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. 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).  more articles... 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. Baldcypress has distinctive look [Image: Cypress Tree] (Video 05/18/09) The baldcypress tree is readily identified with swamps, but it’s also a species that has become popular as a landscape tree. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why a cypress is a good tree to plant. (Runtime: 1 minute, 31 seconds) Experts supply keys to success for azaleas (Distributed 05/08/09) Summer is rapidly approaching, the time when our evergreen azaleas often have difficulty dealing with our heat and humidity. 'Matrix' Pansy - Photo Gallery (Part II) / Trial Results, Spring 2009 [Image: red blotch] Photo gallery of the Matrix series pansies from landscape performance trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. Data also included. 'Matrix' Pansy - Photo Gallery (Part I) / Trial Results, Spring 2009 [Image: blue blotch] Photo gallery of the Matrix series pansies from landscape performance trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. Data also included. 'Lucky' and 'Landmark' Lantana - 2008 Landscape Results [Image: lemon cream] Results from landscape performance trials on Lucky and Landmark series lantanas from Ball FloraPlant at the Hammond Research Station in 2008. 'XXL' Pansy - Photo Gallery (Part II), Spring 2009 [Image: red wing] A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. 'XXL' Pansy - Photo Gallery (Part I), Spring 2009 [Image: blue blotch] A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009. 'Sun Spun' Petunia - Photo Gallery, April 2009 [Image: burgundy] A photo gallery of the new 'Sun Spun' petunia varieties (Ball FloraPlant) from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station.