View source for Horticulture

{{Short description|Small-scale cultivation of plants}}
[[File:Horticulturist Amy Boul by Lance Cheung.jpg|thumb|A horticulture student tending to plants in a [[Market garden|garden]] in [[Lawrenceville, Georgia]], March 2015]]
[[File:Shrub, Topiary Garden.jpg|thumb|The Rock Garden, [[Leonardslee Gardens]]]]
'''Horticulture''' (from {{langx|la|[[wikt:hortus|horti]] + culture}}) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and more controlled scale than [[agronomy]]. There are various divisions of horticulture because plants are grown for a variety of purposes.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Laura W. |title=Practical Horticulture; A Guide to Growing Indoor and Outdoor Plants |publisher=Reston |year=1980 |location=USA}}</ref> These divisions include, but are not limited to: [[Plant propagation|propagation]], [[arboriculture]], [[landscaping]], [[floriculture]] and [[Sod|turf]] maintenance. For each of these, there are various professions, aspects, tools used and associated challenges -- each requiring highly specialized skills and knowledge on the part of the horticulturist. 

Typically, horticulture is characterized as the ornamental, small-scale and non-industrial cultivation of plants; horticulture is distinct from gardening by its emphasis on scientific methods, plant breeding, and technical cultivation practices, while gardening, even at a professional level, tends to focus more on the aesthetic care and maintenance of plants in gardens or landscapes. However, some aspects of horticulture are industrialized or commercial such as greenhouse production or CEA.

Horticulture began with the [[Domestication|domestication of plants]] {{Circa|10,000|20,000}} years ago.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Domestication |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/domestication/ |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=National Geographic}}</ref><ref name=":3" />{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=April 2025}} At first, only plants for sustenance were grown and maintained, but as humanity became increasingly sedentary, plants were grown for their ornamental value.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} Horticulture emerged as a distinct field from agriculture when humans sought to cultivate plants for pleasure on a smaller scale rather than exclusively for sustenance.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Emerging technologies are moving the industry forward, especially in the alteration of plants to be more resistant to parasites, disease and drought. Modifying technologies such as [[CRISPR]] are also improving the nutrition, taste and yield of crops.

Many horticultural organizations and societies around the world have been formed by horticulturists and those within the industry. These include the [[Royal Horticultural Society]], the [[International Society for Horticultural Science]],<ref name=":6" /> and the [[American Society of Horticultural Science]].<ref name=":7" />

==Divisions of horticulture and types of horticulturists==
There are divisions and sub-divisions within horticulture because plants are grown for many different reasons. Some of the divisions in horticulture include:
* [[gardening]]
* [[plant propagation|plant production and propagation]]
* [[arboriculture]]
* [[landscaping]]
* [[floriculture]]
* [[garden design]] and maintenance
* [[turf]] maintenance
* [[Conservation biology|plant conservation]] and landscape restoration.<ref name="Preece-Biology-2005">{{Cite book |last1=Preece |first1=John E. |title=The biology of horticulture: an introductory textbook |last2=Read |first2=Paul E. |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2005 |isbn=0-471-46579-8 |edition=2 |pages=4–6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Arteca |first1=Richard N. |title=Introduction to Horticultural Science |publisher=Cengage Learning |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-111-31279-4 |edition=2 |location=Stamford, Connecticut |page=584}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Why Horticulture? |url=https://horticulture.umn.edu/students/why-horticulture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502082101/https://horticulture.umn.edu/students/why-horticulture |archive-date=2019-05-02 |access-date=2 May 2019 |website=Department of Horticultural Science |publisher=University of Minnesota}}</ref>

It includes the cultivation of all plants including, but not limited to: [[ornamental plant]]s, [[fruit]]s, [[vegetable]]s, [[flower]]s, [[Sod|turf]], [[Nut (fruit)|nut]]s, [[seed]]s, [[herb]]s and other [[Medicinal plants|medicinal/edible plants.]] This cultivation may occur in [[garden]] spaces, [[Plant nursery|nurseries]], [[greenhouse]]s, [[vineyard]]s, [[orchard]]s, [[park]]s, recreation areas, etc. {{cn|date=February 2025}}[[File:027 Flowers at Algemene warenmarkt - market in Grote Markt, Breda, Netherlands.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Flower seedlings at a market in [[Breda]], Netherlands]]

