vivai

Vivai are horticultural facilities dedicated to the propagation, multiplication, and sale of young plants. The term is Italian for nurseries, and in practice a vivaio may produce ornamentals, fruit trees, or vegetables and may operate as a wholesale production nursery, a retail nursery, or a combination of both. Typical infrastructure includes greenhouses or polytunnels, shade structures, propagation beds, potting areas, and storage. Plants are grown in containers or in the ground and moved through stages from seedling to rooted cutting or grafted stock.

Propagation methods used in vivai include seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting and budding, and sometimes tissue culture for disease-free stock. Rootstocks for fruit trees are commonly raised separately and later grafted with desired varieties. Production cycles vary by species and market demands, with scheduling aimed at providing plants ready for sale after a predictable dormancy or growth period. Once finished, plants are potted, labeled, quality-checked, and distributed to retailers or landscape professionals.

The vivaio sector supports agriculture and landscaping by supplying nursery stock for orchards, parks, and gardens. It is subject to plant health and quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Sustainable practices—such as water-efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, and reuse of media and containers—are increasingly emphasized in modern vivai.