About the Green Legacy Trial Garden
Launched in 2025, the Green Legacy Trial Garden is a dedicated research space where plant varieties are evaluated under real-world Midwest growing conditions.
The Green Legacy Trial Garden is a family-led, research-focused space where new plant varieties are tested, refined, and brought to life for real-world landscapes across the Midwest.
Located in Orient, Ohio, our 1-acre garden evaluates plants for their landscape performance in USDA zone 6b. In partnership with EMI, we trial cutting-edge varieties and sustainable solutions that are specifically adapted to the region’s climate, soils, and growing conditions.
Plant Evaluations
Data collection occurs every other week. This includes photos as well as an evaluation of each variety.
Plants are rated 1-5 on the following characteristics:
Vegetative Growth
Habit and vigor- did it fill in the desired space and establish quickly?
Uniformity
Uniformity in plant size and bloom time.
Flowering
Bloom quantity and quality as well as the duration of blooms without degradation.
Resistance
Amount of visual damage from pests, diseases, and environmental conditions.