Floriculture

Overview

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

Lady Bird Johnson was fond of that saying—and floriculture majors will probably enjoy it as well. A major in floriculture just seems to imply a career of making people happy. And chances are, that’s just what will happen! Everyone loves getting flowers, and in this major you’ll learn exactly what goes into growing them successfully—their appropriate environments, their needs, and their individual characteristics. You’ll learn about types of flowers and other ornamental plants and the varying challenges faced by those who grow them. You’ll also get experience working in greenhouses, so you can apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to the actual plant world, cultivating different varieties of plants and monitoring your success.

Creativity is vital for the floriculture major. You’ll explore the art of floral design and landscaping, studying both indoor and outdoor plants and how to create attractive arrangements of each. Beautiful floral designs require artistic vision and innovation—arrangements differ throughout the seasons of the year, and you’ll build your skills for recognizing artful and unusual combinations of colors and types of flowers. Since many floriculture majors go on to work in greenhouses, nurseries, or flower shops, you’ll also learn the basics of management, business, and sales, which includes purchasing, storage, and delivery.

Your floriculture major will lay the groundwork for your future in flowers. It was Emma Goldman who once said, “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” And if others are inclined to agree, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career!