The Trial Gardens

Okay, folks! You picked the winners of our Industry's Choice and People's Choice Awards! The votes are in, and 3 plants were top winners during BOTH 2026 Industry Open House and Public Open House events➡➡➡

Dahlia Venti™ 'FireBurst' from Selecta One. This radiant red with yellow centers won everyone over. This plant won the popular vote both days! Selecta one - North America 🔥

Heliotropium arborescens Aromagica™ 'Purple' from Proven Winners. A winning flower in pots or in the landscape, with a fragrance that's as sweet as can be! 🐝 Proven Winners

Helianthus annuus Sunfinity® 'Double Yellow' from Syngenta These branching sunflowers are giving so much joy in our beds and displays around the garden! 🌻

Thank you to all who participated in our Open House activities. We had a wonderful time hosting these events! We will be announcing more winners from both Industry and Public events soon, so stay tuned!

Tomorrow at the Trial Garden:

9:00 AM - 12 PM Plant Sale
9:30 AM Dr. A's Tour and Book Signing
10:30 AM Garden Tour with Sandy

Vote for the People's Choice Awards!
Dr. A will have copies of his books: "The Common-Sense Gardener", and "Of Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots".

We look forward to seeing folks tomorrow! Take a look at some of the photos for a glimpse of some of the plants you will see- the garden is overflowing with color!

This event is free, all plant sale proceeds will support our garden program. Parking will be available around the garden in lots S05 and S09, but Lot S10 is closed for maintenance.

Come out and visit the Trial Garden Open House this weekend! Saturday from 9-12, we have hand-picked dish gardens galore! Each one is made with care by our volunteers and antique-pickers!
We also have caladiums, colorful coleus, strawflowers, and more! Plant Sale, garden tours, and books by Dr. A. See you there! 🌻❤️🦋

We were thrilled to host the GGIA After Hours Social, and we would like to thank Georgia Green Industry Assoc for hosting a spectacular Southeast Green Conference this year in Athens!

Thanks to all who came out for the tour and the Social. We enjoyed the event, and hope to be a host for many more!

The winners of the night:
Abutilon 'Biltmore Ball Gown' (adorable!)
Hardy Hibiscus 'Blush' by Ruter
Melampodium 'Jackpot Gold' by American Takii

The UGA Trial Garden welcomes you to visit on Saturday, June 20th for our Public Open House from 9am - 12pm!

Plants for sale will include our unique antique dish gardens filled with colorful combos of flowers and succulents! Each one is made with care by our Volunteer, Bj, and friends.

This annual event will provide an opportunity to view and vote for your favorite plants in this year's garden.

We will offer guided tours of the Trial Gardens at 9:30am and 10:30am.

Dr. Allan Armitage will also be here to sign copies of new newest book, The Common-Sense Gardener! "A unique blend of storytelling and hands-on gardening advice by renowned horticulturist Dr. Allan Armitage."


This event is open to the public, and we hope you will join us to kick-start the 2026 growing season!

UGA Trial Garden
220 W. Green St.
Athens, GA

Congratulations to Dr. John Ruter, Allan Armitage Endowed Professor of Horticulture and Director of the UGA Trial Garden, on your induction as a Fellow into National Academy of Inventors in Hollywood, CA!

This recognition is presented to academic inventors who have impacted quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Dr. Ruter has patented ornamental cultivars through plant breeding focused on aesthetics, resilience, and sustainability.

Bravo, Dr. Ruter!

Our Industry Open House had fabulous weather and wonderful people to share it with! Thanks to everyone for making the trip, and we hope you enjoyed the 2026 Southern Garden Tour. Industry's Choice winners will be announced after our Public Open House June 20th. 🏆

The UGA Trial Garden Industry Open House is around the corner! Join us, and our counterparts on the Southern Garden Tour this June, Metrolina in North Carolina and Young's Plant Farm in Alabama.

This Industry focused event provides an opportunity to view the latest plants ornamental horticulture- a living catalog for 2026!

We welcome members of the green industry to gather and meet at the Trial Garden on Wednesday, June 3rd from 8am-12pm. Attendees will select the winners of the Industry's Choice Award.

Registration is free for members of the green industry. Parking is available in the South Campus Deck.

Contact [email protected] for more info, and visit https://www.southerngardentour.com/
for more info about the tour.

Thank you to our 2026 Trial sponsors, and we are looking forward to seeing you all at this event!

The UGA Trial Garden will host our Industry Open House on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 for professionals in the Green Industry.

Our Public Open house will be held on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 and is open to all!

Premier trial gardens in three Southern states will host members of the horticulture industry as part of the Southern Garden Tour, June 2-4, 2026.

Tour hosts – Young’s Plant Farm in Auburn, Alabama, the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina – welcome growers, plant breeders, plant brokers, educators, landscapers and allied trade members of the horticulture industry to evaluate hundreds of new variety introductions in their respective Trial Garden Open Houses throughout the first week of June during the annual event.

Complete event details and registration information for the Industry Open House are available at www.southerngardentour.com.