Feature: New Name and First Release for Alderson Plant Materials Center

The Alderson Plant Materials Center is now called the Appalachian Plant Materials Center. The name has been changed to represent the area served.

The cultivar ‘Panbowl’, a river alder, was released by the Appalachian Plant Materials Center in 2007. As an item of interest, this is the Appalachian PMC’s first plant release from its Alderson, WV location. Foundation plants are available to commercial and government nurseries to establish seed orchards.

The Appalachian Plant Materials Center (PMC) serves a wide variety of land users in the Appalachian Region by evaluating plants for their ability to solve specific conservation problems related to:

• climate
• rugged topography
• soil limitations
• various land uses
• fish and wildlife needs
• desires of the landowners

The PMC assembles plants from the entire service area with similar soils and climate, evaluates the plants, develops management techniques, and provides seed and plants for planting to test performance throughout the area. The PMC provides a place for conducting systematic observations and evaluations of plants needed to protect our natural resources. New techniques are developed for the propagation, establishment, management, and use for new or improved species of grasses, legumes, shrubs and trees. Plants are an important tool for conservation. The PMC program is devoted to promoting and providing plant materials and technology for conservation.