horticulture
noun
Did you know?
Hortus is Latin for "garden", and the first gardens were planted about 10,000 years ago in what is often called the Fertile Crescent—the crescent-shaped area stretching from Israel north through Syria and down Iraq's two great rivers to the Persian Gulf. Probably more fertile in previous centuries than it is today, it was the original home of such food plants as wheat, barley, peas, and lentils or their ancient ancestors (not to mention the ancestors of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats as well). Many horticulturists today work as researchers or plant breeders or tend orchards and greenhouses—but most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.
Examples of horticulture in a Sentence
Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 14 June 2026
Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Optimize Water and Light Conditions While deadheading does much of the heavy lifting, consistent plant care is equally important, says Cynthia Domenghini, an instructor and horticulture specialist at Kansas State University.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
Today, the gardens continue that legacy through a two-year horticulture program and a fellows program designed to train the next generation of garden leaders.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for horticulture
Cite this Entry
“Horticulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulture. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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horticulture
noun
