Horticulture - Research and Demonstration Projects

Current research and demonstration projects focus largely on ornamental plants suitable for Wyoming’s harsh climate: our motto is "if it will grow in Laramie, it will grow just about anywhere."

Research: We are continuing our studies on potential commercial production of our Wyoming state flower Castilleja linariifolia, Indian paintbrush. Castilleja is a genus of plants native to the Rocky Mountain West. These plants are not yet in cultivation because they are "hemiparasitic" in growth habit. This means that they grow best when their roots are in contact with those of a host plant. In our studies, seeds of Castilleja have been sown together with seeds of several different host plants, including Artemisia, Lupinus, Helianthus, and many others.

Another large project involves the potential commercialization of a medicinal herb, Ligusticum porteri, or osha. This, too, is a native of the Rocky Mountains and can be used as a remedy for respiratory ailments. Unfortunately, it is in danger of being overharvested in the wild; thus, our interest in commercial production. We have grown these plants from both cuttings and seeds and have been successful with both methods. This work will be ongoing for several more years.

A recently completed project involved management of cytospora canker on cottonwood trees using traditional fungicides and newer, botanically-derived compounds. Results indicate that traditional methods are most effective, but emphasis should still be placed on keeping cottonwoods healthy to begin with using proper management techniques.

Demonstration: Forty-plus different species of perennials are being evaluated in the outdoor horticulture demonstration area at UW. We include a few species of annuals each year too. We also have several types of woody plants under evaluation at the City of Laramie nursery.

For further information on any of these projects, please contact Karen Panter

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