Since 2008, IBG has partnered with the Dr. Steve Love, University of Idaho Extension Horticulture Team Leader, by providing space for and maintenance of three evaluation plots for assessing the horticultural and commercial value of western native plants. Plants are tested and evaluated over a three year period, and, if suitable, they will be released to nurseries in Idaho and neighboring states.

Winners of the side-by-side field evaluations must have exceptionally beautiful flowers or foliage, grow reliably under commercial production regimes, and thrive with less than a third of the water that most Treasure Valley landscapes receive. Plant examples include several different agastache from Wyoming and New Mexico, buckwheats from Idaho and Utah, purple sage, and five different grasses from various states. Different species have been added each year since 2008.

View a list of Species Donations