Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust


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Funding Interests

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What

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust supports education and research in ornamental horticulture through grants to botanical gardens, arboreta, universities, and other charitable organizations strongly-aligned with its funding interests.

  • What is ornamental horticulture?

    Ornamental horticulture concerns the culture, care, and use of plants to create beautiful spaces designed for human aesthetic enjoyment. While these efforts also may support general community engagement, healthy ecosystems, and wildlife habitats, the ornamental elements and attributes are those most relevant to the Trust. Competitive proposals provide evidence of alignment with the Trust’s interest in ornamental horticulture.

  • How does ornamental horticulture differ from botany or agriculture?

    Botany, a branch of biology, is a pure science, and involves the study of plant life, from mosses to flowering plants, while ornamental horticulture is an applied science involving the cultivation of plants for human aesthetic enjoyment.

    Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber, and other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants. Ornamental horticulture is a branch of agriculture concerned with growing plants for aesthetic gratification.

Where

The Trust supports projects and activities in:

  • North America
  • South America
  • Central America
  • the Caribbean
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

How

The Trust seeks to fund projects that will further ornamental horticulture through organizations pursuing the following activities:

  • Research

    The advancement of research in ornamental horticulture and the publication of the results of such research.

    Examples include:

    • trial/evaluation gardens for horticultural potential of selected plants in a region
    • discerning appropriate cultural techniques and best horticultural practices for a specific group of plants
    • laboratory freezer for DNA samples

  • Public Gardens

    Assisting in the creation, development, preservation, and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public for educational purposes related to ornamental horticulture.

    Examples include:

    • new or revised home demonstration gardens or beds
    • resurfacing garden trails for all-weather accessibility or ADA compliance
    • damage remediation following a natural disaster

  • Ornamental Plants

    Promotion of the environmentally responsible introduction, cultivation, and distribution of plants which have ornamental horticultural value.

    Examples include:

    • testing potential new ornamentals for invasiveness
    • promotion and demonstration of the use of local native ornamentals in local or home landscaping
    • collections management software for ornamentals

  • Publications

    Assisting in the publication of books or other works relating to ornamental horticulture.

    Examples include:

    • guide to appropriate ornamentals for local and regional landscaping
    • guide to best practices for controlling diseases and pests in ornamentals
    • online publication of horticultural inventory for public access

  • Education

    Informal and/or formal educational activities that further ornamental horticulture.

    Examples include:

    • classes and workshops on developing and maintaining home gardens
    • garden signage that notes cultural requirements, water- or fire-wise properties, or aesthetic attributes of plants
    • horticultural internships
    • construction or remodeling of educational facilities

Research

The advancement of research in ornamental horticulture and the publication of the results of such research.

Examples include:

  • trial/evaluation gardens for horticultural potential of selected plants in a region
  • discerning appropriate cultural techniques and best horticultural practices for a specific group of plants
  • laboratory freezer for DNA samples

Public Gardens

Assisting in the creation, development, preservation, and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public for educational purposes related to ornamental horticulture.

Examples include:

  • new or revised home demonstration gardens or beds
  • resurfacing garden trails for all-weather accessibility or ADA compliance
  • damage remediation following a natural disaster

Ornamental Plants

Promotion of the environmentally responsible introduction, cultivation, and distribution of plants which have ornamental horticultural value.

Examples include:

  • testing potential new ornamentals for invasiveness
  • promotion and demonstration of the use of local native ornamentals in local or home landscaping
  • collections management software for ornamentals

Publications

Assisting in the publication of books or other works relating to ornamental horticulture.

Examples include:

  • guide to appropriate ornamentals for local and regional landscaping
  • guide to best practices for controlling diseases and pests in ornamentals
  • online publication of horticultural inventory for public access

Education

Informal and/or formal educational activities that further ornamental horticulture.

Examples include:

  • classes and workshops on developing and maintaining home gardens
  • garden signage that notes cultural requirements, water- or fire-wise properties, or aesthetic attributes of plants
  • horticultural internships
  • construction or remodeling of educational facilities