horticulture

1 of 2

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯr-tə-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

horticultural

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rəl 

adjective

horticulturally

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rə-lē 

adverb

horticultural

2 of 2

adjective

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​al ¦hȯ(r)tə¦kəlch(ə)rəl 

-)tə¦-

1

: relating to horticulture

2

: produced under cultivation (as by breeding) compare botanical

horticulturally

-rəlē 

-li

adverb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

David Austin is a county residential horticulture agent for the University of Florida Extension in Highlands County, Florida. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 7 Sep. 2026

Nobody likes to see their sunflowers flopping over—and according to Nancy Awot-Traut, a horticulture specialist at Burpee, there can be several reasons why this happens. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026

Students can explore pathways in agricultural business, agricultural science, animal science, forestry and natural resources, ornamental horticulture, plant and soil science, agricultural technologies and advancements, and agricultural mechanics. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Research shows that incorporating horticulture and expanding into cash crops raises farmers’ earnings, as does the rearing of livestock. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin hortus garden + English -i- + culture — more at yard

First Known Use

Noun

1678, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for horticulture

• agriculture
• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture
• culture

Kids Definition

horticulture

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯrt-ə-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

horticultural

ˌhȯrt-ə-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rəl 

adjective