Horticulturists study and practice the cultivation of plant material professionally. There are many different types of horticulturists with different job titles, including: [[gardener]], grower, [[farmer]], [[arborist]], [[Floriculture|floriculturist]], [[Landscaping|landscaper]], agronomist, designer, landscape architect, lawn-care specialist, nursery manager, botanical garden curator, horticulture therapist, and much more.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2024 |title=22 Jobs in Horticulture (With Salaries and Primary Duties) |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-horticulture |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=Indeed}}</ref> They may be hired by a variety of companies/institutions including, but not limited to: botanical gardens, private/public gardens, parks, cemeteries, greenhouses, golf courses, vineyards, estates, landscaping companies, nurseries, educational institutions, etc. They may also be self-employed.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

== History ==
Horticulture began with the domestication of plants 10,000–20,000 years ago and has since been deeply integrated into human history.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":3" /> The domestication of plants occurred independently within various civilizations across the globe. The history of horticulture overlaps with the [[history of agriculture]] and [[history of botany]], as all three originated with the domestication of various plants for food.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |editor-last=Carey |editor-first=John |chapter=Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind |date=2022-11-15 |title=Sunday Best |pages=283–286 |publisher=Yale University Press |doi=10.12987/yale/9780300266689.003.0077 |isbn=978-0-300-26668-9}}</ref>  In Europe, agriculture and horticulture diverged at some point during the Middle Ages.<ref name=":4">Baeyer, E. T''HE DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE.'' Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS) https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c09/e6-156-07-00.pdf</ref>

=== Early practices in horticulture ===

Early practices in horticulture include various tools and methods of land management, with different methods and plant types used for different uses. Methods, tools and plants grown have always depended on the culture and climate.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==== Pre-colonized North and Central America ====
Many traditional horticultural practices are known, such as the Indigenous peoples of pre-colonized North America using [[biochar]] to enhance soil productivity by smoldering plant waste<ref>Solomon, Dawit, Johannes Lehmann, Janice Thies, Thorsten Schafer, Biqing Liang, James Kinyangi, Eduardo Neves, James Petersen, Flavio Luizao, and Jan Skjemstad, ''Molecular signature and sources of biochemical recalcitrance of organic carbone in Amazonian Dark Earths'', Geochemica et cosmochemica ACTA 71.9 2285–2286 (2007) ("Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) are a unique type of soils apparently developed between 500 and 9000 years B.P. through intense anthropogenic activities such as biomass-burning and high-intensity nutrient depositions on pre-Columbian Amerindian settlements that transformed the original soils into Fimic Anthrosols throughout the Brazilian Amazon Basin.") (internal citations omitted)</ref>{{snd}}European settlers called this soil ''[[Terra Preta de Indio]]''.<ref>Glaser, Bruno, Johannes Lehmann, and Wolfgang Zech,'' Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal – a review'', Biology and Fertility of Soils 35.4 219–220 (2002) ("These so called Terra Preta do Indio (Terra Preta) characterize the settlements of pre-Columbian Indios. In Terra Preta soils, large amounts of black C indicate a high and prolonged input of carbonized organic matter probably due to the production of charcoal in hearths, whereas only low amounts of charcoal are added to soils as a result of forest fires and slash-and-burn techniques.") (internal citations omitted)</ref> In North America, Indigenous people grew maize, squash, and sunflower, among other crops. [[Mesoamerican]] cultures focused on cultivating crops on a small scale, such as the [[milpa]] or maize field, around their dwellings or in specialized plots which were visited occasionally during migrations from one area to the next.<ref name="Hagen, V.W. 19572">von Hagen, V.W. (1957) The Ancient Sun Kingdoms Of The Americas. Ohio: The World Publishing Company</ref> In Central America, the [[Maya people|Maya]] involved augmentation of the forest with useful trees such as [[papaya]], [[avocado]], [[Theobroma cacao|cacao]], [[ceiba]] and [[sapodilla]]. In the fields, multiple crops such as beans, squash, pumpkins and chili peppers were grown. The first ''horticulturists'' in many cultures were mainly or exclusively women.<ref>Thompson, S.I. (1977) Women, Horticulture, and Society in Tropical America. American Anthropologist, N.S., 79: 908–10</ref>

=== Historical uses for plants in horticulture ===
In addition to plants' medicinal and nutritional value, plants have also been grown for their beauty, to impress and to demonstrate power, knowledge, status and even wealth of those in control of the cultivated plant material. This symbolic power that plants hold has existed even before the beginnings of their cultivation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pollan |first=Michael |title=The Botany of Desire |publisher=Random House |isbn=0-375-50129-0 |date=2001 |language=en}}</ref>

