SHRE Call for Proposals
The goal of the Saratoga Horticultural Research Endowment is to support research, education, and outreach that fosters the introduction of new and improved plants for California gardens and ornamental landscapes.
FUNDING IN THIS CYCLE (2025-2026) WILL FOCUS ON RESEARCH PROPOSALS ONLY. NO EDUCATION OR OUTREACH PROPOSALS WILL BE CONSIDERED.
Research proposals for the 2025-2026 funding cycle should specifically address one or more research priorities on landscaping plant AVAILABILITY, PRODUCTION, VALUES and TOLERANCES to CLIMATE STRESSORS, and related to SHRE’s core focus on drought- and heat-tolerant plants suitable for landscape use in California as detailed below.
Current Research Priorities
- Identifying and trialing new cultivars and/or species for low-water use and/or fire-resilient. groundcovers, including succulents, sedges and other life forms (both CA native and non-native). This includes turf alternatives able to withstand foot traffic.
Finding new approaches for successful propagation of less-available plants to scale-up profitable productions (e.g., tissue culture, root/branch cuttings). An emphasis on CA natives is preferred.
Selecting plant alternatives for “Zone Zero” and other defensible spaces near buildings with respect to landscape fires.
Testing plants and plant combinations to support native pollinators in urban landscapes.
All proposals must be sent to ehfinch@ucdavis.edu and aossola@ucdavis.edu.
Detailed information on proposal guidelines and submission requirements is provided in the following attachments.
SHRE Proposal Guidelines 2025-2026
Proposal Submission Requirements 2025-2026