Horticulture is the Oldest Profession!

For as long as humans have walked the earth, we’ve depended on plants for food, shelter, to act as environmental filters, and to simply make life more enjoyable. Without plants, life would cease to exist. And this important and necessary bond between people and plants carries on today…and that fortunate combination of plant science and artistic/practical application, for the expressed purpose of societal benefit is called horticulture.

Horticulturists grow fresh fruits and vegetables, plan and create beautiful landscapes, cultivate and maintain acres of turfgrass for recreation and function, breed new plants for pest resistance and environmental tolerance, and educate young and old alike about the many benefits of horticultural crops. Horticulture is a scientific pursuit…it’s a profession…it’s a passion…and it’s a necessity. Iowa, our nation, and the world needs horticulture and more horticulturists!

But horticulturists don’t grow on trees. In fact, becoming a horticulturist requires a unique educational journey that includes both classroom and laboratory training and practical, hand’s-on experiences. And the very best place in the world to receive that kind of education is right here in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. Expert and dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and a welcoming and supportive educational environment are part of the horticulture experience at Iowa State…and it’s all here waiting for you.

I invite you to explore our web site, e-mail our faculty and staff, stop in for a visit, talk with our students, in short, get a feel for what it means to be a Cyclone, a horticulturist, and a member of our elite team.