Mountain Crop Improvement Lab

08/16/2026

Nice to hear that Carolina Sweetheart Redbud is growing well in Poland! Thanks to Marek for sharing this picture.

07/28/2026

Exciting news! Dr. Richard Olsen will be the new Head of NCSU's Department of Horticultural Science. More below:
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Dear Horticultural Science Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Richard Olsen has accepted the position of Department Head of Horticultural Science, effective October 12, 2026. For Dr. Olsen, this appointment is a true homecoming. He is a proud two-time alumnus of NC State University, having earned both his BS and Ph.D. in Horticultural Science right here in our college, alongside an MS in Horticulture from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Olsen joins us from the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington, D.C., where he currently serves as Director. He is a distinguished plant scientist and geneticist, an ardent environmentalist, and a globally recognized leader in creating and maintaining international public gardens. Throughout his career, Dr. Olsen has demonstrated a profound commitment to both plant science and public service.

We are incredibly excited for Dr. Olsen to bring his expansive vision to CALS and to build the national recognition of our Horticultural Science program. His unique blend of scientific rigor, leadership acumen, and deep roots at NC State makes him the ideal leader to guide the department into its next chapter.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Olsen back to campus this fall (preferred email is [email protected]), and thank Dr. Steve Lommel for his tremendous leadership during this transition.

Go Pack!
Dean Fox
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Garey A. Fox, Ph.D., P.E., BC.WRE, F.ASABE
Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
North Carolina State University
112 Patterson Hall
Phone: 919-515-2668
Email: [email protected]
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11/18/2025

Sometimes good, valuable landscape plants are weedier than we would like them to be. The MCI Lab helped to lead a national effort on the development and evaluation of landscape plant cultivars with reduced fertility to minimize potential invasiveness. The effort includes the development of many new seedless nursery crops. Find out more at: https://mcilab.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2025/11/2025_FixingInvasiveNurseryCrops.pdf.

08/28/2025

Breeding mountain tea for home gardens!

https://blog.ncagr.gov/2025/08/11/brewing-opportunity-nc-state-researchers-work-to-develop-carolina-super-teas/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMckTdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMREtHWEN4SnNwbHpmU21SAR6PjZbikMxNVUJjlzQgjcIhxkmE_IhujnuloP2J0pgKqqllsY-EVmHFuyqjPA_aem__VjXtbxjV6A51QxEkajraQ

North Carolina’s agricultural landscape is one of the most diverse in the country, and now researchers are exploring a possible new crop with the addition of tea.

08/01/2025

Now that's an impressive hydrangea!

07/07/2025

Cloudburst dogwood is on the move! After 16 years of working on this project, Cloudburst is now in production and will be available for limited wholesale sales this fall. It's a unique tree with large white bracts, vigorous growth, spectacular fall color, and excellent disease resistance. It also just happens to be a triploid. For more information and availability see: https://mcilab.cals.ncsu.edu/2025cloudburstfloweringdogwood/

07/06/2025

Fascinating to see the color segregation in F2, allotetraploid Lobelia families. If there are just 3 unlinked quantitative genes controlling flower color, and assuming random pairing, advanced generations could segregate for as many as 125 different genotypic classes. That could be interesting.

07/02/2025

Come see the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab at the 2025 Mtn. Hort. Field Day! Spend the day learning about new plant introductions and research conducted at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center.

The morning General Tour offers a comprehensive overview of the various programs housed at the MHCREC. Lunch is provided with registration.

The afternoon VIP and Industry Professional Tour offers participants a deep dive into research and new plant development in nursery crops at the MHCREC, featuring speakers on topics ranging from emerging diseases and automation to breeding breakthroughs and new plant introductions.

For more information visit: https://mcilab.cals.ncsu.edu/2025/07/01/2025-mountain-hort-field-day/

To register for the morning General Tour please visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-mtn-hort-field-day-tickets-1357065171459?aff=oddtdtcreator

To register for the VIP and Industry Professional Tour please visit:
https://form.jotform.com/251483777412159

If you plan to attend the whole day, please remember to register for both tours.

02/25/2025

Unusual plant of the day: Edgeworthia grafted onto Dirca palustrus. Since Edgeworthia tends to sucker and can be a bit finicky, we thought grafting onto Dirca could solve a few of those problems. A bit of a long shot, but they are both in the the family, Thymelaeceae. Well, it is still alive, but seems to have arthritis of the graft union and not super happy about the marriage. Might plant it out for a conversation piece. Graft done by Andra Nus, rootstock provided by Robert Wilson.

02/12/2025

Interesting branch sport/mutation on 'Aphrodite' Witchhazel in my yard. The original plant has coppery orange flowers, but one branch has much larger, golden yellow flowers. What is more fascinating are all the mutations that happen all the time that we can't see!