Today's homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are often bewildered by the deluge of new plants introduced into the marketplace each year. Although glowing promotional descriptions of these new plants make them sound like heaven on earth, important questions concerning their ability to grow in our climate remain unanswered.

The Texas A&M CEMAP team, composed of horticultural researchers and Extension specialist and agents, is constantly searching for outstanding plants specifically adapted to Texas. Through creation of one of the largest horticultural field trial systems of any university in the nation, these professionals evaluate plants across the state.

This rigorous testing program usually requires three years of trials for an annual flower and up to eight years for a new woody plant. Once testing has been completed, only the truly outstanding plants, those which consistently delivered the highest levels of landscape and garden performance, coupled with the widest range of adaptation and the strongest pest resistance, are designated Texas Superstars. Two to four new Texas Superstars are announced each year.

Plants receiving the Texas Superstar designation are identified to consumers with the trademarked Texas Superstar name and logo on plant labels in the pots and on large nursery display posters.

Using Texas Superstar plants increases the consumer's chances for gardening success and helps to further beautify and protect the Texas environment, because a few cents for the sale of each label is returned to A&M to fund additional research.