There is evidence that various gardens maintained by the [[Aztecs]] were sacred, as they grew plants that held religious value. Plants were grown for their metaphorical relation to gods and goddesses.<ref name=":4" /> Flowers held symbolic power in religious rites, as they were offered to the gods and given in ceremonies to leaders to demonstrate their connection to the gods.<ref name=":4" />

== Aspects of horticulture ==
=== Propagation ===
{{main|Plant propagation}}

[[Plant propagation]] in horticulture is the process by which the number of individual plants is increased. Propagation involves both sexual and [[Asexual reproduction|asexual]] methods.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arteca |first=Richard N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=84XAAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 |title=Introduction to Horticultural Science |date=2014-02-14 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-305-17780-2 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-07 |archive-date=2023-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119181036/https://books.google.com/books?id=84XAAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sexual propagation uses seeds, while asexual propagation involves the division of plants, separation of tubers, corms, and bulbs using techniques such as cutting, layering, grafting.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peter |first=K. V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NWMa741kG_gC&pg=PA338 |title=Basics Of Horticulture |date=2009-02-05 |publisher=New India Publishing |isbn=978-81-89422-55-4 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-07 |archive-date=2023-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119181048/https://books.google.com/books?id=NWMa741kG_gC&pg=PA338 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Plant selection ===
When selecting plants to cultivate, a horticulturist may consider aspects based on the plant's intended use, including plant morphology, rarity, and utility.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Horticultural Practices |url=https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/parks-recreation-community/parks/horticulture/horticultural-practices.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206230537/https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/parks-recreation-community/parks/horticulture/horticultural-practices.html |archive-date=2022-12-06 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=District of Saanich |language=en}}</ref> When selecting plants for the landscape, observations of the location must be made first. Soil type, temperature, climate, light, moisture, and pre-existing plants are considered when selecting plant material for the location. Plant selection may be for annual displays, or they may be for more permanent plantings. Characteristics of the plant{{snd}}such as mature height and size, colour, growth habit, ornamental value, flowering time and invasive potential{{snd}}finalize the plant selection process.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

=== Controlling environmental/growing variables ===
Environmental factors affecting plant development include temperature, light, water, [[soil pH]], nutrient availability, weather, humidity, elevation, terrain, and micro-climate.<ref name=":5" /> In horticulture, these environmental variables may be avoided, controlled or manipulated in an indoor growing environment.

==== Temperature ====
Plants require specific temperatures to grow and develop properly. Temperature can be controlled through a variety of methods. Covering plants with plastic in the form of cones called hot caps, or tunnels, can help to manipulate the surrounding temperature. Mulching is also an effective method to protect outdoor plants from frost during the winter. Inside, other frost prevention methods include wind machines, heaters, and sprinklers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Horticulture {{!}} Definition, Types, Techniques, & Uses {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/horticulture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207032531/https://www.britannica.com/science/horticulture |archive-date=2022-12-07 |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== Light ====
Plants have evolved to require different amounts of light and lengths of daytime; their growth and development are determined by the amount of light they receive. Control of this may be achieved artificially with fluorescent lights in an indoor setting. Manipulating the amount of light also controls flowering. Lengthening the day encourages the flowering of long-day plants and discourages the flowering of short-day plants.<ref name=":0" />

==== Water ====
Water management methods involve employing irrigation and drainage systems and controlling soil moisture to the needs of the species. Irrigation methods include surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, sub-irrigation, and trickle irrigation. Watering volume, pressure, and frequency are changed to optimize the growing environment. On a small scale, watering can be done manually.<ref name=":0" />

==== Growing media and soil management ====
The choice of growing media and components to the media help support plant life. Within a greenhouse environment, growers may choose to grow their plants in an [[Aquaponics|aquaponic]] system where no soil is used. Growers within a greenhouse setting will often opt for a soilless mix which does not include any actual components of naturally occurring soil. These mixes are generally very available within the industry and offer advantages such as water absorption and sterility.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Soil management methods are broad but include the applying fertilizers, planned crop rotation to prevent the soil degradation seen in monocultures, and soil analysis.<ref name=":0" />

