New Report Provides Insight on Power of Plants

Horticulture positively affects people’s lives where they live, work, shop and play, according to a new report from the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH).

The benefits of consumer horticulture are spotlighted in “#PlantsDoThat, Horticulture: The Art, Science, & Business of Plants.” The infographic illustrates how consumer horticulture contributes $196 billion to the U.S. economy and creates more than 2 million jobs.

“The story doesn’t just stop at direct economic impact,” said Casey Sclar, NICH chair. “Consumer and society engagement through plants permeates all aspects of our lives, from providing the aesthetic backdrop to directly enriching our health and well-being.”

According to the NICH report, plants benefit society in many ways:

• Plants in the workplace reduce employee sick time by 14 percent;
• Well-landscaped homes are more valuable; since homes represent 25percent of personal wealth, outdoor plants pack a powerful personal finance punch;
• American’s are growing more of their own food—25 percent of all Americans grow berries, veggies or fruit trees;
• Shaded roadways save 60 percent of repaving costs; and
• America’s public gardens generate $2.3 billion in tourism spending.

The infographic, developed by the NICH Economic Committee, uses data gathered by Charlie Hall, the Ellison Endowed Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University. It’s the first of a number of infographics to showcase the power of plants to improve life.

The infographic series is available to companies, institutions and individuals for use in outreach to horticulture industry and non-industry members.

“We envision the infographics as a tool showcasing the power of consumer horticulture for the purpose of building support for more plants in our personal and public spaces,” said Debbie Hamrick, NICH Economic Committee chair.

Hamrick said the infographic could be used by a landscaper speaking before a City Council about a new or renovated development, or by nurserymen on Capitol Hill making the case for research, or an environmental engineer arguing for using vegetated plant systems instead of or in conjunction with gray infrastructure

The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) promotes the benefits and value of horticulture. NICH aims to get 90 percent of U.S. households gardening by 2025.

“#PlantsDoThat—Horticulture: The Art, Science & Business of Plants” is available at www.consumerhort.org.