscape shrub roses from Bailey Nurseries. The seven best cultivars for the Gulf States as identified by Chamblee Rose Nursery are being evaluated at the Hammond Research Station in the sun garden and are being replicated and treated similar to the methods previously described. Cultivars in this study are My Girl, Sunrise Sunset, Sweet Fragrance, All the Rage, Super Hero, Centennial and Macy's Pride. Drift roses are a new group of ground cover roses advertised as low maintenance, ground cover type alternatives to the popular Knock Out series. Cultivars in the group include Pink, Red, Sweet, Apricot, Peach Coral, and (new for 2012) Popcorn. Plants will be evaluated in the care and maintenance research area at the Hammond Research Station. Sixteen cultivars of Kordes roses are scheduled to be planted at the Hammond Research Station in March 2012. These cultivars are Blue Girl, Carmella Fairy Tale, Cream Veranda, Flamingo Kolorscape, Golden Fairy Tale,Iceberg, Innocencia Vigorosa, Lemon Fizz, Lions Fairy Tale, Mandarin Ice, Milano Kolorscape, Raspberry Vigorosa, Roxy Sun Sprite, Salmon Vigorosa, Seminole Wind, and Westerland. An heirloom hybrid tea study will be initiated to evaluate hybrid tea roses that exhibit superior resistance to fungal disease to the extent that they can be grown with a minimal fungicide program. Thirty hybrid tea rose cultivars with introduction dates of 1880-1950 will be evaluated at the Hammond Research Station. The evaluation will be planted as a The hybrid tea (Easy-Tea) rose evaluation is on-going at the American Rose Society (ARS) in Shreveport, LA and will conclude fall 2012.

Progress 06/01/12 to 05/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Nursery crop producers, retail garden center managers (independent and mass merchandisers) and employees, greenhouse crop producers, professional landscape contractors and horticulturists, home gardeners, master gardeners, arborist, golf course superintendents, urban forestry managers, and municipal horticulture workers were served by this project. Members of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and state association members from the surrounding states of AR, TX, MS, AL, and FL. Members of horticulture commodity boards at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. There was a small percentage contact with hispanic workers employed in the horticulture industry. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Support to local county agents, and area horticulture agents has been provided. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science and the SERA-IEG Nursery and Landscape Systems working group. Stakeholders were educated with presentations at the LSU AgCenter landscape horticulture field day, continuing education classes for Louisiana licensed commercial pesticide applicators, grower workshops, landscape workshops, a multi-state green industry conference with MS, AL and AR, and a multi-state green industry conference with TX, LA, MS, AR, and OK. Other outputs included traditional research publications, 200 e-news updates for the four year period, 75trial garden report emailupdates, and numerous popular press articles. Volunteers from the local master gardener community were provided training in plant evaluations and plant trials. Formal in-person presentations (350) at workshops and field days were delivered to varied audiences across the state. These include commercial horticulture audiences (150) and consumer gardening audiences (200). Multi-state effort to extend research information was included annually via activities at the Gulf States Horticultural Expo, SERA-IEG 27 meeting, Mid South Green Industry Conference, Nursery / Landscape Expo and more. Weekly Facebook social media communication from the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, LSU AgCenter, and LA State Horticulture Society reaches 8,000-9,000 individuals (2.5 million for four year period). An advisory board of professionals was provided with quarterly updates of reseach findings. Master gardeners were provided trial plants for local observations via the new Plants with Potential Program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana Super Plants for 2017 and 2018 were named - Compact SunPatiens, Virginia Williow, Little Gem Southern Magnolia, VIsta Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia, Intenz Classic Celosia and Limelight Hydrangea. Plants with Potential (2015) were named and released - Barbara Rogers begonia, Nova pentas, Kapaloni Bronze and Musiaca copper plant, creeping buttercup turnera, Florida Dwarf Rose purslane, Silkes' Dream salvia, Belle Starr Gold lantana and Mary Helen geranium. Plants with Potential were named for 2016 - Snowflurry verbena, Carlos verbena, Orange Peel cestrum, Red Velvet Plant, and Pink Remembrance Pentas.Plants for Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research for 2016release were distributed. Plants for Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research for 2017release were identified. Data from 2015 and 2016 American Garden Rose Selection trialsin Louisiana was used to name AGRS regional winners for 2017. Rose variety evaluations studying roses from Kordes, Weeks, Conard-Pyle (My Hometown series), and Easy Elegance continued. Year 2 of American Rose Trials for Sustainability was completed. New bedding plant cultivars were evaluated in landscape plantings. 