horticole

Horticole is an adjective used to denote things related to horticulture, the branch of science and practice concerned with cultivating, propagating, and managing plants. In French, horticole describes plants, crops, or activities associated with this field; in English the corresponding adjective is horticultural. The term derives from Latin hortus (garden) and cultura (cultivation). Horticulture covers both the science of plant biology as applied to cultivation and the art of growing plants for consumption, ornament, or environmental enhancement.

Scope and activities: It encompasses garden crops such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as ornamental species used in landscaping and floristry. Practical work includes soil management, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, propagation by seeds or vegetative methods, and pest and disease control. Greenhouse and controlled-environment production are common in temperate climates, enabling year-round cropping and production of specialized ornamentals.

Subfields and related disciplines: Horticulture is commonly subdivided into floriculture (flowers and ornamentals), pomology (fruit crops), olericulture (vegetable crops), and arboriculture or urban forestry (trees and shrubs). It intersects with plant science, landscape architecture, and agronomy, and it informs nursery production, garden design, and conservation. Education and industry programs prepare horticulturists for research, extension, crop management, and horticultural commerce.

Because of its practical focus, horticulture contributes to food security, aesthetic value, and ecosystem services in urban and rural settings. The adjective horticole remains common in French-language texts; in English, the term horticultural is preferred.