Hibiscus Breeding - Texas A&M AgriLife Research Vernon, Texas

06/03/2026

🌺 The hibiscus breeding plots are beginning to bloom at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon.

These early blooms represent years of research and evaluation as Dr. Dariusz Malinowski and his team work to develop and assess new hibiscus varieties for performance, appearance, and adaptability.

Take a quick walk through the field and see some of the first flowers of the season.


City of Vernon, Texas Vernon Chamber of Commerce

05/04/2026

Thank you to Dr. Malinowski, Mary Jane Brantley and the Hibiscus Project for another successful annual community hibiscus donation.

Pictured are Dr. Malinowki, AgriLife Research hibiscus breeder, Dr. Richard Vierling, Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon and Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed, and Mary Jane Brantley who leads the Hibiscus Project.

05/04/2026

For those in the Vernon, TX area who were fortunate to get hibiscus plants on May 2, 2026 at the annual fundraising distribution sponsored by the Hibiscus Project, here are directions for planting those plants.

Plant in a sunny location, water every day for about 3-4 weeks, until you see it is making new leaves and flowers. You can fertilize by mixing1 spoon of Miracle Gro and 1 spoon Epsom salt in a gallon of water. Use about 10 oz per plant at watering, once a week.

04/29/2026

04/24/2026

Happy Earth Day! This spring, we’re celebrating nature by hosting an after hours event for you to paint a flower pot and learn a bit about the local hibiscus breeding program!

ACTIVITY, 5:00-8:00pm:
- Come & Go event
- Explore the museum at your own pace
- Paint a pretty plant pot (Free activity included with admission, first come first serve!)
- Take home native wildflower seeds from TxDOT!

PRESENTATION, 6:00-6:30pm:
-Learn from Professor Dariusz Malinowski, Ph.D., as he shares about his work on the winter hardy hibiscus program he helped originate right here in Vernon!

ADMISSION:
$5 for children
$10 for adults

Want FREE admission? Become a member: https://www.rrvmuseum.org/membership

RSVP on the event page so we are sure to have enough supplies! Open Late 'Til Eight: May 12th

Hibiscus Breeding - Texas A&M AgriLife Research Vernon, Texas

04/13/2026

🌺✨ You might spot our very own Main Street & Tourism team member, Taylor Edmonds, out and about downtown this afternoon, working on our planters and preparing for the Hibiscus Walking Trail, alongside a great group of amazing volunteers! 🌿💛

We love bringing new life and color to our downtown and this is just the beginning!

👉 There are plenty more exciting projects ahead, so comment below to join our Downtown Volunteer group and be a part of making Vernon even more beautiful!

01/13/2026

🌺 The Hibiscus Breeding program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Vernon focuses on developing new hibiscus through applied research, evaluation, and selection.

Our work supports plant performance, diversity, and future variety development across a range of growing conditions.