2016 top performers wereUptick series Coreopsis (Darwin Perennials),Sweet Caroline Bewitched Green with Envy Ornamental Sweet Potato (Proven Winners), SweetHeart Jet Black Ornamental Sweet Potato (Proven Winners),Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight Ornamental Sweet Potato (Proven Winners),Under the Sea King Crab Coleus (HortCouture), Under the Sea YellowFin Tuna Coleus (HortCouture), Dragon's Breath Celosia (Sakata),EnduraScape Pink Bicolor Verbena (Ball FloraPlant),Intenz Lipstick Celosia (Ball Ingenuity),Archangel Cherry Red Angelonia (Ball FloraPlant),Archangel Blue Bicolor Angelonia (Ball FloraPlant), MegaWatt series Begonia (PanAmerican Seed),Cannova Orange Shades Canna (Ball Ingenuity),Cannova Mango Canna (Ball Ingenuity),Impatiens Bounce Bright Coral (Selecta),Impatiens Big Bounce Pink (Selecta),Coleus French Quarter (Ball FloraPlant), Titan Really Red Vinca (PanAmerican Seed),Grandstand series Salvia splendens (GreenFuse Botanicals),Senorita Mi Amora Cleome (Proven Winners),Cathedral series Salvia farinacea (GreenFuse Botanicals),Lemon Coral Sedum (Proven Winners),Lime Sizzler Hamelia patens (Greenleaf Nursery / Plant Development Services),RedCajun Roselle Hibiscus (Buddy Lee / Transcend Nursery),Saucy series Salvia splendens (Cultivaris),Vermillionaire Cuphea (Proven Winners),Monarch Promise Asclepias (HortCouture),Mayan series Ruellia (University of Florida),SolarPower series Ornamental Sweet Potatoes (Ball FloraPlant),Love and Wishes Salvia (Plant Development Services),Embers Wish Salvia (Plant Development Services),Black Stockings Pennisetum (Proven Winners),Blue My Mind Evovulus (Proven Winners), Balsamic Blooms Basil (EuroAmerican Propagators),Soiree Kawaii Vinca (Suntory),Soiree Crown Vinca (Suntory),Soiree Double Vinca (Suntory), and Sedona Sun Ornamental Pepper (PanAmerican Seed).

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. Star Roses and Plants Debuts My Hometown Roses. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 11:34.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. Louisiana Super Plants Program Update - 2017 and 2018 Winners Announced. Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. Vol. 61:(in press).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stagg, Jason, Allen Owings and Gina Hebert. 2016.Plants with Potential: A New LSU AgCenter Ornamental Plant Material Awareness Program. HortScience: (in press). (Abstract)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. Growing Roses in the Bayou State: Researching, Promoting, Trialing. HortScience: (in press). (Abstract)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. Highlights of New Bedding Plant Trials. HortScience: (in press). (Abstract)
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/louisianasuperplants
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. American Garden Rose Selections Names 2016 Winners. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 11:36-37.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2016. Louisiana Super Plant - 2015 Winners. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 11:3-5.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Nursery crop producers, retail garden center managers (independent and mass merchandisers) and employees, greenhouse crop producers, professional landscape contractors and horticulturists, home gardeners, master gardeners, arborist, golf course superintendents, urban forestry managers, and municipal horticulture workers were served by this project. Members of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and state association members from the surrounding states of AR, TX, MS, AL, and FL. Members of horticulture commodity boards at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. There was a small percentage contact with hispanic workers employed in the horticulture industry. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Support to local county agents, area horticulture agents, and master gardeners has been provided. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science and the SERA-IEG Nursery and Landscape Systems working group. Stakeholders were educated with presentations at the LSU AgCenter landscape horticulture field day, continuing education classes for Louisiana licensed commercial pesticide applicators, grower workshops, landscape workshops, a multi-state green industry conference with MS, AL and AR, and a multi-state green industry conference with TX, LA, MS, AR, and OK. Other outputs included traditional research publications, 30 e-news updates, 18 trial garden report email updates (twice monthly), and numerous popular press articles. Volunteers from the local master gardener community were provided training in plant evaluations and plant trials. Formal in-person presentations (90) at workshops and field days were delivered to varied audiences across the state. Multi-state effort to extend researchinformation was included via activities at the Gulf States Horticultural Expo, SERA-IEG 27 meeting, Mid South Green Industry Conference, Nursery / Landscape Expo and more. Weekly Facebook social media communication from the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, LSU AgCenter, and LA State Horticulture Society reaches 8,000-9,000 individuals. An advisory board of professionalswas provided with quarterly updates of reseach findings. Master gardeners were provided trial plants for local observations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue EarthKind dwarf compact rose trial in cooperation with Texas A&M University. Conduct year 3 of American Garden Rose Selection trials. Initiate year 2 of the American Rose Trials for Sustainability. Participate for third year in the National Plant Trials Database. Continue disease and landscape evaluations of Panicums started in 2014. Evaluate ornamental landscape plant introductions cooperatively with Plant Development Services, Greenleaf Nursery, Green Nurseries, Stephen F Austin State University Gardens, Louisiana State Horticulture Society, Bailey Nurseries, Ball Horticulture, Proven Winners, EuroAmerican Propagators, Mississippi State University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University - Overton, Live Oak Gardens, Transcend Nursery, and ConardPyle. Name Louisiana Super Plants for 2017 after review of 2014 and 2015plant trial data. Continue 5 year work evaluating flowering, growth habit and disease susceptibility of over 50 new Lagerstroemia cultivars. Complete year 2 of a David Austin rose study initiated fall 2014. Continue Easy Elegance rose study initiated spring 2015. Continue adaptability research for "Louisiana landscape potential" plants from Florida. Introduce year 2 of "plants with potential" at industry day in May. Provide plant entries to Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research plant trials in 2016.