Department Information
The Environmental Horticulture Department is a team of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to improving the human environment and protecting the natural landscape through the use of plants. Florida’s climatic diversity and the facilities at UF provide opportunities for cutting-edge research in plant breeding and biotechnology, nursery crop production, landscape management, water management, restoration and conservation, and other disciplines.
Website
CONTACT
Email | 352.392.1831
P.O. Box 110670
2550 Hull Road, Rm. 1549
W.M. FIFIELD HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0670
Map
Curriculum
Courses
BCH 3023 Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Elementary organic chemistry and biochemistry for students in the agricultural technical curricula. This is a terminal course and is not part of any sequence.
EVR 3323 Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Restoration theory and planning, disturbed land reclamation, woodland/wetland/river restoration, invasive species, community involvement, and monitoring, and emphasizes plant selection, establishment and maintenance.
Corequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010, or instructor permission.
HOS 2002C Introductory Medicinal Plants 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Survey series of plants across the globe used in traditional and modern medicines to improve human health; learn about ethnobotany, several examples of plant-derived drugs and their metabolite classes at a basic level for non-experts along with underlying scientific evidence. Hands-on-activities demonstrate medicinal properties of plant extracts and tours of medicinal plants around UF main campus and greenhouses to experience live plants.
HOS 3305 Introduction to Plant Molecular Biology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces plant molecular biology and genetic engineering, emphasizing plant genes and genomes, transformation of plants and basic molecular biology.
LDE 3410C Residential Landscape Design 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Basics of residential landscape design including preparation, evaluation and implementation of simple landscape plans. Emphasizes the use of ornamental plants for functional and aesthetic improvement of home environments. Expect to attend one or two Saturday field trips.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C.
LDE 4404C Advanced Residential Landscape Design 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Sustainable landscape design concepts and practices to create regenerative and resilient residential landscapes that demonstrate advanced design skills and knowledge.
ORH 1030 Plants, Gardening and You 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
A non-majors overview of environmental horticulture that emphasizes the art and science of growing, installing and maintaining plants used to enhance and improve the human environment indoors and outdoors. Gain familiarity with the science and the industries associated with environmental horticulture.
ORH 1283 Survey of Orchids 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Overview of the complexities of the orchid family, how selected genera are produced and the potential these plants offer to commercial nursery operators and hobbyists for profit or enjoyment.
ORH 2752 Sensory Gardening 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Hands-on, multidisciplinary approach to environmental horticulture delivered through the context of the human senses. Class activities, assignments, and projects enhance awareness and understanding of how horticulture relates to the natural and built world, as well as the ways in which people perceive those worlds.
ORH 3222C Turfgrass Culture 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Comparisons of turfgrass for their landscape and recreational uses. Covers growth characteristics, method of propagation, and basic management requirements, including control of important pest problems.
ORH 3253C Introductory Nursery Management 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces the principles of planning, organizing, and managing nursery operations. Emphasizes interactions between growing medium components, plant nutrition, and irrigation. Covers nursery layout, growing structures, materials requirements, and business practices. May require weekend field trips.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 3324 Palm Short Course 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Overview of how palm plants grow and how to diagnose and interpret problems with palm plants.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or instructor permission.
ORH 3513 Environmental Plant Identification and Use 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, growth characteristics, culture and use of common landscape and greenhouse plants. Materials include trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, lawn grasses and floriculture crops. Emphasizes temperate plants. Taught off campus.
Corequisite: ORH 3513L.
ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Combines lecture and laboratory for identification, growth characteristics, culture, and use of common landscape and greenhouse plants. Materials include trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, lawn grasses, and floriculture crops. Emphasizes temperate plants. Taught on UF campus.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
Attributes: General Education - Biological Science
ORH 3513L Environmental Plant Identification and Use Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introductory, upper-division environmental laboratory course. Identify commonly used landscape plants, their use and their characteristics. Taught off campus.
Corequisite: ORH 3513.
ORH 3773 Public Gardens 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Operation and management of public gardens, including community and amusement parks, nature preserves, botanical gardens, arboreta, and zoological gardens. Explore issues relevant to principles and practices of management and psychological and sociological benefits of gardens and green spaces.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C.
ORH 3773L Public Gardens Laboratory 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
First-hand observation and evaluation of public gardens and parks to illustrate the management of such, as was discussed in ORH 3773. Consists of field trips to various botanical gardens, zoos and amusement parks.
Corequisite: ORH 3773.
ORH 3815C Florida Native Landscaping 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An upper-division, environmental horticulture course designed to introduce students with a plant science background to the nomenclature, effective utilization and design elements of plants native to Florida.
Prerequisite: junior standing.
ORH 4223 Golf and Sports Turf Management 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Strategies involved in golf course and athletic field operations, including development of management cultural practices, adherence to environment regulations, personnel management and budgeting. Students may be expected to attend Saturday field trips.
Prerequisite: ORH 3222C.
ORH 4236C Ornamental Landscape Management 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provide foundational knowledge and the skills needed to successfully manage and maintain residential and commercial landscapes. Additionally, provides students with a greater understanding of the landscape management industry and familiarizes students with sustainable landscape management techniques.
Prerequisite: ORH 3222C.
ORH 4242C Arboriculture 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces urban trees: biology, management requirements, design of urban spaces for trees, site modifications and construction techniques, tree selection, installation techniques, establishing trees in adverse sites, tree pruning and related tree management practices. A written tree management plan is required.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C.
