MSU Trial Garden

The MSU Horticulture Gardens include 14 acres of beautiful landscapes highlighting annuals, perennials, and woody plants. The Amien Carter Annual Gardens house our annual trials. This year we are evaluating over 300 varieties including annuals, perennials, and vegetables.

In addition to our trials, there are a multitude of other themed gardens including the award-winning 4-H Children's Garden, Judith DeLapa Perennial Garden, and C.E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum (which includes a Japanese garden, English Garden, a dwarf conifer collection, and more).

Garden Hours

The Gardens are always open to the public. But the building may be locked to the public this summer. Guided tours are also unavailable this summer, but feel free to come visit on your own at any time. For our species in the trial and trialing results, visit our website at www.hrt.msu.edu/plant-trials.

Parking

Our Garden's parking lot is Lot #54 (view the MSU Interactive Map to see lot location next to the Plant and Soil Sciences building) and is a pay-by-plate lot (enforced M-F 6:00am to 10:00pm; free on weekends). Visitors must pay immediately upon parking by walking to one of the pay stations, entering the license plate number of their vehicle, and then their payment. The pay stations accept credit cards or US coin, $1, or $5 bills. The pay stations do not give change back, nor are refunds issued for time paid for, but not used.

Highlights

The MSU Plant Trial Garden showcases a wide range of annuals, vegetables, herbs, and herbaceous perennials. We evaluate plants submitted by breeding companies, All America Selections, and Fleuroselect. We track plant performance, vigor, uniformity, ornamental value, disease tolerance, and response to climatic conditions. This unbiased information is summarized and made available to participating companies, industry professionals, and the general gardening public. For more information on the MSU Gardens, visit the MSU Trial Gardens website.

In addition to the trial beds, about half of the annual garden beds are planted as displays for enjoyment by our many wedding ceremonies and receptions, and by the general public. This season, we will also feature two special plant collections including a display of drought-tolerant annuals, and a display of cut flower-type dahlias. Our garden also features several beds and containers designed by student interns. These students get to select their plant material, then design, install, and maintain their creation all season.