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana Super Plants were named for 2016 - Mrs. Schillers Delight Viburnum, Serenita Raspberry Angelonia and Evolution Salvia. Plants with Potential (2015) were named and released - Barbara Rogers begonia, Nova pentas, Kapaloni Bronze and Musiaca copper plant, creeping buttercup turnera, Florida Dwarf Rose purslane, Silkes' Dream salvia, Belle Starr Gold lantana and Mary Helen geranium. Plants with Potential were identified for 2016. Plants for Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research for 2015 release were distributed. Plants for Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research for 2016 release were identified. Data from 2014 and 2015 American Garden Rose Selection trials in Louisiana was used to name AGRS regional winners for 2016. Kordes varieties of roses were planted for 2015-2017 evaluations. Year 1 of David Austin rose landscape trial evaluation was completed. Year 1 of Easy Elegance rose variety landscape trial was completed. Year 1 of American Garden Rose Trials for Sustainability was completed. The rapid influx of new Lagerstroemia (crape myrtle) releases resulted in a desire to establish a landscape experimental planting of these cultivars in 2013 at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, Hammond, LA and the Stephen F. Austin State University Gardens, Nacogdoches, TX for the purpose of evaluating performance over a 4-5 year period. The initial idea was to concentrate on burgundy and black foliaged cultivars but most of the new cultivars are now being included, when available. Replicated plantings are located in full sun. Plants receive supplemental irrigation as needed and are mulched with wood chips and pine bark. Plants are fertilized each spring with a slow-release fertilizer. Data being collected (and to be collected) includes overall visual plant quality, date of first flower, duration of bloom season, plant height, cold hardiness (winter dieback), susceptibility to powdery mildew and susceptibility to leaf spot (Cercospora and bacterial). Series in the trial include Early Bird (Plant Development Services/Southern Living Plant Collection), Ebony (USDA-ARS; also sold as Black Diamond series by J Berry Nursery), Delta (Plant Development Services/Southern Living Plant Collection), Enduring Summer (Ball Ornamentals), Magic (Bailey Nurseries/First Edition), and Princess (Greenleaf Nursery). A few othercultivars are also included in the plantings - Bayou View, Freedom Red, New Lavender, and First Lavender. In 2015, three new additions to the Magic series, four new additions to the Black Diamond series, and two new additions to the Delta series will be added. In addition, three new cultivars from USDA-ARS in Poplarville, MS and five new cultivars from Mississippi State University are being added. Preliminary results confirm the early flowering of the Early Bird series cultivars. Cercospora leaf spot was higher in the Early Bird series and was less observed in black foliaged cultivars. Quality ratings in 2013 were highest for the Delta and Black Diamond series, followed by cultivars in the Enduring Summer series. The cold winter of 2013-2014 saw major dieback in the majority of Enduring Summer cultivars and some dieback in the Black Diamond and Magic cultivars. Data collection and observations on these plantings will continue through 2016. These two plantings are the largest side by side evaluation currently on-going of over 40 of the newest Lagerstroemia cultivars. New bedding plant cultivars (warm season annuals, cool season annuals, herbaceous perennials)were evaluated in landscape plantings each year at the Landscape Horticulture Research and Extension Center at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, Hammond, LA (USDA Hardiness Zone 8B). Raised bed, irrigated, pine straw mulched plantings are located in full sun and partial sun/partial shade areas. Warm season trials were evaluated late April through early October. Data for some bedding plant trials is now being coordinated with 35 additional sites (24 university related) in the North America via the National Plant Trials Database (www.planttrials.org). The top ten performers in warm season annuals and perennials in 2015 were Valiant series vinca (periwinkle), Double Yellow Zahara zinnia, BabyWing Red and BabyWing Bicolor begonias, the lime and black foliage varieties in the SolarPower series of ornamental sweet potatoes, Easy Wave Silver petunia, Cannova Lemon canna, the Flame Thrower series of coleus and Jolt Pink dianthus.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Zlesak, D. C., D. A. Harp, K. Zuzek, J.J. Sloan, A. Owings and S. W. George. 2015. Earth-Kind Rose Trialing: An International Model for Identification of Regionally-Adpated Landscape Roses. Proc. VI International Society on Rose Research and Cultivation. Acta Horticulture. 1064:123-129.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen, Daniel Wells and David Creech. 2015. Landscape Evaluation and Introductory Overview of New Lagerstroemia Series and Cultivars. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 10:30-32.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Stagg, Jason, Allen Owings and Gina Hebert. 2015. LSU AgCenter Plants with Potential 2015. Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 50(2):9.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen D., David Creech and Daniel Wells. 2015. Collecting and Evaluation of New Lagerstroemia Cultivars in Louisiana and Texas. HortScience 50(9):S46-47. (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2015. Gulf Coast Landscape Horticulture Research Gardens - A New LSU AgCenter Industry / University Partnership. HortScience 50(9):S90. (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen D. and Gina Hebert. 2015. Highlights of New Bedding Plant Trials - 2014. HortScience 50(9):S31. (Abstr.)
