Norfolk Botanical Garden is a partner in the Beautiful Gardens™ program. Other partners include Virginia Tech, the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA), the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the Virginia Department of of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Master Gardener Association and the Claytor Nature Study Center at Lynchburg College.
The purpose of this partnership is to test and promote under-used varieties of ornamental plants and develop new plants for the home garden. Norfolk Botanical Garden is one of five test sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our test beds are located near the greenhouse and the AARS test beds.
In the spring of 2009, the following plants will be introduced for sale under the Beautiful Gardens™ name:
| Cercis chinensis ‘Don Egolf’ | Chinese Redbud |
| Helleborus x hybridus Pine Knot Strains | Lenten Rose |
| Agapanthus x ‘Monmid’ Midknight Blue® | Lily of the Nile |
| Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ | Oakleaf Hydrangea |
| Ilex x ‘Virginia’ | Holly |
| Thuja x ‘Steeplechase’ (PP) | Arborvitae |
| Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’ | Boxwood |
| Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie’s Pick’ | Stokes’ Aster |
| Musa basjoo | Hardy Banana |
For more information about the Beautiful Gardens™ program, click here.