{{Further|CULTAN Fertilization}}

==== Control by use of enclosed environments ====
Abiotic factors such as weather, light and temperature are all things that can be manipulated with enclosed environments such as cold frames, [[greenhouse]]s, [[Conservatory (greenhouse)|conservatories]], [[Polytunnel|poly houses]] and shade houses. Materials used in constructing these buildings are chosen based on the climate, purpose and budget.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Cold frames provide an enclosed environment; they are built close to the ground and with a top made of glass or plastic. The glass or plastic allows sunlight into the frame during the day and prevents heat loss that would have been lost as long-wave radiation at night. This allows plants to begin growing before the growing season starts. Greenhouses and conservatories are similar in function but are larger and heated with an external energy source. They can be built out of glass but are now primarily made from plastic sheets. More expensive and modern greenhouses can include temperature control through shade and light control or air-conditioning and automatic watering. Shade houses provide shading to limit water loss by evapotranspiration.<ref name=":0" />

== Challenges ==

=== Abiotic stresses ===
Commercial horticulture is required to support a rapidly growing population with demands for its products.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Stress tolerance in horticultural crops: challenges and mitigation strategies |date=2021 |publisher=Woodhead Publishing |editor=Avinash Chandra Rai |isbn=978-0-323-85363-7 |location=Cambridge |oclc=1251764903}}</ref> Due to global climate change, extremes in temperatures, strength of precipitation events, flood frequency, and drought length and frequency are increasing. Together with other abiotic stressors such as salinity, [[heavy metal toxicity]], UV damage, and air pollution, stressful environments are created for crop production. This is extrapolated as evapotranspiration is increased, soils are degraded of nutrients, and oxygen levels are depleted, resulting in up to a 70% loss in crop yield.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

=== Biotic stresses ===
Living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, insects, weeds and native plants are sources of biotic stresses and can deprive the host of nutrients.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of food grains |date=2016 |editor=Colin W. Wrigley |editor2=Harold Corke |editor3=Koushik Seetharaman |editor4=Jonathan Faubion |isbn=978-0-12-394786-4 |edition=Second |location=Kidlington, Oxford, UK |publisher=Elsevier |oclc=939553708}}</ref> Plants respond to these stresses using defence mechanisms such as morphological and structural barriers, chemical compounds, proteins, enzymes and hormones.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Postharvest physiology and biochemistry of fruits and vegetables |date=2019 |editor=Elhadi M. Yahia |editor2=Armando Carrillo-Lopez |isbn=978-0-12-813279-1 |location=Duxford |publisher=Elsevier |oclc=1061148070}}</ref> The impact of biotic stresses can be prevented using practices such as incorporate tilling, spraying or Integrated Pest Management (IPM).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pantazi |first=Xanthoula-Eirini |title=Intelligent data mining and fusion systems in agriculture |date=2020 |author2=Dimitrios Moshou |author3=Dionysis Bochtis |isbn=978-0-12-814392-6 |location=London |publisher=Elsevier |oclc=1124761701}}</ref>

=== Harvest management ===
Care is required to reduce damages and losses to horticultural crops during harvest.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hussein |first1=Zaharan |last2=Fawole |first2=Olaniyi A. |last3=Opara |first3=Umezuruike Linus |date=2020-01-01 |title=Harvest and Postharvest Factors Affecting Bruise Damage of Fresh Fruits |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468014119301943 |journal=Horticultural Plant Journal |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1016/j.hpj.2019.07.006 |bibcode=2020HorPJ...6....1H |s2cid=202847840 |issn=2468-0141 |access-date=2022-12-07 |archive-date=2022-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207070417/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468014119301943 |url-status=live |hdl=10019.1/125649 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Compression forces occur during harvesting, and horticultural goods can be hit in a series of impacts during transport and packhouse operations. Different techniques are used to minimize mechanical injuries and wounding to plants such as:<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Postharvest technology of perishable horticultural commodities |date=2019 |editor=Elhadi M. Yahia |isbn=978-0-12-813277-7 |location=Duxford |publisher=Elsevier |oclc=1109725060}}</ref>
* Manual harvesting: This is the harvesting horticultural crops by hand. Fruits, such as apples, pears and peaches, can be harvested by clippers
* Sanitation: Harvest bags, crates, clippers and other equipment must be cleaned before harvest.<ref name=":2" />

