Horticultural Research Institute Kicks of 60th Anniversary Year at MANTS

WASHINGTON, DC and COLUMBUS, OH - On Thursday, January 6, 2022, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), kicked off a milestone year, recognizing and thanking donors, researchers, and the industry during a reception at the Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, MD. September 19, 2022 marks the 60^th anniversary of HRI, the horticultural industry’s research and scholarship foundation and the year-long celebration got off to a strong start at MANTS raising over $400,000 in donations during the event.

HRI, the AmericanHort research foundation, was established by industry leaders on the premise that no one could better direct needed research to advance horticulture than the very people who work in it, day in and day out. Today, HRI sticks to that same vision: funding and guiding horticultural research efforts with the direct input from industry professionals.

To date, HRI has supported $9.5 million in research grants and scholarships--$3.6 million of that has been distributed to over 100 research projects since 2012. HRI has grown from a small organization to a nationally recognized foundation providing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in research grants, a robust outreach program, a proven track record of establishing swift-moving emerging issues funds, and a growing scholarship program.

“HRI’s success is driven by the industry’s belief in our mission and both their financial and volunteer support,” stated incoming 2022 HRI President Alan Jones, of Manor View Farm, Monkton, MD. “We achieved this milestone through the hard work and dedication of our industry volunteers, our staff team, and our thousands of donors over the last six decades. HRI’s work improves our industry and will continue to do so for decades to come.”

During the celebratory reception, Ed Tankard, owner of Tankard Nurseries Inc, of Exmore, VA, announced the creation of the John E. Tankard Jr. Research Fund. This new fund aims to provide a legacy in memory of John Tankard Jr., Ed’s father, who guided the business for 53 years, in order to secure a long-term source of funding for research deemed important to the industry.

American Beauties Native Plants announced that it will provide a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $10,000, for donors who would like to help grow the fund aimed at supporting research into native plants. To donate to this fund, visit https://www.hriresearch.org/donate or contact Jennifer Gray at JenniferG@AmericanHort.org.

Danny Summers, CEO of the Garden Retail Group, announced that the Southern Nursery Association Legacy fund within HRI was about to exceed $300,000 and offered a limited quantity gift to donors interested in contributing to this fund. Each donor will receive a limited-edition copy of the Southern Nursery Association legacy book.

Additional donors were recognized during the celebratory reception, including American Beauties Native Plants, Spring Meadow Nursery, North Creek Nurseries, Herman Losely & Son, Overdevest Nursery, Decker Nursery, NewGen Boxwood, Manor View Farm, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and GreenForest Nursery.

Monies raised from donations made during events like this, and throughout the year, fund the activities of the Horticultural Research Institute’s research and scholarship programs, along with educational outreach activities for the industry.

HRI tackles the biggest challenges—everything from disease management to water quality and availability—to bring you the information and best practices you need to perform better, grow faster, and prepare for the future.

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The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research affiliate of AmericanHort, has provided over $9.5 million in funds since 1962 to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry. Over $20 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations, and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, scholarships, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614.884.1155.

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Soilless Substrate Science - Ushering in the Next Generation of Growing Media

By Jennifer Gray • May 28, 2026

Soilless Substrate Science (S3) is a national transdisciplinary collaboration developed to support growers as we advance to the next generation of substrates. Our team is leading North American efforts to develop new substrate materials and techniques, and working with growers to support implementation, as we support the global transition to substrates that go Beyond Peat. In this webinar, Dr. Jeb Fields will discuss the S3 team efforts surrounding identification of new substrate materials, processing and development, and grower support. We will explore wood fiber processing, sugarcane bagasse substrate development, stabilization of organic fibers, databasing substrate materials, and opportunities for growers to get involved. Overall, attendees will learn about US efforts to develop domestically-sourced substrates and advance substrate science as we move towards the next generation of substrate science. Our Speaker Dr. Jeb Fields is a production horticulturist who works with growers in Florida and throughout the country to support more effective and efficient production practices through his environmental nursery research program. Jeb’s primary interests include growing media & substrate science, irrigation & fertilizer management, whole plant-water relations and plant abiotic stress physiology. Jeb is an internationally recognized substrate scientist, the leader of the Beyond Peat project through the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, and the national S3 (Soilless Substrate Science) team which pursues advancements of the global substrate industry and development sustainable substrate materials and practices, including substrate stratification. Jeb is the editor for Nursery & Landscape Insider, a biweekly e-newsletter from Ball Publishing, that reaches over 32,000 stakeholders worldwide. For his efforts, he has been recognized with numerous awards, honors, and leadership positions. Prior to joining UF, Jeb was a professor and research station director with the LSU AgCenter. Jeb studied at UF for his B.S., NC State University for his M.S., and Virginia Tech for his Ph.D. – with all degrees focusing on production horticulture.

A soft-focus background of varying shades of green, suggesting grass, foliage, or a forest landscape.

Understanding Why Rose Rosetting Disease Appears in Distinct Regions of a Shrub Rose Plan

By Jennifer Gray • April 9, 2026

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From Propagation to Consumers: HRI Research Powers Every Link in the Green Industry Supply Chain

By Jennifer Gray • March 24, 2026

The horticulture industry continues to change as new technologies, production practices, and consumer expectations reshape the marketplace. Research plays an essential role in helping growers, landscapers, and retailers adapt and succeed. That’s exactly where the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) enters the chat. Every year, HRI selects and funds research projects that advance horticulture. In 2026, HRI is investing more than $560,000 in 18 research projects that target challenges across the horticultural supply chain, including plant production, pest and disease management, landscape plant performance, and consumer insights. “What makes HRI research so valuable is that it focuses on real challenges the industry is facing right now,” said Mark Yelanich, HRI President and Research Director at Metrolina Greenhouses. “The 2026 HRI-funded projects were selected because they develop knowledge, processes, or tools that businesses can actually use.” HRI’s four strategic research priorities guide funding decisions, focusing on quantifying plant benefits, creating innovative solutions, gathering consumer insights, and producing practical solutions to industry challenges. The 2026 projects reflect these priorities across the horticulture supply chain.