ornamentals

Ornamentals are plants cultivated primarily for decorative value in gardens, landscapes, interiors, and public spaces. They are grown for aesthetic traits rather than for food, medicine, or timber, and encompass a broad range of life forms, including flowering perennials, shrubs, trees, bulbs, grasses, and foliage plants.

Ornamental plants are selected for color, form, texture, fragrance, and seasonal interest. They may be used to create focal points, define spaces, line pathways, or soften built environments. The category includes flowering ornamentals and foliage ornamentals, evergreen and deciduous types, and ornamental grasses.

Selection and cultivation considerations include climate and hardiness, sun exposure, soil type and drainage, water needs, growth size, and maintenance. Other factors are pest and disease resistance, toxicity to pets or humans, and potential ecological effects. In some regions, certain ornamentals can become invasive or displace native species, so using native or non-invasive cultivars is advised.

Propagation and production: ornamentals are propagated by seed, cuttings, division, grafting, or tissue culture and are marketed by species and cultivar with care information. The ornamental plant sector supports home gardening, landscape design, and floristry and represents a major segment of the horticulture industry.