What are the major branches of horticulture?

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture focused on the intensive cultivation of garden crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It is generally categorized into two primary areas: the production of plants for food and the production of plants for ornament.12

These areas are further divided into four major branches:

• Pomology: The study and cultivation of fruit and nut crops.12
• Olericulture: The production, storage, processing, and marketing of vegetables, such as leafy greens, roots, and stems.132
• Floriculture: The growing and marketing of flowers and ornamental plants, often involving greenhouse production, bedding plants, and cut flowers.142
• Landscape horticulture: A broad field concerned with the cultivation of plants for landscape use, including lawn turf and nursery crops like shrubs, trees, and vines.12

While these branches are distinct, they all rely on horticultural expertise to manage plant growth effectively based on factors like climate, terrain, and regional conditions.1