A horticulturalist can choose among a number of areas of focus, ranging from viticulture, the production of grapes, to entomology, studying insects which have an impact on crops.

In the world of commercial agriculture, horticulturalists develop new strains of plants which boast improved yields. They may work with a specific plant to develop a breed which is easier to harvest, or which stores better than other plant varieties. Horticulturalists also research postharvest physiology, looking at how well plants keep, and methods which could be used to improve the storage life for commercially popular crops.

A horticulturalist can also develop new ways to use plants, along with new plant breeds. A horticulturalist who works on crops for mass-production may think about issues like disease-resistance, making things convenient for harvesting equipment, or insect and animal pests. Horticulturalists who focus on crops for smaller-scale production may focus on preserving and improving heritage crops, or publicizing the importance of maintaining crop diversity.

Five Branches of Horticulture

There are five main branches of horticulture that are divided according to the type of crops produced and how the plants are used. Any one of these branches may also deal with the following types of crops: seeds and roots, perennial bush, tree nuts, and aromatic and medicinal foliage.

Floriculture This area of horticulture focuses on the cultivation of flowers (cut and potted) and foliage. Flower arrangement also fall under this header.	Floriculturist
Landscape Horticulture Ever wonder who develops those beautiful parks and indoor garden environments? Landscape horticulturists design, construct, and take care of landscapes in homes, businesses, and public areas. They choose plants for their aesthetic appeal and practicality and arrange them in ways that are pleasing and conform to the needs of their clients.	Landscape Architect
Nursery/Plant Propagation The development and dissemination of plant seeds, shrubs, trees, ornamental plants, and ground covering is the focus of this area of horticulture. Typically these plants are used in landscaping or interior plantscaping projects.	Horticultural Assistant
Olericulture Vegetable lovers will enjoy a career in this field. Olericulturists handle the farming, processing, storage, and marketing of all edible parts of vegetables including the roots, leaves, flowers, stems, seeds, and young tops. Typically vegetables are eaten raw, cooked, or preserved.	Olericulturist
Pomology If you love to eat delicious fruit, then pomology may interest you. This branch of horticulture revolves around production and cultivation of fruit crops.	Pomologist

Careers in Horticulture

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (UK) here are some of the careers in Horticulture as well as the five branches of horticultural jobs.

Links to On the Job pages are given.

Science Agronomist Botanist Ecologist Ethnobotanist Entomologist Horticultural or Plant Pathologist Plant Breeding Rights Specialist Plant Geneticist Plant Health Scientist Plant Physiologist Plant Research & Development Manager Plant Scientist Soil Specialist Tissue Culture Technician Water Management Specialist	Media Botanical artist Botanical data specialist (app development) Florist Garden designer Garden editors Garden writer Plant and garden photographer Social media plant stylist and advisor Social media content creator TV gardener
Horticulture Floral designer / sculptor Floriculturist Garden manager, head gardener, curator Garden centre / plant area worker Gardener Heritage horticulturist Horticultural Assistant Horticultural librarian or archivist Horticulturalist Nursery technician / technician manager Plant collector	Education Horticultural advisor Horticultural educator Horticultural tutor or lecturer University lecturer
Landscaping Arborist Forester Greenkeeper / golf course manager Grounds maintenance worker	Production Nursery worker / manager Olericulturist Plant propagator Pomologist Viticulturist
Environment Landscape architect Natural environment worker / manager

Articles from The Conversation

Horticulture