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2015. Evaluating Roses in the Bayou State. American Rose Annual (American Rose). Ed. Linda Kimmel. November/December. Vol. 43(12):122-125.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2015. Landscape Evaluation of David Austin English Roses and Highlights of a Prior Louisiana Study. ARS and You. January. p.5

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Nursery crop producers, retail garden center managers (independent and mass merchandisers) and employess, greenhouse crop producers, professional landscape contractors and horticulturists, home gardeners, master gardeners, arborist, golf course superintendent and their ground maintenance crews, urban forestry managers, municipal horticulture workers were served by this project. Members of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and state association members from the surrounding states of AR, TX, MS, AL, and FL. Members of horticulture commodity boards at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. Small percentage contact with hispanic workers employed in the horticulture industry. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Support to local county agents, area horticulture agents, and master gardeners has been provided. The project directly follows in-line with the mission of the SERA-IEG 27 working group. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results of these projects were presented at the annual conferences of the Southern Region - American Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science and the SERA-IEG Nursery and Landscape Systems working group. Stakeholders were educated with presentations at the LSU AgCenter landscape horticulture field day, continuing education classes for Louisiana licensed commercial pesticide applicators, grower workshops, landscape workshops, a multi-state green industry conference with MS, AL and AR, and a multi-state green industry conference with TX, LA, MS, AR, and OK. Other outputs included traditional research publications, 30 e-news updates, 18 trial garden report email updates (twice monthly), and numerous popular press articles. Volunteers from the local master gardener community were provided training in plant evaluations and plant trials. The Louisiana Super Plant program plants for 2014 and 2015 were selected based on research findings resulting from this project and similar efforts. Formal in-person presentations (90) at workshops and field days were delivered to varied audiences across the state. Multi-state effort to extend research information was included via activities at the Gulf States Horticultural Expo, SERA-IEG 27 meeting, Mid South Green Industry Conference, Nursery / Landscape Expo and more. Weekly Facebook social media communication from the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, LSU AgCenter, and LA State Horticulture Society reaches 8,000-9,000 individuals. An advisory board of professionals are provided with quarterly updates of reseach findings. Master gardeners were provided trial plants for local observations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue EarthKind dwarf compact rose trial in cooperation with Texas A&M University. Conduct year 3 of American Garden Rose Selection trials. Initiate year 1 of the American Rose Trials for Sustainability. Participate for second year in the National Plant Trials Database. Continue disease and landscape evaluations of Panicums started in 2014. Evaluate ornamental landscape plant introductions cooperatively with Plant Development Services, Greenleaf Nursery, Green Nurseries, Stephen F Austin State University Gardens, Louisiana State Horticulture Society, Bailey Nurseries, Ball Horticulture, Proven Winners, EuroAmerican Propagators, MIssissippi State University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University - Overton, Live Oak Gardens, Transcend Nursery, and ConardPyle. Name Louisiana Super Plants for 2016 after review of 2013 and 2014 plant trial data. Continue 4 year work evaluating flowering, growth habit and disease susceptibility of 42 new Lagerstroemia cultivars. Complete year 1 of a David Austin rose study initiated fall 2014. Prepare for an Easy Elegance rose study to be initiated spring 2015. Continue adaptability research for "Louisiana landscape potential" plants from Florida. Began introducing "plants with possibilities" at industry day in May. Provide plant entries for Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research plant trials in 2015.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana Super Plants (Henna coleus, Homestead Purple verbena, Leslie Ann camellia and Fireworks pennisetum) were identified for 2015. New landscapes wereplanted with roses previously proven to be less disease susceptible in Tennessee trials (Moje Hammarberg, Knock Out, Pink Knock Out, Double Knock Out, Pink Double Knock Out, Carefree Sunshine, My Girl, and Kashmir). Chicago Peace was used as a disease-susceptible control. In addition, two Kolorscape and seven Veranda cultivars from Kordes Roses / Greenheart Farms were landscape planted in fall 2012 for evaluations of horticultural characteristics and disease susceptibility in 2013-2015. An existing planting of six cultivars in the Drift rose series continued to be evaluated in 2013. Blackspot and Cercospora leaf spot ratings were taken seasonally. The only Drift rose with blackspot in 2013 was Red Drift. However, Cercospora susceptibility was high with Peach Drift, Pink Drift, Sweet Drift and Apricot Drift. Less Cercospora was observed