Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Floriculture

Floriculture is the branch of horticulture that deals with flowers and ornamental plants: growing them commercially, usually in greenhouses, and bringing them to market. A floriculture course at Colorado State University sums up the field as the commercial production and marketing of bedding plants, potted container crops and cut flowers. Floristry, the arranging and selling of flowers, is a related trade with its own shorter training routes.

Students learn how plants grow and reproduce, how to propagate them and how to control the growing environment. Typical course topics are greenhouse management, the identification and use of annual, perennial and bulb plants, plant nutrition, and the control of pests and diseases of ornamental plants. Business subjects are part of the picture too, because flower crops are produced to a schedule and sold through wholesale and retail channels.

Qualifications and levels

Floriculture is rarely a degree of its own today. Universities teach it as courses or as a concentration within a bachelor's degree in horticulture, and the two schools listed for this subject show how that works.

  • Colorado State University has a major in Horticulture with four concentrations. The Controlled Environment Horticulture concentration covers the management of controlled environment systems for both floriculture and food crops, with a total of 120 credits. It includes the courses Greenhouse Management and Floriculture Crops and a floriculture practicum. Greenhouse practicums and an internship are required.
  • The Ohio State University teaches a Horticulture and Crop Science major with several specialisations. The Horticulture specialisation covers vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants and landscape design and has a minimum of 121 credit hours, as does the Controlled Environment Agriculture specialisation. Electives include Greenhouse Systems and Management and Diseases of Ornamental Plants.

Both departments also offer graduate study. Colorado State University awards Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in horticulture, and the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State has a Master of Science, a Master in Plant Health Management and a PhD.

For floral design the route is shorter. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, programmes in floral design are available through private floral schools, vocational schools and community colleges, and most floral designers have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists two active schools for this subject, both in the United States and both teaching in English: Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Both are public universities with an agricultural college, which is where horticulture departments in the United States usually sit.

At Ohio State there is no separate application to the department; students apply to the university and select the Horticulture and Crop Science major. The department welcomes international students and reminds them that the programme includes an internship, so the right work authorisation has to be in place.

When comparing programmes, it helps to check which flower and greenhouse courses are actually on offer, whether the university has teaching greenhouses, and whether an internship is part of the degree.

Careers

Colorado State University lists floriculturist, greenhouse production manager, plant breeder and sales representative for greenhouse supplies, seed and plant material among the jobs of its horticulture graduates. For the Controlled Environment Horticulture concentration it names controlled environment production, all phases of the retail and wholesale floral business, and plant research. Ohio State mentions roles such as greenhouse manager, lead grower and plant and crop care specialist.

Official statistics are available for floral designers rather than for growers. Floral designers held about 45,200 jobs in the United States in 2025, 55% of them with florists, and their employment is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the production side, the US Department of Agriculture runs a Commercial Floriculture Survey that reports the number of growers, the area of production and the value of sales.

Frequently asked questions

Is floriculture a separate degree?

Usually not. At the two universities listed here it is taught inside a horticulture degree, as a concentration or as individual courses on greenhouse and flower crops.

How many credits does a horticulture degree with floriculture courses have?

The Controlled Environment Horticulture concentration at Colorado State University has 120 credits, and the horticulture specialisation at The Ohio State University has a minimum of 121 credit hours.

What is the difference between floriculture and floristry?

Floriculture is about producing flowers and ornamental plants. Floristry, or floral design, is about arranging and selling them, and is usually learned on the job or in certificate programmes.

Can I continue with a master's degree or PhD?

Yes. Both Colorado State University and The Ohio State University offer a Master of Science and a doctorate in their horticulture departments.