Gardens and Collections

The Horticulture Display Garden at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) expands nearly four acres of beautifully landscaped garden beds and attractions. The garden includes plantings and research from several plant breeding companies from around the world.

We invite you to look, smell, and touch, but please do not dig, pick, or cut any flowers or plant materials. The University of Minnesota is continually conducting research on flower, vegetables and landscape plantings.

Most plants are identified with small tags.

The Horticulture Display Garden is open daily from dawn until dusk. Admission is free.

Annual Flowers

One of the largest and most impressive displays of annual flower cultivars in the Upper Midwest can be found in the Horticulture Display Garden. The Garden features hundreds of annual flower cultivars from plant breeding companies around the world. Cultivars are grown from seed or are vegetatively propagated in our greenhouse, and later transplanted into the Garden by early June. All flowers are labeled, allowing visitors to take note of top performing cultivars under regional conditions. Learn more about our annual flower trials.

Shade Garden

A meandering trail through our Shade Garden offers visitors a chance to see perennial plants, annual flower cultivars, woodland species and ferns that are best suited for shade. More than 100 cultivars of hosta are on display, some of which come from the Ken Anderson collection. Visitors can also enjoy seeing Minnesota's state flower, the Showy Ladyslipper, which typically flowers in late June. Split rail fences and arbors adorn the paths throughout our Shade Garden, as well as several relaxing places to sit and enjoy the beauty of the Garden.

All-America Selections

Since the 1990s, the Horticulture Display Garden has served as an All-America Selections (AAS) Display Garden, showcasing flower and vegetable cultivars proven to have superior performance under regional conditions. Our garden was selected as an AAS Trial Ground site in 2011, testing new flower and bedding plant cultivars before they are released to the public. Our garden was the first AAS trial ground in the state of Minnesota. Visitors can take note of outstanding garden performers, both for annual flower cultivars and vegetables.

Heritage Garden

This unique garden takes a step back in time to the early 1950's. Relax on the front porch while enjoying plant materials typically found from the 1950's homestead. A Quilt Garden (or sometimes a "victory garden") adorns the front lawn along with a brick paved walkway and wooden arbor.

Tropical Garden

Guests can get a touch of the tropics with this garden featuring tropical plants presented as an in-kind donation from Monrovia . The Tropical Garden has many unique tropical plants which may include citrus trees, banana plants, cacti, roses, tropical hibiscus, gardenia and lantana.

Meditation Garden

During the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons, staff at the Horticulture Display Garden put in a Meditation Garden thanks to the financial support of four individual families. Each family designed and dedicated their garden in memory of a loved one. The Meditation Garden offers a meandering path, ornamental grasses, pergola, sculpture, fieldstone, soothing colors, and places to rest and relax. Watch the progressive video of how we made it all come together.

Other Gardens & Collections

Designed as a homeowner's "backyard garden", the Wes Gray Garden (pictured left) has a variety of peonies, irises, shrubs, and many perennials.
Our Garden features many cultivars and colors of lilies, including asiatic, aurelian, orienpet and orientals.
Another unique feature in the garden is a display of 14 azaleas from the 'Lights' series, developed by University of Minnesota researchers for winter hardiness.
Ornamental grasses are located all throughout the garden. Visitors will find species and cultivars suitable to Zone 4.
Our garden provides shelter and food for many birds and butterflies, allowing visitors an opportunity to enjoy bird watching from park benches in the shade.
Located throughout the garden, visitors will see newer releases of trees and shrubs adapted for our area, including an impressive display of crabapple trees.

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