on Coral Drift and Red Drift. Peach Drift and Apricot Drift were prone to defoliation due to disease. Proven cultivars from Tennessee were also good with the exception of Carefree Sunshine, which was moderately to highly Cercospora susceptible. Kolorscape and Veranda roses showed no to very low blackspot susceptibility but moderate to high Cercosposa susceptibility. Kolorscape cultivars Cherri and Kardinal were more prone to defoliation than Veranda cultivars (Brilliant, Blush, Cream, Chico, Lavender, Milano, and Sunbeam). Evaluation ofnew crape myrtle cultivars at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station in Hammond, Louisiana and at the Stephen F. Austin State University Gardens in Nacogdoches, Texas, will continue through 2017. Recorded data include height, flowering initiation dates, flowering duration, flowering intensity, plant visual quality, and incidence and intensity of Cercospora leaf spot disease. Series being evaluated in the trials include Barnyard, Black Diamond, Delta, Early Bird, Ebony, Enduring Summer, Magic, and Princess. The Piney Woods Garden now has approximately 92 genera containing 417 taxa. This includes a collection of Japanese maples and other Acer spp., Camellia hiemalis; Rhododendrons; a Cornus collection that includes University of Tennessee and southern region unnamed selections; Hydrangea, althea; Taxodium, Iris; Gardenia; Vitex; Crateagus; Prunus; Ilex; Distylium; Illicium; Abelia; Liriope; Magnolia; Duetzia; Halesia; Gordonia; Kalmia; Trachelospermum; Cassia; Viburnum; Forsythis;Myrica; Quercus; Podocarpus; andPhotinia. This effort to collect new plants for entry into wholesale production and use in order to observe short term landscape performance is being done in cooperation with support from the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Foundation. Top performing cultivars in the 2014 bedding plant trials were Arrabonna Red Celosia, Bounce series Impatiens, Rio Grande series Purslane, Mayan series Ruellia, Sombraro Adobe Orange Echinacea, Lime Sizzler Hamelia, Cannova series Canna, Titan Romance Vinca, Embers Wish Salvia, Marquee Blonde Bombshell Coleus, Love and Wishes Salvia, Flash Mob Magentacaular Petunia, Flash Mob Pinkceptional Petunia, Vintage series Achillea, Bondi White and Bondi Blue Scaevola, Big Bounce series Impatiens, and Starcluster series Pentas. Year 1 of EarthKind compact rose trial data was collected. Year 2 of the American Garden Rose Selections Program was concluded. The first set of winning roses will be named in 2015.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Chen, Y., A. Owings, and R. Bracy. 2014. Effects of Cutless.33G on six landscape shrubs used as hedge. HortScience 49(9):S30 (abstr).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Fontenot, Kathryn, Alan Morgan and Allen Owings. 2014. Creating Butterfly Gardens Across Louisiana through Enhanced Agent Training. HortScience. 49(9):S216-217. (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen and Mark Windham. 2014. Horticulture and Pathology Observations in Landscape Planted Roses at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station. HortScience 49(10):S34.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen, Regina Bracy, Daniel Wells, Gina Hebert and Yan Chen. Plants in the New Piney Woods Garden at LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station. HortScience. 49(10:33-34. (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Wells, Daniel, Allen Owings and David Creech. 2014. Overview of Recent New Crape Myrtle Cultivar Releases. HortScience. 49(10):S28. (Abstr.)
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. AgCenter Research Studies New Annual and Perennial Flowers. Louisiana Nursery and Landscape News. Vol. 47(3):7-8.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Chen, Y, R.P. Bracy, and A. D. Owings. 2014. Effects of Cutless .33G on landscape shrubs used as hedge. Southern Nursery Assoc. Res. Conf. Proc. 59:287-291.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Singh, Raghuwinder, Owings, Allen D. "Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Boxwood Blight (PDF Format Only)". 2014
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Singh, Raghuwinder, Owings, Allen D. "Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Rose Rosette Disease (PDF format only)". 2014
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. LSHR Funded Research - David Austin Rose Evaluations. The Compost Pile. Summer. p. 7.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. LSHR Funded Research - Florida Plant Evaluations. The Compost Pile. Sumnmer. p. 7.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. New Varieties of Crape Myrtle Are Available in Abundance. The Compost Pile. Summer. p. 5-6.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. American Rose Center 2014 Trial Grounds Winners. American Rose. Vol. 42(10):67-68.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. Plant Trials and Evaluations: Communicating Results to Consumers. Combined Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society. Vol. 63:437-440.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. Louisiana Super Plants. Louisiana Gardener. Vol. 16(3):56-57.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. Easy Tea Hybrid Tea Roses: Low Maintenance, Disease Resistant. LNLA Quarterly Magazine. Vol. 45(1):11.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2014. Nursery Crop Outlook. In: 2014 Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture. LSU AgCenter Staff Report No. 2014-04. p. 33-34.

Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nursery crop producers, retail garden center managers (independent and mass merchandisers) and employess, greenhouse crop producers,professional landscape contractors and horticulturists, home gardeners, master gardeners, arborist, golf course superintendent and their ground maintenance crews, urban forestry managers, municipal horticulture workers were served by this project. Members of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and stateassociation members from the surrounding states of AR, TX, MS, AL, and FL. Members of horticulture commodity boards at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. Small percentage contact with hispanic workers employed in the horticulture industry. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Support to local county agents,area horticulture agents, and master gardeners has been provided.The project directly follows in-line with the mission of the SERA-IEG 27 working group of which the project leader is a member. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results of these projects were presented at the annual conferences of the Southern Region - American Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science and the SERA-IEG Nursery and Landscape Systems working group. Stakeholders were educated with presentations at the LSU AgCenter landscape horticulture field day, continuing education classes for Louisiana licensed commercial pesticide applicators, grower workshops, landscape workshops, a multi-state green industry conference with MS, AL and AR, and a multi-state green industry conference with TX, LA, MS, AR, and OK. Other outputs included traditional researchpublications, 30 e-news updates, 18 trial garden report e-mail updates (twice monthly), and numerous popular press articles. Volunteers from the local master gardener community were provided training in plant evaluations and plant trials. The Louisiana Super Plant program plants for 2013 and 2014 were selected based on research findings resulting from this project and similar efforts. Formal in-person presentations (90) at workshops and field days were delivered to varied audiences across the state. Multi-state effort to extend research information was included via activities at the Gulf States Horticultural Expo, SERA-IEG 27 meeting, Mid South Green Industry Conference, Nursery / Landscape Expo and more. Weekly Facebook social media communication from the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station, LSU AgCenter, and LA State Horticulture Societyreaches 8,000-9,000 individuals. An advisory board of professionals are provided with quarterly updates of reseach findings. Master gardeners were provided trial plants for local observations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Initiate a new EarthKind rose trial to include compact and dwarf rose cultivars. Conduct year 2 of evaluating plants in the American Garden Rose Selections rose trialing program. Evaluate ornamental landscape plant introductions cooperatively with Plant Development Services, Greenleaf Nursery, Green Nurseries, Stephen F Austin State University Gardens, Louisiana State Horticulture Society, Bailey Nurseries, Ball Horticulture, Proven Winners, EuroAmerican Propagators, MIssissippi State University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University - Overton, Live Oak Gardens, Transcend Nursery, and Conard-Pyle. Name Louisiana Super Plants for 2015 after review of 2012 and 2013 plant trial data. Continue 4 year work evaluating flowering, growth habit and disease susceptibility of 25 new Lagerstroemia cultivars. Initiate planting of Hemerocallis species germplasm. Prepare for a David Austin rose study to be intiated fall 2014. Prepare for an Easy Elegance rose study to be initiated spring 2014. Continue adaptability research for "Louisiana landscape potential" plants from Florida. Ten varieties of Panicums will be studied for landscape adaptability starting spring 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Acalypha data collection has included time of late-season flowering, degree of mutation/sporting, plant height and plant spread. Heavy flowering (considered undesirable) was observed on Jungle Dragon. Curly Q. Mutation was very common on Swizzle Scissors and Peach Whirl. Taller growing copper plant cultivars are Hoffmanni, Raggedy Ann, Jungle Dragon, Ceylon, Haleakala, Kona Coast, Tequila Sunrise, Curly Q, Tahiti, Opelousas Red and Louisiana Red. Studies of Easy Elegance roses showed Sweet Fragrance had the most significant blackspot disease presence in mid-May while Sunrise Sunset, Sweet Fragrance, Macy’s Pride and Centennial had the most blackspot disease in mid-October. Less than 10% of foliage on Super Hero, My Girl and All the Rage exhibited blackspot symptoms in mid-May. These three cultivars exhibited 10-25% foliage with blackspot at the mid-October evaluation. Visual quality ratings were best for Super Hero, My Girl and All the Rage early in the year and best for Super Hero, My Girl, All the Rage and Sunrise Sunset in the fall of the year. Louisiana Super Plants named for 2013 and 2014 were Diamonds Blue delphinium, willow oak, Drift roses, blueberries, Mesa gaillardia, Luna hibiscus, Flutterby Petite Tuitti Fruiti Pink buddleia, Kauai torenia, Bandana lantana, Little Ruby alternanthera, and Aphrodite althea. Easy Tea hybrid tea roses based on blackspot susceptibility studies are Pink Traviata, Traviate, Tahitian Sunset, The McCartney Rose and Frederic Mistral. Year one of a three year study evaluating hardy perennial hibicsus was completed. Year one of evaluating 25 new Lagerstroemia cultivars was completed. Ten cultivars of Turk's cap have been evaluated under one year of landscape growing conditions. An additional(450) plant successions have been established in the new Piney Woods Garden. Plant varieties (196) were evaluated in warm season trials in a shade garden. Plant varieties (750) were evaluated in warm season and cool season trials in a sun garden.