The Breeder Showcase and Trials

Evaluating Plant Genetics in Real-World Conditions

The Breeders Showcase and Trials stands out as one of the most anticipated events in the horticulture industry. Hosted annually at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and organized in partnership with EHR, the showcase provides a large-scale platform for evaluating plant performance under real-world summer conditions.

Each year, the program continues to grow in both scale and impact. This season’s Breeder Showcase and Trials feature more than 50,000 plants representing 700+ varieties. The trial gardens include annual and tropical genetics, in addition to an expanded perennial lineup. New this year are dedicated perennial trial beds, marking a significant step forward in the program’s evolution and broadening the scope of evaluation beyond previous years.

Trial sites outside zoo gates include the established Rockdale Urban Learning Garden and the Erkenbrecher Gardens location. The Erkenbrecher site, developed to support the program’s continued expansion, demonstrates the level of planning and coordination required to execute a trial of this size, while navigating the urban space limitations within a large city. Irrigation infrastructure, soil preparation, and installation were completed within a condensed timeframe to ensure the gardens were ready for peak summer performance evaluation.

More than 40 sponsors and breeders contributed genetics to this year’s trials. Plant material was sourced directly from suppliers or produced in coordination with breeding partners. Throughout the growing season, horticulture teams evaluate each variety for a number of performance markers:

• Vigor
• Branching habit
• Bloom retention
• Uniformity
• Heat tolerance

Planted in high-visibility landscape and container settings, the trials expose genetics to sustained summer stress, variable weather conditions, and heavy public traffic — all with limited intervention beyond basic fertilization and watering schedules.

The real-world environment is what sets the Breeder Showcase and Trials apart. More than one million zoo visitors view the gardens annually, offering an additional layer of observation beyond standard production settings. Now any visitor can bookmark must-have plants for their next trip to the garden center, just by walking to and from zoo exhibits. Side-by-side comparisons allow clear evaluation of new introductions alongside established industry standards. Performance differences become visible over time, providing meaningful insight into which varieties maintain quality and consistency throughout the season.

At the conclusion of the trial period, a comprehensive performance report identifies top selections, including Zoo’s Best Annuals and Hall of Fame Recognitions. These distinctions highlight varieties that demonstrate exceptional durability, visual appeal, and season-long reliability — all key factors for growing and retailers planning future production cycles.

Beyond plant evaluation the showcase serves as a central gathering point for the industry. More than 300 professionals, including growers, brokers, landscape representatives, and breeders attend to tour the gardens, review performance results, and connect with partners. The event provides a space for direct observation, discussion of emerging genetics, and planning for upcoming seasons.

Past Breeder Showcase and Trials events have also included exclusive previews of major zoo developments including a sneak peek of the Elephant Trek exhibit prior to its debut. This year’s showcase aligns with the continued growth across the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s campus, with the opening of Bear Ridge. The integration of horticulture with an evolving zoological setting reinforces the zoo’s broader commitment to development and forward planning.

The scale and execution of the Breeder Showcase and Trials reflect strong coordination across partners from genetics sourcing and propagation to installation and ongoing evaluation, to benefit not only the industry, but also the home gardener. The program’s expansion, particularly with the addition of perennial trial beds, signals continued investment in providing meaningful performance data to the industry.

As the program continues to evolve, its purpose remains clear: identify plant varieties that deliver reliable, season-long performance and provide the industry and the public with practical data for a success-filled future with plants.