== Emerging technology ==
[[CRISPR|Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)]] has recently gained recognition as a highly efficient, simplified, precise, and low-cost method of altering the genomes of species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Yang |last2=Zhang |first2=Chunling |last3=Wang |first3=Xiaofei |last4=Li |first4=Xiuming |last5=You |first5=Chunxiang |date=2022-07-01 |title=CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its application in horticultural crops |journal=Horticultural Plant Journal |language=en |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=395–407 |doi=10.1016/j.hpj.2022.04.007 |s2cid=248462799 |issn=2468-0141 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022HorPJ...8..395L }}</ref> Since 2013, CRISPR has been used to enhance a variety of species of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Crops are modified to increase their resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors such as parasites, disease, and drought as well as increase yield, nutrition, and flavour.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Tian |last2=Zhang |first2=Chunjiao |last3=Zhang |first3=Hongyan |last4=Zhu |first4=Hongliang |date=2021-11-17 |title=CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing Revolutionizes the Improvement of Horticulture Food Crops |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00104 |journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |language=en |volume=69 |issue=45 |pages=13260–13269 |doi=10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00104 |pmid=33734711 |bibcode=2021JAFC...6913260W |s2cid=232302738 |issn=0021-8561 |access-date=2022-12-07 |archive-date=2022-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207050322/https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00104 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Additionally, CRISPR has been used to edit undesirable traits, for example, reducing the browning and production of toxic and bitter substances of potatoes. CRISPR has also been employed to solve issues of low pollination rates and low fruit yield common in greenhouses. As compared to [[genetically modified organism]]s (GMO), CRISPR does not add any alien DNA to the plant's genes.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Sonali |last=Mookerjee |date=2023-11-30 |title=Gene-editing primer: What's the difference between CRISPR crops and GMOs? |url=https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/11/30/gene-editing-primer-whats-the-difference-between-crispr-crops-and-gmos/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Genetic Literacy Project |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Organizations==
Various organizations worldwide focus on promoting and encouraging research and education in all branches of horticultural science; such organizations include the [[International Society for Horticultural Science]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=ISHS |url=http://ishs.org/about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922225337/http://ishs.org/about |archive-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> and the [[American Society of Horticultural Science]].<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=ASHS |url=http://www.ashs.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811103104/http://www.ashs.org/ |archive-date=2017-08-11 |access-date=2016-06-11 |publisher=ashs.org}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, there are two main horticulture societies.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} The [[Ancient Society of York Florists]] is the oldest horticultural society in the world and was founded in 1768; this organization continues to host four horticultural shows annually in [[York]], England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient society of York Florists,oldest horticultural society in world,longest running horticultural show in world established 1768, flower shows in york yorkshire uk,horticultural shows in york yorkshire uk, vegetable shows in york yorkshire uk, fruit shows in york yorkshire uk, floral art shows in york yorkshire uk,handicrafts and baking shows in york uk,dahlia shows in york yorkshire uk,gladioli shows in york yorkshire uk,chrysanthemum shows in york yorkshire uk, auricula shows in york yorkshire uk, sweet pea shows in york yorkshire uk |url=http://www.ancientsocietyofyorkflorists.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112171754/http://ancientsocietyofyorkflorists.co.uk/ |archive-date=2018-11-12 |access-date=2016-07-13 |website=www.ancientsocietyofyorkflorists.co.uk}}</ref> Additionally, [[Royal Horticultural Society|The Royal Horticultural Society]], established in 1804, is a charity in United Kingdom that leads on the encouragement and improvement of the science, art, and practice of horticulture in all its branches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Royal Horticultural Society, UK charity focussed on the art, science and practice of horticulture. |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/science |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526150441/https://www.rhs.org.uk/science |archive-date=2019-05-26 |access-date=2018-01-13 |website=The Royal Horticultural Society Website}}</ref> The organization shares the knowledge of horticulture through its community, learning programs, and world-class gardens and shows.{{Cn|date=August 2021}}

The [[Chartered Institute of Horticulture]] (CIH) is the Chartered professional body for horticulturists and horticultural scientists representing all sectors of the horticultural industry across Great Britain, Ireland and overseas. While horticulture is an unregulated profession in the United Kingdom, the title of Chartered Horticulturalist is regulated by the CIH.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chartered Horticulturist |url=https://www.regulated-professions.service.gov.uk/professions/chartered-horticulturist |website=[[GOV.UK]] |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref> The [[Australian Institute of Horticulture]] and [[Australian Society of Horticultural Science]] were established in 1990 as a professional society to promote and enhance Australian horticultural science and industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Society of Horticultural Science – Australian Society of Horticultural Science |url=http://aushs.org.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119180941/http://aushs.org.au/ |archive-date=2023-01-19 |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref> Finally, the New Zealand Horticulture Institute is another known horticultural organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=RNZIH – Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture – Home Page |url=http://www.rnzih.org.nz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119180944/https://www.rnzih.org.nz/ |archive-date=2023-01-19 |access-date=2012-10-26}}</ref>

