Welcome to the Department of Horticulture. The Department's mission is to prepare our students for horticulture-related careers in science and business. This includes making new discoveries in the plant sciences; promoting the use of plants and food for improved human health and a safe environment; improving the characteristics, quality and availability of horticultural products; and strengthening the competitive position of the world's horticultural industries. Faculty members possess a diverse array of expertise - both interdisciplinary (e.g., breeding, genomics, development, physiology, metabolism, molecular biology, and sustainable production), and commodity based (e.g., fruits/pomology, vegetables, viticulture, floriculture, nursery crops, postharvest, design and landscape ecology, and marketing) - which they utilize in their research, teaching and outreach programs, at both the national and international levels.
Featured Students
-
Noelle is learning more about sustainable farming in her M.S. degree
Published on February 7, 2022
-
Drew Jepson chose an IAT certificate program because it allows him to get working in his field quickly
Published on January 10, 2022
Featured Alumni
-
Horticulture alum is now the director of the Alaska Botanical Garden
Published on January 5, 2022
-
During his horticulture career, Ren developed people, management, and business skills that could be used anywhere
Published on November 23, 2021
Featured Faculty
-
Dr. Steve van Nocker enjoys the diversity of people on campus
Published on September 27, 2021
-
Dr. Debalina Saha enjoys conducting applied research and interacting with her students
Published on February 8, 2021
News
-
Passion for strawberries sparks grad student’s education and career goals
Published on November 28, 2022
Plant, Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Ph.D. student Ashley Wright has a research focus on strawberries and a teaching focus on improving scientific literacy in non-STEM majors. -
4-H Children's Gardens receive estate gift from longtime donor and volunteer
Published on November 17, 2022
Retired MSU professor and longtime Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens donor and volunteer Linda Nelson, Ph.D., left an estate gift to support the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens. -
MSU-led team studying expansion of controlled environment culinary herb production across US
Published on October 18, 2022
A new $3.4M USDA grant is supporting research and outreach. -
Horticulture student recommends becoming involved in student clubs
Published on October 3, 2022
Horticulture senior Emma Brinks found community in the Student Horticulture Association. Her long-term goal is to own a nursery of her own that focuses on native plants and natural ecosystems. -
MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources receives state funding for updated dairy, greenhouse facilities
Published on July 8, 2022
The university will receive $53 million in state funding to update the dairy and greenhouse facilities.
Faculty Publications
-
The Effect of Hedonic Presentation on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay and Purchase Intention for Minimally Branded Products Online
Published on April 4, 2022 by Journal of Promotion Management
-
Carbon-sensitive pedotransfer functions for plant available water
Published on March 1, 2022 by Soil Science Society of America Journal
-
Display Complexity Affects Visual Processing of Horticultural Plant Retail Displays
Published on March 1, 2022 by Journal of Environmental Horticulture
-
Gardening Motivations of U.S. Plant Purchasers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on March 1, 2022 by Journal of Environmental Horticulture
Featured in the News
-
Cultivating climate resilience
Published on February 22, 2022 by Good Fruit Grower
-
What Really Happens to Grapevines During the Dormant Season?
Published on February 15, 2022 by Growing Produce
-
Ask the Expert: Let’s talk about cut flowers
Published on February 7, 2022 by MSU Today
-
Cheyenne Sloan is new blueberry and small fruit educator in Michigan
Published on February 7, 2022 by Fruit Growers News
-
What is turnip cake and why is it a popular Lunar New Year dish?
Published on January 31, 2022 by CNN
-
Sanitation tops list for listeria prevention
Published on January 31, 2022 by Good Fruit Grower
-
No, adding sugar to Christmas tree water won’t help keep it fresh
Published on December 22, 2021 by King5 News
-
The Tappan Oak: A tale of life, death, and rebirth
Published on December 20, 2021 by Michigan Today
Events
-
Mar 4
Smart Gardening Conference
March 4, 2023 9:00AM – 4:15PM DeVos Place, Grand Rapids Michigan
A one-day Smart Gardening event held at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids Michigan. Your conference name tag admits you to the conference on Saturday and also gives you access to the West Michigan Home and Garden Show for the weekend.