introduction Horticulture (Latin hortus “garden” + colere “to cultivate”) is the branch of agriculture concerned with cultivating, or growing, garden plants. These generally include fruits, vegetables, fl owers, and ornamental plants. They may also be referred to as the edibles and the ornamentals. Horticulture has two distinct categories: fl oriculture and landscape horticulture. Both categories include growing plants as well as creative and artistic aspects of design. This textbook is devoted to the fl oriculture category. Floriculture includes the production and marketing of fl oral crops. Growing decorative plants, along with designing and marketing fl oral arrangements, are aspects of fl oriculture. It is considered both an art and a science. You may hear fl oriculture referred to as ornamental horticulture because it deals with the creative and decorative aspects of horticulture. Because fl owers and plants used in fl oriculture are often grown in greenhouses in temperate climates, fl oriculture is a “greenhouse industry,” Figure 1-1. The production of cut fl owers, cut cultivated foliage, potted blooming plants, bedding and garden plants, and tropical foliage plants grown under glass for individual sale or use in interior or exterior landscapes are all aspects of fl oriculture. Whether for indoor or outdoor application, fl oriculture crops are grown for their decorative uses. Careers in Floriculture The fl oriculture industry includes commercial growers, wholesalers, and retail fl ower shops. Commercial growers produce the potted blooming Did You Know? Greenhouses have been around for at least two thousand years! The Romans used greenhouses to grow cucumbers year round. 4 Principles of Floral Design DutchScenery/Shutterstock.com Figure 1-1. Production greenhouses are used in the fl oriculture industry to grow plants for commercial sales. Anthurium (shown above) can be used as cut fl owers in designs or as a blooming plant for consumer sales. Essential Question What is most important to you in a career? Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.