ORH 4256 Nutritional Management of Nursery Crops 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Techniques for determining, interpreting, and managing the nutritional status of container grown greenhouse and nursery crops. Includes water quality, substrate physical and chemical parameters, irrigation, and fertilization practices.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4264 Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices used for commercial production of economically important environmental horticulture crops.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4264L Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Advanced hands-on laboratory growing a wide range of greenhouse plants through the application of crop cultural practices discussed in lecture.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C;
Corequisite: ORH 4264.
ORH 4280 Orchidology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices involved in the production of orchid plants and flowers, including nomenclature, breeding, seed culture, harvesting and handling.
ORH 4804 Annual and Perennial Gardening 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, selection, use and management of annuals, perennials, vines, ornamental grasses and ground covers in the landscape. Hands-on care for plants in the outdoor laboratory. Learn the irrigation, fertilization, pruning and cultural needs of these popular plants. Laboratory complements lecture.
ORH 4804C Annual and Perennial Gardening 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, selection, use and management of annuals, perennials, vines, ornamental grasses and ground covers in the landscape. Hands-on care for plants in the outdoor laboratory. Learn the irrigation, fertilization, pruning and cultural needs of these popular plants. Laboratory complements lecture.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
ORH 4804L Annual and Perennial Gardening Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Taxonomy of ornamental landscape annuals and perennials. Site evaluation, diagnostics, preparation, installation and maintenance of the color portion of commercial and residential landscaping.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010;
Corequisite: ORH 4804.
ORH 4848 Landscape Plant Establishment 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Techniques for selecting and installing plants, building decks and patios, walls, trellises, landscape lighting, irrigation, water gardens, and other landscape elements. Prepare balance sheets, bid specifications and contracts, and perform landscape installations from completed landscape plants.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4900 Supervised Extension Experience in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic extension experiences in agricultural and life sciences under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4905 Independent Study of Environmental Horticulture 1-5 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Three topics for independent study: a research investigation and review of literature, drafting of proposal, conducting an experiment, collection of data, summation and interpretation of results and preparation of a report; a library or studio assignment, including analysis of several sources of information on a specific topic with a written evaluation and list of conclusions; or assist in teaching a laboratory of selected courses in environmental horticulture.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4911 Supervised Research in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic research in environmental horticulture under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery, or application.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4915 Honors Thesis Research in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Independent research in environmental horticulture leading to an honors thesis. Student are mentored by a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application.
Prerequisite: junior standing, upper division GPA of 3.75 or higher and completed honors thesis proposal on file.
ORH 4932 Special Topics in Environmental Horticulture 1-4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Topics of current interest concerning environmental plants.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4933 Professional Seminar in Environmental Horticulture 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
A senior-level course for students seeking career opportunities in environmental horticulture. Special emphasis is placed on the expectations of and the relevant issues facing the landscape plant production, landscape management and turfgrass industries. Field trips and attendance at selected commercial trade shows are mandatory.
ORH 4941 Practical Work Experience 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Practical work must be a new experience and related to student's field of study. A written and oral report is required.
Prerequisite: previous arrangement with advisor and department chair and dean permission.
PLS 3080 Introduction to Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examine the profession and practice of horticultural therapy including its history, current state, and relevant literature and theories. Explore people/plant relationships, therapeutic methods and benefits, and populations served, as well as being introduced to existing programs and the role of therapeutic gardens.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher.
PLS 3223 Plant Propagation 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles, practices and physiological aspects of the propagation of horticultural and agronomic crops by cuttage, graftage, seedage, micropropagation and other methods.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010;
Corequisite: PLS 3223L.
PLS 3223L Plant Propagation Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Methods of propagating by seeds, bulbs, divisions, layering, cuttings, budding, grafting and micropropagation in a hands-on environment.
PLS 4081 Techniques in Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examine the effectiveness of horticultural therapy across a diverse range of client populations, programs, and environments, and the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial implications. Explore therapeutic, vocational, and social modalities employing plants, as well as task analysis, activity analysis and tool and site adaptations.
Prerequisite: PLS 3080 with a minimum grade of C.
PLS 4082 Program Management in Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Learn to develop, manage, and evaluate horticultural therapy programs in diverse environments. Explore strategies for program proposals and funding, along with recruitment of clients and required regulations and documentation. Discuss staff and volunteer management, as well as plant materials, gardens, and other program resources.
Prerequisite: PLS 3080 and PLS 4081 with minimum grades of C.
PLS 4105 Genome Editing and Plant Biotechnology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Plant biotechnology is one of the most prolific and influential areas of the plant sciences. This upper level undergraduate course will be focused on modern biotechnological tools and applications that have resulted in great advances for agriculture and society.
PLS 4242C Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Lectures and laboratory exercises emphasizing the practical application of plant tissue culture for the clonal propagation of horticultural crops. Emphasis on aseptic technique, culture methodology and micropropagation systems development.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C recommended.
PLS 4941 Practical Work Experience 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Practical, hands-on experience in the plant sciences through a paid internship in the industry. This must be a new experience and related to the student's field of study. One month of full-time work is required for each credit.
Prerequisite: Plant Science major of junior standing or higher.
PLS 4950 Plant Science Capstone 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identify a problem or topic in plant sciences and develop a poster presentation about this problem or topic. This course discusses the following topics: how to develop a hypothesis, how to complete a reliable literature review, the importance of peer review and how to present results and findings.
Prerequisite: PLS 3004C and PLS 4941 One year of employment experience in plant science may be substituted for PLS 4941 with instructor permission.