Home > Our Offices > Research Stations > Hammond Research Station > About Hammond Research Station [Image: Hammond Research Station] (Video) Century-old pine trees tower over acres of lush landscaping at the Hammond Research Station. Established in 1922 as the Fruit and Truck Experiment Station, the facility has traditionally served the strawberry and vegetable industries. Today, the research focus is landscape horticulture, including plant selection, fertility, weed control and plant growth regulators. Scientists evaluate more than 500 ornamental plants per year in the largest research garden display in Louisiana. Penny Mac hydrangea selected as La. Super Plant (For Release On Or After 05/04/12) Hydrangeas have a long tradition of use in shady Southern gardens. From late April through July, huge flower heads of light pink, pink, rosy red, lavender, light blue, bluish purple and blends of those colors as well as white appear above the rich green leaves. Caladium Full-Sun and Partial-Shade Trials at Hammond Research Station (2012) Caladiums are wonderful warm-season bedding plants that add summer color to Southern landscapes. Variety trials have been conducted at the Hammond Research Station since 2008. This year, we have expanded to 55 varieties, including 9 new releases, for a full-sun trial. The Excel file lists varieties and field map. Landscape professionals are welcome to visit the station and see the best performers on site. 2011 La. Super Plants are still super [Image: Serena angelonia flower] (Distributed 04/12/12) In 2010, the LSU AgCenter introduced a new ornamental plant education, promotion and marketing program called Louisiana Super Plants. It highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. Plant selections are announced each spring and fall.  more articles... Louisiana Super Plant Senorita Rosalita provides endless flowers [Image: Senorita Rosalita] (Video 04/16/12) Spider flowers are traditional summer annuals grown in the South. But they have tiny spines that can be unpleasant to handle. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a new type of spider flower that has virtually no spines and even more beautiful flowers than the others. It’s the Senorita Rosalita, and it’s a tough, durable Louisiana Super Plant. (Runtime: 1:54) Louisiana Super Plant – BabyWing begonia [Image: BabyWing Begonia] (Video 04/09/12) The LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plants program highlights tough and beautiful plants that work well in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the BabyWing begonia – a Louisiana Super Plant that will provide nice color all the way through to October. (Runtime: 1:41) Penny Mac is outstanding hydrangea variety (Audio 04/23/12) Hydrangeas are a traditional Southern shrub. They bloom beautifully in partial shade. A great variety to try is the Penny Mac hydrangea, a spring 2012 Louisiana Super Plant selection. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Senorita Rosalita cleome is a winner (For Release On Or After 04/13/12) A new cleome called Senorita Rosalita is a radical departure from the cleomes, or spider flowers, we have grown in the past. BabyWing begonia named Louisiana Super Plant (For Release On Or After 04/06/12) The genus Begonia is large and amazingly diverse with a mind-blowing number of species. There are even plant societies devoted to this fascinating group of plants. Azalea symposium scheduled for April 4 at Hammond Research Station (Distributed 03/07/12) The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Chapter of the Azalea Society of America will be hosting an azalea symposium on Wednesday, April 4, at the Hammond Research Station. Evergreen Sweetbay Magnolia – Louisiana Super Plant, Fall 2012 [Image: Multi trunk sweetbay magnolia] Description and photos of Evergreen sweetbay magnolia Conversation Piece Azalea – Louisiana Super Plant, Fall 2012 [Image: Bloom of 'Conversation Piece' Azalea] Description and photos of the Louisiana Super Plant Coversation Piece azalea. Sorbet Violas – Louisiana Super Plant, Fall 2012 [Image: Viola 'Sorbet Beacon'] Description and photos of the Louisiana Super Plant Sorbet violas. Hammond Research Station focuses on horticulture [Image: Hammond Research Station] (Distributed 02/02/12) The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station plays a vital role in the horticulture and landscape industries of the state, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the station.