In India, the Horticultural Society of India (now the Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences) is the oldest society; it was established in 1941 at [[Lyallpur]], Punjab (now in Pakistan) but was later shifted to [[Delhi]] in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Headquarters |url=https://www.iahs.org.in/headquarters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819171137/https://www.iahs.org.in/headquarters/ |archive-date=2021-08-19 |access-date=2021-08-19 |website=IAHS |language=en-US}}</ref> The other notable organization in operation since 2005 is the Society for Promotion of Horticulture based at Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SPH |url=https://sph.iihr.res.in/about_us.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819171138/https://sph.iihr.res.in/about_us.php |archive-date=2021-08-19 |access-date=2021-08-19 |website=sph.iihr.res.in}}</ref> Both these societies publish scholarly journals – Indian Journal of Horticulture and [[Journal of Horticultural Sciences]] for the advancement of horticultural sciences.{{Cn|date=August 2021}} Horticulture in the Indian state of [[Kerala]] is led by [[Kerala State Horticulture Mission]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The [[National Junior Horticultural Association]] (NJHA) was established in 1934 and was the first organization in the world dedicated solely to youth and horticulture. NJHA programs are designed to help young people obtain a basic understanding of horticulture and develop horticultural skills.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home – NJHA |url=http://www.njha.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119180942/https://www.njha.org/ |archive-date=2023-01-19 |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref>

The Global Horticulture Initiative (GlobalHort) fosters partnerships and collective action among different stakeholders in horticulture. This organization focuses on horticulture for development (H4D), which involves using horticulture to reduce poverty and improve nutrition worldwide. GlobalHort is organized in a consortium of national and international organizations which collaborate in research, training, and technology-generating activities designed to meet mutually agreed-upon objectives. GlobalHort is a non-profit organization registered in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Global Horticulture Initiative |url=http://www.globalhort.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413061926/http://www.globalhort.org/ |archive-date=2018-04-13 |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Agriculture and Agronomy|Gardening}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Agricultural science]]
* [[Agronomy]]
* [[Floriculture]]
* [[Forest gardening]]
* [[Gardening]]
* [[Genetically modified tree]]s
* [[Genomics of domestication]]
* [[Hoe-farming]]
* Horticultural botany
* [[Horticultural flora]]
* [[Horticultural oil]]
* [[Horticultural therapy]]
* [[Indigenous horticulture]]
* [[Landscaping]]
* [[Permaculture]]
* [[Plant nutrition]]
* [[Plug (horticulture)]]
* [[Tropical horticulture]]
* [[Turf management]]
* [[Vertical farming]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* C.R. Adams, ''Principles of Horticulture'' Butterworth-Heinemann; 5th edition (11 Aug 2008), {{ISBN|0-7506-8694-4}}.

==External links==
{{Wikibooks|Horticulture}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907015307/http://www.horticulture.org.uk/ The Institute of Horticulture] (archived 7 September 2015)
* [http://www.ishs.org/ ISHS – International Society for Horticultural Science]
* [http://www.rhs.org.uk/ The Royal Horticultural Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060626042637/http://www.bl.uk/collections/business/hortindu.html British Library] – information on the [[horticulture industry]] (archived 26 June 2006)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120910033023/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/default.html History of Horticulture] (archived 10 September 2012)
* [http://www.fao.org/hortivar HORTIVAR – The FAO Horticulture Cultivars Performance Database]
* [http://www.globalhort.org/ Global Horticulture Initiative – GlobalHort]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103903/http://www.hin.com.au/ Horticulture Information & Resource Library] (archived 4 October 2018)
* [http://passel.unl.edu/ Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary]
{{div col end}}

{{Horticulture and Gardening}}
{{Forestry}}
{{botany}}
{{Types of societies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Horticulture| ]]
[[Category:Agronomy]]
[[Category:Agriculture by type]]
[[Category:Plants in culture]]