Major: Horticultural Science
It takes science to create a hybrid, but it takes artistry to fully develop its beautiful color. Whether in the beauty of a tulip or the taste of a new kind of apple, few sciences satisfy the senses the way horticultural science does.
Majors in this field learn how to breed and grow garden and ornamental plants and plant species with the right amount of moisture, nutrients, and light. Students often take their work with them, naming plants on their drive or walk home, and admiring the natural world around them.
Horticultural science majors learn the science behind cultivating garden and ornamental plants, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and landscape and nursery crops.
“I am fascinated about how plants think and how they respond to their environment -- how do they know when to flower and when to set seed? How do they decide when to grow and when to go dormant?”
Arthur Cameron, Professor of Horticulture,
Michigan State University
Are You Ready To...?
- Study the Latin names of plants
- Learn how water and temperature interact to create the proper humidity for a nursery
- Discover the differences between a climbing rose and a tea rose
- Prune a lilac bush or espalier a pear tree
It Helps to Be...
Good at working with your hands. No matter how much or what kind of homework you have, your plants also need to be planted, pruned, watered, and fed.
College Checklist
- Does the program focus on a crop specific to the state or region?
- Which areas of specialization does the program offer, such as nursery operations or ornamental horticulture?
- Does the program have greenhouses and field plots that you can use?
- Does the college have research facilities?
- Are there horticultural clubs on campus?
Did You Know?
- In a new trend, educators and horticulturalists have joined forces to create “children’s gardens.” Read about the one at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
Course Spotlight
One of the basic tasks of horticultural science is learning to identify plants. The list of names is so extensive that some courses, such as herbaceous perennial and annual identification, are dedicated to it.
You may identify plants from photos, a computer database, or in the field. You’ll also learn the origins of each plant, how to grow it, and even how to pronounce its name -- no small feat when confronted with names like brassicaceae and ranunculaceae.
