horticulturist

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rist 

variants or less commonly horticulturalist

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rə-list 

plural horticulturists also horticulturalists

: a person whose work involves growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

As the city horticulturist for the past six years, Burton has made the parks and city areas of O'Fallon bloom.

—Lynn Venhaus

The finest hot chili pepper in Peter's test garden is 'Riot', which does double duty as an ornamental and in salads; it is a graduate of horticulturist Jim Baggett's breeding program at Oregon State University.

—Jim McCausland

I prefer buying plants from a nursery to buying at a garden center, and both are vastly preferable to the garden section of a discount store. Plant quality and accuracy of labeling are usually best at a nursery, where the staff is most likely to include professional horticulturists.

—Jeff Whitehead

De Witt Clinton was a man of parts—a patron of schools, charities, and the arts, a founder of the New York Historical Society, an amateur scientist and horticulturalist.

—James MacGregor Burns

Examples of horticulturist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Laura Matter is a horticulturist and director of the natural yard care program for Tilth Alliance in Seattle, Washington. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2025

There will also be awards given to gardeners and horticulturists in various categories such as best cactus, best succulent, best Baja plant and best educational display. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025

Plus, the Gardens’ horticulturists will be on hand to answer questions. —Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2025

Guests can tour the gardens with the resident horticulturists, which grow fruit, vegetables and herbs to use in the restaurants. —Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for horticulturist

• agriculturist
• culturist

Kids Definition

horticulturist

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist

ˌhȯrt-ə-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rəst

variants also horticulturalist

-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rə-list

: a person who specializes in horticulture