Home > Our Offices > Research Stations > Hammond Research Station > Landscape Horticulture Research & Extension Center [Image: Yan Chen explains research findings] Established as the Fruit and Truck Experiment Station in 1922, the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in Hammond has served the needs of the strawberry and vegetable industries in Southeast Louisiana for more than 80 years. While continuing to serve this industry, the station has now embarked on a new initiative to provide research and education for the green service industry. A Brief History of the Hammond Research Station [Image: Retention pond and landscape beds] History and mission of the Hammond Research Station. Vitae - Richard Parish [Image: Richard Parish] CV for Richard Parish 'Drift' Series Roses - Landscape Evaluation Results (2009) [Image: pink] The 'Drift' series roses from Conard-Pyle are being evaluated in landscape studies at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Center. Here is some information on performance.  more articles... 'Drift' Series Roses - Photo Gallery [Image: coral flowers] The 'Drift' series roses from Conard-Pyle are being evaluated in landscape studies at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Center. Colors are red, pink, coral and peach. New for 2010 will be apricot and sweet. Plant coleus for fabulous fall color [Image: Coleus] (Video 09/14/09) It’s definitely not fall yet, but one plant that’s showing beautiful fall color right now is the coleus. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains a basic consideration when selecting a coleus plant. (Runtime: 1:34) Top 10 Caladiums Rated from 2009 Caladium Variety Trial [Image: 1] A total of 38 caladium varieties were evaluated at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station during the summer of 2009 for their landscape performance, including foliage color, fullness and plant uniformity. The top 10 performers are presented here. (Caladium tubers were donated by Classic Caladiums and Happiness Farms.) Phenology Sequence of Flowering Woody Ornamentals Documented to Assist Landscape Pest Management [Image: 1] A phenology research garden was planted in fall 2007 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in Hammond, La. Data collected in 2008 indicated that a sequence of phonological events in advance of pest activities is available from 15 ornamental plants for predicting landscape pest activity. People's Choice Awards from Landscape Horticulture Field Day - 2009 [Image: purple flash] Green industry professionals attending the landscape horticulture field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in June were given the opportunity to “pick their winning plants” from the sun garden evaluation trial gardens at the station. Over 340 varieties were planted this year. The planting mostly consists of annual bedding plants and herbaceous perennials, but new roses and some “companion” woody ornamental shrubs (such as Southern Living plants) are also included. Dwarf gardenias have ‘issues’ (Distributed 07/10/09) Several varieties of gardenias work well in the landscape, but dwarf gardenias are more prone to problems. Tall crape myrtles look good in right location [Image: tall crape myrtle] (Distributed 06/19/09) Crape myrtles continue to be one of the most widely used landscape trees in the southeastern United States. Ornamental sweet potato options continue to expand [Image: Photo of Allen Owings] Ornamental sweet potatoes have gained considerable interest among land¬scape industry professionals and home gardeners over the past 10 years. Varieties include plants that are chartreuse-lime green (Margarita), blackish purple (Blackie) and tricolored (Pink Frost). Crape myrtles may have blooming problems [Image: crape myrtle] (Distributed 05/29/09) The most popular summer-blooming tree in Louisiana is the crape myrtle with its lovely, long-lasting flowers. Crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June and continue flowering for 80 to100 days depending on the variety. Consider new shrub varieties for home landscapes (Distributed 05/21/09) Every year, new shrub varieties are introduced for landscape use. At the same time, some varieties debuted in prior years are new in that they’re just catching on.