Why did medicinal plants become less central to many modern botanical gardens?

Medicinal plants became less central to modern botanical gardens as the primary focus of these institutions shifted from their historical roots as "physic gardens" toward the display of ornamental plants and the broader study of plant culture.12

In the 16th century, early botanical gardens were closely associated with university medical schools, where professors of medicine used them to train students and cultivate plants for medicinal use. However, as the science of botany matured during the 18th and 19th centuries, the role of the botanical garden evolved. The classical model of a teaching and medicinal garden was gradually replaced by a focus on horticulture, the exhibition of diverse plant groups, and the aesthetic appeal of ornamental collections.21

Today, while many gardens maintain extensive collections for scholarly and public interest, plants once valued for their medicinal properties are largely considered to be of historical interest rather than a central feature of contemporary collections. Modern gardens now prioritize blending taxonomic order with eye appeal to serve as cultural resources for urban populations.1