Roger Clapp Greenhouses
           University of Maine
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Name:          Roger Clapp Greenhouses


Address:      Grove Street Extension

                     University of Maine

                     Orono, Maine  04469


Contact:       Brad Libby


Phone:          207-581-3112


Email:           blibby@maine.edu


Website:       umaine.edu/littlefieldgarden


Fax:               207-581-2999


Office Hours:

                       Mon.-Fri.  7 -9 a.m.


Greenhouse Hours:

                       Mon.-Fri.  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.


Products and Services


-research in horticulture

-research in sustainable agriculture

-research in forest ecosystem science

-research in entomology

-orchid collection

-begonia collection

-cacti collection

-bromeliads collection

-citrus collection

-faculty and graduate student research

-educational tours and programs



What Makes Roger Clapp Greenhouses Unique?


It is always gratifying to see a person who has dedicated their efforts to a course of study be recognized for their work.  Professor Roger Clapp was a professor of ornamental horticulture and landscape design for forty years at the University of Maine from 1929 through 1969. It seems quite fitting that the greenhouses at the University that support research and teaching in horticulture, sustainable agriculture, forest ecosystem science, entomology, and forestry be named after him. 


The first greenhouse at the University of Maine was built in 1924 as a floriculture lab.  Four years later, the second greenhouse was constructed for the growing of vegetables. That same year the brick building which housed offices and a classroom was built. In 1932, the third greenhouse was erected by the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station for work in plant breeding, pathology, and physiology.  Many renovations to the greenhouse facility took place in 1977, and the complex was named after Professor Roger Clapp in 1980.


Professor Roger Clapp was the first recipient of the Edward D. Johnson Award that was given by the Maine State Florists and Growers Association in 1969.  It was awarded to Professor Clapp for his willingness to share his horticultural skills, time, and labor with the community.


The Roger Clapp Greenhouses are a most impressive facility.  The growing space is comprised of 11,000 square feet.  Steam radiation from the campus system heats the greenhouses. At the north end of the complex, a stately brick building houses a classroom, laboratory, and offices.  There are three main sections of interconnected glass greenhouses which contain many permanent collections such as cacti, bromeliads, citrus, orchids, and begonias.  There are seven separate greenhouses that contain several research projects.  In Greenhouse #1 there is organic research for the Black Bear Research Guild’s seedling production.  On the west side of the Roger Clapp Greenhouses there is a hoop house used to overwinter plants.


Horticulturists interested in learning about some of the unique plants that are grown in the Roger Clapp Greenhouses are fortunate because descriptions of the plants can be found on the “Plants in the Greenhouse” webpage on the website of University of Maine.  Some of the plants that are grown include Agave americana, Kalanchoe delagoensis, Opuntia ficus-indica, Orchids, Sansevieria trifasciata, Selenicereus anthonyanus, Stapelia lepida, Aechmea miniata, Neoregelia concentrica, Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Tillandsia usneoides.


Please Note:


Unique Maine Farms is hoping that some students and staff will kindly share some additional information and photos to add to this profile when time allows in the future.





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