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2013. Timely Communication to Nursery and Landscape Clientele: Facebook, E-News Updates and Trial Garden Reports. HortScience 48(9):S26.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2103 Citation: Owings, Allen and Roger Rosendale. 2013. Landscape Evaluation of Acalypha (Copper Plant) Cultivars. HortScience 48(9):S30.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen, Roger Rosendale and Regina Bracy. 2013. Easy Elegance Roses - Landscape Observations on Cultivars Recommended for the South. HortScience 48(9):S30-31.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2013. Finding Lower-Maintenance Easy-Tea Hybrid Tea Roses. Louisiana Agriculture. Summer 2013. Vol 56(3):22-23.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2013. LSU AgCenter Trial Garden Reports. January 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013 Issues. Volume 2. No. 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25 and 26.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen, Dan Gill and Regina Bracy. 2013. Louisiana Super Plants - Spring 2012. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol 8:15-17.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2013. Imaharas Botanical Garden Now Open in St Francisville. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 8:43-44.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kirk, Heather, Edward Bush and Allen Owings. 2013. Landscape Plant Establishment and Subsequent Growth as Affected by Mulching. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Vol. 8:29-42.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen, Regina Bracy, Yan Chen, Roger Rosendale and Joey Quebedeaux. 2013. The Gardens at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station. HortScience 48(9):S31.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2103 Citation: Owings, Allen. 2013. American Rose Center Trial Grounds 2012 and 2013 Awards. American Rose. Vol. 42(4):82-85.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen and Claude Graves. 2013. "Easy Tea" Hybrid Tea Rose Research Project Five Winners Named. American Rose. Vol. 42(5):69-71.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owings, Allen and Daniel Wells. 2013. Crape Myrtles: Numerous New Cultivars Now Available. LNLA Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 43(3):8,12.

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The results of these projects were presented at the annual conferences of the Southern Region - American Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science and the SERA-IEG Nursery and Landscape Systems working group. Stakeholders were educated with presentations at the LSU AgCenter landscape horticulture field day, continuing education classes for Louisiana licensed commercial pesticide applicators, grower workshops, landscape workshops, multi-state green industry conference with MS, AL and AR, and a multi-state green industry conference with TX, LA, MS, AR, and OK. Other outputs included 11 publications, 45 e-news updates (sent weekly), 24 trial garden report e-mail updates (twice monthly), and numerous popular press articles. Volunteers from the local master gardener community were provided training in plant evaluations and plant trials. The Louisiana Super Plant program plants for 2012 and 2013 were selected based on research findings resulting from this project and similar efforts. Formal in-person presentations at workshops and field days were made - 90 presentations to varied audiences across the state. Multi-state effort to extend research information was included via activities at the Gulf States Horticultural Expo, SERA-IEG 27 meeting, Mid South Green Industry Conference, Nursery / Landscape Expo and more. Facebook social media communication from the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station reaches 1,500 individuals weekly, the LSU AgCenter 4,000 individuals weekly and the LA State Horticulture Society 700 individuals weekly. An advisory board of professionals are provided with updates of reseach findings are quarterly meetings. Master gardeners were provided trial plants for local observational studies. PARTICIPANTS: Allen Owings (PI), Roger Rosendale, Regina Bracy, Yan Chen, Nick Singh, Don Ferrin, Jeff Kuehny, Ron Strahan, Ed Bush, Dan Gill, Joey Quebedeaux, Stephen Crnko, Wanda Ellis, Peggy Cox, Kyle Huffstickler, LSU AgCenter. Cooperating departments, units were School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, LA House Home and Landscape Resource Center, Burden Center and Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology. Partner organizations and cooperating companies included Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Foundation for Scholarship and Research, Louisiana State Horticulture Society, Azalea Society of America, Windmill Nursery, Bracy's Nursery, Jenkins Farm and Nursery, Arcola Nursery, Clegg's Nursery, Moran's Nursery, Rountree Horticultural Designs, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Nursery Advisory Group, local master gardener associations, Willis Farms, American Rose Society, Baton Rouge Rose Society, SE LA Nursery Association, Baton Rouge Landscape Association, Stephen F. Austin State University, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, Chamblee Rose Nursery, Weeks Roses, Conard-Pyle, Ball Horticulture, Darwin Perennials, PanAmerican Seed, Ball FloraPlant, Syngenta Flowers, Pacific Plug and Liners, Sakata Seed and more. