horticulturist

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rist 

variants or less commonly horticulturalist

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rə-list 

plural horticulturists also horticulturalists

: a person whose work involves growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

As the city horticulturist for the past six years, Burton has made the parks and city areas of O'Fallon bloom.

—Lynn Venhaus

The finest hot chili pepper in Peter's test garden is 'Riot', which does double duty as an ornamental and in salads; it is a graduate of horticulturist Jim Baggett's breeding program at Oregon State University.

—Jim McCausland

I prefer buying plants from a nursery to buying at a garden center, and both are vastly preferable to the garden section of a discount store. Plant quality and accuracy of labeling are usually best at a nursery, where the staff is most likely to include professional horticulturists.

—Jeff Whitehead

De Witt Clinton was a man of parts—a patron of schools, charities, and the arts, a founder of the New York Historical Society, an amateur scientist and horticulturalist.

—James MacGregor Burns

Examples of horticulturist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plant patent trademarks play a big role in helping horticulturists and nurseries protect their work and investment. —Tammy Sons, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

The Steward is a new 87-suite farmhouse-style boutique hotel set amidst lush botanical gardens and rooted in history — the property was originally purchased by pioneering horticulturist Joseph Sexton in the 1860’s. —Elycia Rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Aug. 2024

Sue Goetz, Washington garden designer and horticulturist, says some aromatic plants should be placed at a distance from the house, while others should be avoided altogether. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024

This summer, The Pig hotels will reopen Barnsley House in the Cotswolds (the former home of one of the 20th century's most celebrated horticulturists, Rosemary Verey), where the topiary and box-edged beds should remain intact – alongside, no doubt, a fabulous potager garden. —Delilah Khomo, theweek, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

horticulturist

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist

ˌhȯrt-ə-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rəst

variants also horticulturalist

-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rə-list

: a person who specializes in horticulture