Sites:
H=Horticulture Research Center, So. Burlington, USDA zone 4b
photos: summer 1997 | 5/12/00 | 5/19/00 | 5/28/00 | 6/3/00 | 6/20/00
U=UVM greenhouses [view, 47K], Burlington, including outdoor student garden test beds, USDA zone 5b
photos: freezing research 1997
M=Winterberry Perennials, Milton, USDA zone 4a
W=Waterfront Park, Burlington, USDA zone 5b
photos, planting 6/1/00: front | circle | sign
 

Powdery mildew studies (U):
About 15 new cultivars of beebalm were established in 1998 (H) for evaluation for genetic resistance to powdery mildew in a randomized complete block design. Plants were evaluated for drought, weed and cold stress early 2000, then potted for subsequent mildew studies at the UVM greenhouse (U). This past year 5 organic controls were tested on Snow White bee balm (see article below) in containers (U). This coming year, a similar number will be tested on both Mt. Fuji phlox and Snow White monarda. These phlox control studies are being conducted by grad student Cheryl Bruce.

[Slide Show on past studies of powdery mildew on phlox and monarda.]

1998 Scientific article on powdery mildew among bee balm cultivars

1999 Scientific article on organic powdery mildew controls on phlox

New 2/01 2000 Scientific article on organic powdery mildew controls on bee balm

Leaflet summarizing powdery mildew, studies, results

Article on Bee Balm cultivar stress results (added 6/00)

Ornamental grass hardiness (H,M, U)--1999 data:
At 3 sites in the Champlain Valley (USDA zones 4a, 4b and 5b), at least 2 dozen cultivars of ornamental grasses were evaluated over a five year period for winter hardiness, as well as other landscape features. Many are recent introductions to the U.S. from Germany including new ones this year. Results were included with those from an extensive collaborative national effort. Many of these will be proven top selections from this national effort.

Controlled Freezing, Hardiness of perennials (U):
Several dozen perennials over several years are being frozen in controlled chest freezers to determine root killing temperatures; effects of cold intensity, duration, cycling, and rate of drop. These will include heathers (Calluna)  this year. Other freezing studies will examine various temperature cycling and rates of drop, and the effect on hardiness of dianthus, foamflower and perennial geranium. The latter is part of the M.S. thesis research of Cheryl Bruce.

New cultivar performance and hardiness trials (H,M):
Over 1200 cultivars are being evaluated, with new additions yearly, for performance, flower time and color, hardiness, pest problems, and potential for future studies or use in the region. Emphasis this year will be on perennial geraniums, monarda including new Dutch cultivars, Tiarella, Heuchera, Pulmonaria. This year we continue as an official test site for new Blooms America introductions at 3 sites (H,M,W--listing of perennials), with selections also from Pride of Place Plants and Planthaven.  Annuals are also being trialled at the Waterfront Park  in an official All America Selections Flower Display Garden.

Shrub rose evaluation (H,M):
Over 5 dozen cultivars of shrub roses, emphasizing new series such as the Parkland, Meidiland, Explorer and David Austin ones, are being evaluated among these sites and in cooperation with the University of Maine (Dr. Lois Stack) for hardiness, performance and disease resistance (rose ratings). Additional cultivars are being added this year.

Lilac Evaluation (M):
Okay, they're not herbaceous perennials, but are effective in our climate used in combination with them, and a key shrub in Vermont.  This evaluation over many years of over 120 varieties emphasizes bloom and disease resistance, with many photos and a table of blight resistance observations.