Greening the Plains
Dale Herman's job requires patience. Lots of
patience. Herman is an NDSU research horticulturist and teacher.
He's been with the university for 31 years, specializing in
research of hardy woody plants of the Northern Plains.
"My goal is to release
one new variety for each year of service here at
NDSU," Herman says. "But it takes a lot of research and patience. With this type of research, you
don't always know how many years of testing are required, especially in
a Plains environment where you have cold climate hardiness
concerns, deficient moisture stress, and variable soil and pH conditions."
NDSU recently released the Prairie Dream Paper Birch
(Betula papyrifera `Varen'). Seeds from this native tree were collected
in the Killdeer Mountains in 1973. Seedling trees were planted in
the NDSU Research Arboretum in 1975.
"Our goal was to find a more environmentally adapted,
stress tolerant Paper Birch for landscape planting," Herman says.
"After 27 years, we've come up with a tree that has a distinct white,
peeling bark and dark green leaves that turn a golden yellow in the fall.
It has a high resistance to bronze birch borer since none of the
trees have been attacked. Meanwhile, many of the birch trees in our
large collection are dead or dying from borers."
Hopefully, trees will be available in 2003 from nurseries. A
potential borer-resistant Asian White Birch is also being released.
The work of Herman and other researchers has changed
the way landscapers and homeowners do their planting. "The days
are gone when people would plant five plants across the front of
the house," says Eric Baker of Baker Nursery Gardens in Fargo.
"There are so many new plants that allow customers a variety of
options. Hosta is a good example. This year, we had over 100 cultivars
of Hosta (plantain lily) available."
More cities are requiring developers to add landscaping
and green space, according to Baker. "In Fargo, for example, new
stores have parking lot buffers using plants and trees. We'll really see
the benefits and beauty in 20 to 30 years as the trees become
mature. Some suburbs of Chicago started years ago, and it's amazing to
see the rich beauty of the trees and plants in mall settings."
Researchers have long developed new varieties that fit the
environment and are disease and insect resistant. "Today, it's
much more than that," says Herman. "Consumers also want trees,
shrubs and plants that add color, including foliage, flowers, fruits or
autumn hues, and texture." Baker agrees. "Today's consumer
is very educated and often comes to our nursery looking for a
specific cultivar. Usually, all I have to say is that the cultivar was
developed in North Dakota, and it becomes an easy sale."
The main NDSU Research Arboretum is located near
Absaraka, and woody plants are evaluated in statewide trials at NDSU
research extension centers in Minot, Dickinson, Carrington and
Langdon. "We also collaborate with urban foresters in Grand Forks,
Fargo and Bismarck, as well as the North Central Regional Plant
Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa, which includes 15 other states
in our evaluation process," Herman says. He also collaborates
closely with large wholesale production nurseries, which propagate his
new introductions.
Herman has traveled to other countries looking for hardy
woody plants that would be suitable for our region.
So consumers can make informed choices, results of his
research are available through NDSU and extension
horticulturists and agents. He also gives presentations at conferences and
participates in the Master Gardener program. He will provide a list of
NDSU introductions to all who contact him.
 While Herman won't say which introduction is his favorite,
his research work is being noticed. "Almost every year, he leads a
discussion at our North Dakota Nursery and Greenhouse
conference," Baker says. "His patience in doing research certainly has
provided us with more choices, which is good for consumers."
For more information: Dale Herman,
701-231-8477, dale.herman@ndsu.nodak.edu
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