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery, landscape, garden center, similar industry professionals, master gardeners, several public were targeted with twice monthly trial garden reports (e-mailed) and weekly ornamental horticulture updates (e-mailed). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Herbaceous plant landscape trials named the following varieties as best performers in 2012 - Amistad salvia, Cheyenne Spirit echinacea, Cherry Sparkler pennisetum, BabyWing Bronze w/ White begonia, Lighthouse series annual salvia, Senorita Blanca cleome, Monza series begonia, Trend Purple Red cuphea, Chocolate Covered Cherry coleus, and Qis series gomphrena. In addition, Sombraro echinacea and Atomic veronica were new plant introductions that performed well. Nova penta and Florida Dwarf Rose purslane have been propagated and are being prepared for re-introduction to the industry in 2013. Dame de Coeur, Radiance and Red Radiance are three of the best performers in our early observations in an heirloom hybrid tea rose study. Best performing hybrid tea roses in trials for blackspot resistance were Tahitian Sunset, The McCartney Rose, Frederic Mistral, Pink Traviata and Traviata. In miniflora rose landscape trials, Deja Blue had the most blackspot while the best plant and flower quality season-long were to Memphis Blues and Troy Garrett. My Girl continued to be the best landscape performer of the Easy Elegance rose cultivars being studied. Loretta Lynn was one of the best initial landscape performers in the Biltmore Rose Collection trial planting. Uniqueness in the Flutterby buddleia include the Petite Blue Heaven, Petite Tutti Fruitti (aka Petite Tutti Fruitti Pink), Grande Blueberry Cobbler and Grande Peach Cobbler cultivars. Buzz series cultivars of buddleia performing well in landscapes included Ivory, Purple, Magenta Improved, Lavender, Blue Sky and Velvet. Miss Molly, Miss Ruby and Purple Haze performed better than Blue Chip with improved disease tolerance. LSU AgCenter Master Gardener People's Choice award-winning buddleia in 2012 were Buzz Velvet, Miss Ruby and Blue Chip. Winners in the Master Gardener People' Choice awards spring 2012 were Gold - Echinacea Double Scoop Bubble Gum, Silver - Hardy hibiscus Peppermint Schnapps, and Bronze - Ornamental millet Jade Princess. In Acalypha trials, Jungle Dragon produced the most fall flowers (negative), the most unique twisted foliaged cultivars were Raggady Ann, Hoffmannii, Curly Q, Ceylon and Tahiti, and most mutation of foliage in Swizzle Scissors, Peach Whirl and Haleakala. Plants of C. Smith's Sarah's Select verbena were distributed to a nursery for a 2012 introduction. Senorita Rosalita cleome, BabyWing begonia, Penny Mac hydrangea, Sorbet viola, Conversation Piece azalea, and evergreen sweetbay magnolia were named Louisiana Super Plants and were promoted in 2012. Over 200 retailers (independent retail garden centers only) and growers in Louisiana actively participated in the Louisiana Super Plant program. Four chinese clones of montezuma and bald cypress hybrids show promise in coooperation with Stephen F. Austin State University: Zhongshansha 405, Zhongshansha 406, Zhongshansha 407, Zhongshansha 502. Recommended substitutions to impatiens include cultivars of coleus, begonias, sunpatiens, torenia and alternanthera.

Publications

• Owings, Allen. 2012. Garden Profile: Plant Evaluation at the LSU AgCenter's Hammond Research Station. Louisiana Gardener. Vol. 14(4): 53-55.
• Owings, Allen, Regina Bracy and Roger Rosendale. Warm-season landscape plant evaluations at the Hammond Research Station. Louisiana Agriculture. Winter 2012. Vol. 55, No. 1. pp. 22-23.
• Owings, Allen. Drift series roses new landscape shrub. Louisiana Agriculture. Winter 2012. Vol. 55, No. 1. p. 19.
• Owings, Allen, Kyle Huffstickler and Dan Gill. 2012. New Drift Series Roses Offer New Landscape Options. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Volume 7:1-2.
• Chen, Yan, Allen Owings and Regina Bracy. 2012. Fertilizer Regimes During Production Affect Coleus Growth and Quality in the Landscape. Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Volume 7:11-15.
• Owings, Allen, Regina Bracy and Roger Rosendale. Alternatives in Cool-Season Flowers for the Landscape. Louisiana Agriculture. Summer 2012. Vol. 55, No. 3. Pp. 10-11."
• Owings, Allen. 2012. Landscape Evaluation of Roses at the LSU AgCenter. 2012 ASHS Annual Conference-Oral Session Abstracts. p. 116.
• Knox, Gary, Jon Lindstrom, Tom Ranney, Ed Bush, Allen Owings, Win Dunwell and Richard Beeson. 2012. 'Jon Jon' Magnolia: A Late Flowering Deciduous Magnolia Recommended for Zones 6B to 8B in the Southeaster United States. Proc. of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. Vol. 57:219-224.
• Owings, Allen, Roger Rosendale and Regina Bracy. 2012. Landscape performance of Drift series roses. Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. Vol. 57:206-208.
• Owings, Allen. 2012. Louisiana Super Plants for Spring 2012. Louisiana Gardener. Vol. 14(4):58-59.
• Owings, Allen, Regina Bracy, and Dan Gill. Louisiana Super Plants - Three Years of Successful Plant Promotions. 2012. 2012 ASHS Annual Conference-Oral Session Abstracts. p. 56-57.