Raker-Roberta's Young Plant Trial Gardens are closed for the year, please stop out and see us in July!
10371 Rainey Rd, Litchfield, MI 49252
Stop out to see the newest varieties, top performers, and most unique plants the horticulture industry offers.
OPEN: July 15, 2026 - August 28th, 2026, Monday - Friday, 9am - 4:00pm
CONTACT: Emily Wildt, Director of Trials, (517) 542-4501
2026 RRTG HIGHLIGHTS:
We will be hosting our big annual summer event, The Connection!
Join us on July 30th for a day filled with Music, Food, Friends and of course, Flowers! Industry experts will be on hand to talk about the latest and greatest offerings. Be sure to make time to visit.
2026 Trial Garden Features
Sun Comparison Rows
Our 2026 sun trials highlight a diverse lineup of annuals, perennials, and specialty crops. Visitors will see side-by-side performance comparisons of:
Osteospermum
Dianthus
Hot Pepper (National Garden Bureau’s 2026 “Year of”)
Sedum (National Garden Bureau’s 2026 “Year of”)
Gomphrena
Mixed Perennial Assortments
Begonia (Fibrous)
Begonia (Interspecific)
These rows are designed to showcase vigor, flowering performance, color retention, and landscape durability under full-sun conditions.
Shade Comparison Rows
Our shade-focused trials for 2026 feature:
Impatiens wallerana (National Garden Bureau’s 2026 “Year of”)
This comparison highlights advancements in disease resistance, flower coverage, and shade garden performance.
Hanging Basket Trials
The 2026 hanging basket program brings expanded comparative displays of:
Lantana
Red, White & Blue Mixes
Triple-Stuck Combos
These trials emphasize habit, color balance, season-long performance, and retail appeal.
Cut Flower Trials
In 2026, our cut-flower research focuses on Lisianthus performance in varying light conditions.
We will be comparing shade vs. non-shade production to evaluate differences in:
Stem length
Uniformity
Overall cut quality
This study aims to provide growers with clear guidance on light management for premium stems.
Overwintering Perennial Comparisons
Our overwintering perennial trials continue to evaluate cold hardiness, spring emergence, and long-term landscape performance. The 2026 lineup includes:
Lupine
Monarda
Kniphofia
Gaillardia
Liatris
These multi-season evaluations help identify reliable, high-performing perennial genetics for northern climates.