Heirloom vegetables, heirloom roses… how about heirloom viburnums? What’s happening to older cultivars of genera that don’t have a special interest group championing their cause? This session will explore the role of public gardens in preserving plant cultivars. With intense focus on germplasm of wild origin, gardens may be under-valuing their plants of cultivated origin. You will hear diverse perspectives on preserving cultivars, success stories from programs and individual gardens, and a progress report on efforts to date. From the National Plant Germplasm System to the Plant Collections Network, we will examine how effectively our community is preserving our horticultural heritage and how your institution can contribute.
Presenters: A.C. Bell, A. Bunting, E. Russell, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois; M. Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina; J.J. Rothleutner, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois; R.T. Olsen, United States National Arboretum, Washington, DC.
