If I may, I would like to address the "LSU touts Black Diamond" statements.
Dan Gill is a consumer horticulturist. He was not promoting Black Diamond vs Ebony, nor was the LSU AGCenter. As part of his job at LSU, he goes to various nurseries to see what is available to Louisiana gardeners each year. The "Get it Growing" series is strictly informational about what is new and in nurseries now. You can find a number of Jim Berry's Black Diamond Crape Myrtles in nurseries and big box stores, but unfortunately you would be hard pressed to find any of the Ebony series.Had the Ebony series been sitting in that particular nursery on that day, it would be the centerpiece of that days' video.
As distasteful as it may be, Jim Berry's Black Diamond trade name is quite legal...and what is the true controversy here is how the USDA releases these plants and others developed at ARS-USDA sites.
Dr. Pounders does not work for Ole Miss. He is employed by the Federal Government at the ARS- USDA station in Poplarville,MS. Additionally, he was not a student there either.
Ph.D., Alabama A&M University
M.S., University of Minnesota
B.S.,Auburn University
