Skip to Content Skip to Navigation
Menu
My Idea Boards

Plant Trials

osu_trials Ornamental grasses and petunias Wall of blooming petunias

Every plant in North America is subject to at least one weather- or critter-related problem. What few gardeners realize, however is that these problems can be avoided by selecting plants that are more suitable for the specific region you live in. That's where trials come in!

Trials are the plant industry's way of measuring how well a particular variety will perform in different parts of the country and evaluating new plant varieties.  There are two kinds of trials:  University field trials which generally consist of beds where each plant is grown in a small plot (called a row trial), and public gardens, where plants are often put in display beds or pots.  Proven Winners sends plant material to both kinds of trials, and also conducts their own trials at test sites across North America.

By visiting a trial in your area, you will be able to see how plants perform in an environment similar to your own.  For instance, if there is a new Verbena that is tolerant to mildew, gardeners in the Midwest and Southeast would like to know about it. And while all Proven Winners varieties perform well in a range of environments, there will always be some that are better suited to certain regions than others.

Use our search function to find trial locations in your area where Proven Winner plants can be viewed and start your journey to a garden that is not only beautiful but also the longest-lasting

dallas_arboretum_trials

Different varieties are grown side by side for comparison.

Filters
Showing 21 - 30 of 30.
University of Delaware - Botanic Gardens
211 Roger Martin Ln
Newark, NJ 19713
Open Daily to the Public, Dawn to Dusk

Visit website for more information and to plan your visit. 

University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center 3205 College Ave.
Davie, FL
Open Daily to the Public
University of Georgia
1030 W. Green Street
Athens, GA
706- 542-2471
Open Daily to the Public
University of Guelph
Guelph Turfgrass Institute 328 Victoria Road S.
Guelph, ON
Open Daily to the Public

Trial Gardens are located at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.

University of Illinois-Champaign County Master Gardeners
South Lincoln Ave
Urbana, IL
Open Daily to the Public

No admission Fee. Guided group tours available periodically.

The Idea Garden is located within University of Illinois Arboretum on south Lincoln Avenue in Urbana, just south of the corner of Florida and Lincoln Avenues.

University of Minnesota - Grand Rapids
1861 E Hwy 169
Grand Rapids, MN
218-327-4490
Open Daily to the Public

Annual Visitors Day Event to be held on June 27, 2026 from 10:00am-4:00pm. See event page for more details: https://ncroc.cfans.umn.edu/

University of Minnesota - Morris
46352 State Hwy. #329
Morris, MN
320-589-1711
Open Daily to the Public

Annual Horticulture Night held on July 30, 2024 from 4:00 -8:00 pm. Visit event page for details: https://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/events/hort-night

University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
573-884-7945

Bradford Research and Extension Center
4968 Rangeline Road
Columbia, MO 65201

University of Tennessee - Knoxville
2518 Jacob Drive
Knoxville, TN
865-974-7324
Open Daily to the Public, Dawn to Dusk

Admission if free to the public. Visit their website for more details, directions, and special events.

University of Wisconsin
8502 Mineral Point Rd
Verona, WI
608-829-1162
Open Daily to the Public, Dawn to Dusk

Free to the public.

Trials are located behind the extension center building.

Showing 21 - 30 of 30.
Back to Top

Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects.

To create an idea board, sign in or create an account.