Department of Horticulture Michigan Garden Plant Tour

Presenting the 2025 Raker-Roberta’s Trial Gardens (RRTG25) - over 8 acres and 100,000 unique plants dedicated to the horticulture industry. RRTG25 is open to all plant lovers.

Every visitor will receive iced cold refreshments, a complimentary RRTG25 Trial Book, and access to the most comprehensive plant trial database.

Garden Hours

Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Weekend visits by appointment. Trials are open from July 16 to August 29, 2025.

Highlights

Our sponsored areas are full of the latest and greatest offerings from our breeder sponsors.

• This year in our comparison row trials in the sun, we will have Vinca, African Marigold, Pentas, Lantana, Tried and True (best sellers), Compact Patio Veggies, Sunpatien types, and Coleus (sun vs shade). We are also showcasing Pantone's color of the year, Mocha Mousse
• In the Shade, Coleus (Sun vs Shade)
• In our hanging baskets, we are showing Scaevola, Speckled Petunias, Bacopa and Jambritania, Geraniums and scented Geraniums
• Our 2025 Specialty Cut Flower Trial bed will display an assortment of fillers for comparison, R2’s living catalog, and more than a dozen sponsored rows from all major cut flower breeders.    
• We are adding to our extensive perennial trials with Buddleia, Agastache, Sedum (upright types), and Asters. These will be in the ground for three years and are in addition to our existing perennial trials

Events

Join us at The Connection on July 31st 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.

Trials

Raker-Roberta’s Trial Garden ‘25 will trial over 1,000 varieties in side-by-side row, hanging basket, and large container comparisons.

• ROW - 600 raised rows containing annuals and perennials
• HANGING BASKET - 250 hanging baskets (14") of trailing plants
• LARGE CONTAINERS – 150 20” containers in sun and shade

Sponsored Displays

RRTG25 offers an array of displays sponsored by the best horticultural breeders:

• SPONSOR BED - 12 raised beds of new and unique varieties
• SPONSOR ROWS - 300 sun rows of new introductions and top breeder picks
• HANGING BASKET - 150 hanging baskets (14") of new introductions and top breeder picks
• LARGE CONTAINER - 265 large containers (20") in sun and shade
• ALL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS (AAS) TRIAL & DISPLAY - New seed and vegetative annual testing
• LANDSCAPE DISPLAYS - Throughout the Gardens, real-world applications of favorite RRTG plants

Nearby Hotels

The Munro House Bed & Breakfast
202 Maumee Street
Jonesville, MI 49250 
Phone: 800-320-3792

Holiday Inn Jackson NW - Airport Road
2696 Bob McClain Drive
Jackson, MI 49202
Phone: 517-789-9600

Hampton Inn Coldwater
391 N. Willowbrook Road
Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone: 517-279-9800

Courtyard by Marriot –Albion
200 S. Superior St.
Albion, MI 49224
517-629-8520

Location and Contact Information

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