Department of Horticultural Science

Apr 7, 2013

Farming the forest: CALS expert helps landowners grow crops beneath the trees

For property owners looking to find ways to earn money from their forested land, forest farming can be a promising alternative – or addition – to harvesting the trees. And for years, Dr. Jeanine Davis has been helping these landowners make the most of that promise. 

Apr 3, 2013

Horticultural Science student team places 8th in national competition

A student team from the Department of Horticultural Science placed eighth among 64 teams at PLANET Student Career Days, a national collegiate landscape competition held in March at Auburn University. 

Mar 15, 2013

Study sheds light on invasive fruit pest

Humans aren’t the only species with a sweet tooth. N.C. State University researchers and Extension specialists have found that the invasive spotted-wing vinegar fly (Drosophila suzukii) also prefers sweet, soft fruit. Their study sheds new light on a species that has spread across the United States over the past four years and threatens to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to U.S. fruit crops. 

Feb 7, 2013

Landscape design students capture ‘wild energies’

'Wild Energies,' a colorful bamboo sculpture created by landscape design students, included a hint of Saturday morning cartoon whimsy. 

Feb 7, 2013

Ghostly blooms: Alum honored for orchid breeding efforts

CALS horticultural science alumnus Keith Davis has solved the riddle of growing the endangered ghost orchid. His efforts recently won recognition from the American Orchid Society. 

Feb 7, 2013

Can-do spirit lands Yard-Nique founder on TBJ ’40 Under 40′ list

Brian DuMont describes the start of his company as the “perfect storm.” As a senior pursuing a degree in horticultural science at N.C. State in 1997, DuMont was assigned a class project about business ownership. He came up with a plan for a landscaping company and received one of his best grades ever. 

Feb 6, 2013

Student Perspectives: Suzanne O’Connell and Aaron Fox

Ph.D. students Suzanne O'Connell and Aaron Fox immersed themselves in Croatian agriculture, cuisine and culture as they spent a month exploring study abroad options with the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Agriculture. 

Oct 4, 2012

John Dole named Horticultural Science head

Dr. John Dole, a horticulturalist whose work focuses on greenhouse and field-cut flowers, has been named head of the North Carolina State University Department of Horticultural Science. He has served as interim head of the department since 2011. 

Jul 30, 2012

Inaugural Horticultural Science Summer Institute is an activity-packed success

This summer, 15 high-school sophomores and juniors found out what it’s like to study horticultural science at N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 

Dec 9, 2011

Right as rain

When it comes to lessening the effects of water pollution, residential and commercial rain gardens are becoming increasingly popular in North Carolina, thanks in large part to N.C. State University and its Cooperative Extension Service.