Hyland GuardTM Mountain Pine is the latest woody plant selection introduced by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Research Foundation. It is a unique cold hardy upright narrow pyramidal evergreen conifer that will reach a mature height that is taller than the currently available upright Mugo pine cultivars.

Germplasm for the release began in 1972, with a single seedling selection originating from a population of Pinus uncinata collected from the Hrubý Jeseník mountain range of the Czech Republic. The evaluated tree has grown for 49 years at the NDSU Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum to a mature height of 8 meters with a 1.8-meter canopy spread.

Hyland GuardTM Mountain Pine is the 61st woody plant release from the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program led by Todd West and has been serving the Northern Great Plains for over 65 years, beginning germplasm trial evaluations in 1954. In 1974, NDSU purchased 80-acres near Absaraka, North Dakota, and the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm was established.

The center portion of the research farm is a 35-acre plot known as the Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum, which is named after NDSU professor emeritus Dale E. Herman, who developed the program for nearly 40 years.

NDSU woody plant introductions are currently being propagated for sale by commercial wholesale firms in Australia, Canada, England and 35 nurseries in 14 of the United States. The goals of the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program are selection, evaluation and introduction of hardy superior woody plants for the landscape industry.

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