Pollinators, Plant Trials, & People: Discovering & Sharing The Best Pollinator Plants

HRI Research • June 26, 2023

Presented by Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden


What happens when you mix a desire to support pollinator health with a passion for growing beautiful, high-performing plants? What if you then added in a commitment to sharing information with and assisting a community of gardeners?


For more than two decades, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has trialed plants with the goal of determining what plants work best in the Mid-West region. Over the last three years, they’ve paid particular attention to which plants bring in and support the most pollinators. Their renowned plant trials and expertise, combined with their impressive position within the surrounding gardening community, has created a unique program where gardeners and pollinators work hand-in-hand helping the horticultural industry thrive.


Join us for an exciting look into this unique program, the best pollinator plants, and the people behind it all with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s own director of horticulture, Steve Foltz.


Inspiring every visitor, every day with plants!


Share This Post

Horticultural Research Institute tHRive web series logo with green, red, and yellow icon
By Jen Gray August 12, 2026
CABI and USDA APHIS are collaborating on the biological control of the box tree moth using parasitoids from Asia. Several parasitoid species are currently under consideration for introduction into North America and Europe. One of these parasitoids arrived in Europe on its own and has begun controlling the moth on both planted trees and in wild boxwood stands. The webinar will describe the spread and impact of this adventive parasitoid in Europe and present efforts to assess the potential of this species and others as biological control agents in North America.
HRI Leadership Academy logo with multicolored flower icon and text “An AmericanHort & HRI Initiative”
By Jennifer Gray June 30, 2026
Meet the HRI Leadership Academy Class of 2027. This intensive year-long program equips green industry leaders with strategic insight and business acumen.
Blurred green foliage filling the frame
By Jennifer Gray June 17, 2026
This session will introduce the HortCalculator, an online decision-support tool designed to help ornamental growers translate farm-level data into actionable financial insights. The tool generates clear analyses of profitability, breakeven points, and return on investment, giving growers confidence to evaluate sustainable production practices and new technologies. By linking financial literacy with production decisions, the HortCalculator helps growers balance profitability and sustainability, strengthening resilience in ornamental horticulture systems. The session will highlight practical applications for nursery, greenhouse, and specialty crop operations, while also exploring opportunities for research, education, and industry partnerships to scale the tool across crops and regions.
Show More