Whether it is called people/plant interactions, sociohorticulture, or one of the many other names that have been given to it, human issues in horticulture deal with plants and the way that they affect people.  It encompasses the areas of urban horticulture, public horticulture, and therapeutic horticulture.

We all can sense that we feel better when we are surrounded by greenery, working in a garden, or taking a walk through nature; there is much anecdotal evidence that plants affect people in a positive way.  Some research has been conducted that supports this as well, and research in this area is growing.  Other areas being studied are the physical benefits that can be obtained through gardening, and the relationship gardening can have with other areas of our lives, such as nutrition. 

The research lab in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University is currently studying related issues.  For more information about these projects, view "Current Research."

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