Department of Horticulture

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

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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

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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

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News

MSU team to use $611K USDA grant to explore heavy metals in crops

Published on August 17, 2023
Intended to serve as a resource for growers, food industries and policymakers, the project has three overarching objectives aimed at uncovering the circumstances that lead to heavy metal uptake and what can be done to mitigate it.
MSU researchers receive NSF grant to address ‘Grand Challenge’ of plant biology

Published on July 18, 2023
Pursuing ways to anticipate observable plant attributes through mathematical analysis, predictive modeling
Center for PFAS Research positions MSU scientists as leaders in field

Published on July 12, 2023
Michigan State University researchers are partnering with colleagues across the state, country and worldwide to address PFAS contamination.
The 4-H Children’s Gardens celebrate 30th anniversary

Published on June 2, 2023
In summer 2023, the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens will celebrate 30 years of existence. As we mark this occasion, the Michigan 4-H Foundation is reflecting on the origins of the first garden.
Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens History

Published on May 25, 2023
In 2023, the the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens will celebrate 30 years of existence. Explore its history with this timeline!