Research and Production

The Research Department at Longwood Gardens focuses on finding and evaluating new plants, studying and improving growing methods, improving plant characteristics through breeding efforts and cultural techniques, and correctly identifying, recording, and mapping all plant accessions. 

Plant Exploration and Plant Trials

Our team interacts with horticulturist from all over the world to find, obtain and trial 500 to 1000 new plants each year. New plants are obtained from plant exploration trips to foreign countries, through seed distributions from specialty plant societies and public gardens throughout the world, purchases from nurseries, cooperation with breeders and gifts. Non-hardy plants trials and greenhouse experiments are conducted in our 5500 square foot research greenhouses and hardy plant trials and field research occupy about 8 acres at the Longwood nursery. 

The health and display quality of plants can often be improved through better growing methods. Researchers at Longwood manipulate various cultural techniques such as temperature, light intensity, day length, nutrition and growing media to determine the optimum growing conditions for specific plants. 

Plant Introductions

The Research group continues a long history of improving crops through breeding and selection. Over 130 new cultivars have been named and distributed by Longwood Gardens.

Production

We also use a number of different techniques for propagation of plants, which includes germinating seeds, rooting cuttings, grafting and micro-propagation or tissue culture. 

In addition to conducting research and plant trials, we also provide diagnostic services to the entire gardens for soil analysis and plant virus testing.  Research staff shares plants and research information nationally and internationally through distributions, publications, presentations, and workshops. 

Jim Harbage is the Research and Production Division Leader and the five full time research staff includes:
Curator of Plants - Tomasz Anisko
Plant Recorder - Kristina Aguilar
Research Horticulturist - Matt Taylor
Research Assistants - Alan Petravich and Barrett Wilson

We welcome you to browse the research section of Longwood Gardens’ website to familiarize yourself with past and present research projects.