By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University’s Woody Plant Improvement Project (WPIP) continues to develop new trees and shrubs that perform well in the challenging climate of the northern Great Plains. The program supports the nursery industry by introducing hardy plants that improve landscapes while increasing biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Todd West, NDSU professor and Woody Plant Improvement Project program director, highlighted that the project has become a national leader in developing cold-climate woody plants. Since releasing its first plant variety in 1986, the program has introduced 63 plant varieties and received 45 trademarks through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The project began its research in 1954 and has continued to improve woody plants for nearly seven decades. Its work focuses on three main goals. Researchers evaluate both new and existing plant varieties to determine how well they perform in the region. They also breed and develop improved cultivars suited for harsh climates while increasing the diversity of woody plants available for the nursery market.
Developing a new tree or shrub requires patience and years of testing. Woody plants grow slowly, and researchers must observe them through many seasons before deciding if they are ready for release. In North Dakota’s demanding climate, the complete development process often takes between 15 and 30 years.
The early years focus on crossing plants and establishing seedlings. Later stages involve extensive field testing through multiple winters to evaluate cold hardiness, disease resistance, insect resistance, and overall performance. Once promising selections are identified, they undergo nursery trials before eventually becoming available to the industry.
“The WPIP functions less like a quick breeding pipeline and more like a long-term survival trial system,” says West. “By the time a plant reaches the nursery trade, it has essentially ‘proven’ that it can handle the toughest conditions that the northern Great Plains can deliver, which is exactly why these cultivars are so valuable and respected throughout the region.”
“The NDSU WPIP has become a national leader in cold-climate horticulture,” says Todd West, NDSU professor and WPIP program director.
For more information contact Todd West, 701-231-6476, todd.p.west@ndsu.edu.
Photo Credit: istock-pyzata
Categories: North Dakota, General