In the Caribbean region, Horticulture is a combination of art and science, making use of cultivated food and ornamental plants for sustainable production. Ornamental plants play an important role in tourism and trade. These plants fall into the diverse classes of landscape plants, fruits and vegetables, decorative indoor plants, and annual and perennial species. It helps to rehabilitate the human condition and environment.
Natural plants like the Sea Grape and Pigeon Plum are small species in the Bahamas and Caribbean that provide fruit for fruit-eating birds. These plants grow near the sea throughout the region as they provide fruit for nesting birds as well as cover. Seagrapes can be trimmed or pruned to fit in gardens. These are just two of many naturalized ornamental plants growing in the Caribbean.
Some ornamental plants are grown in the Caribbean while others are directly or indirectly imported. Currently, the ornamental industry uses large-scale plant multiplication for elite superior varieties of plants through micropropagation. This approach for ornamental crops is relatively faster through cloning propagation. Ornamental plants also add to the aesthetic appeal of the islands. These plants attract wildlife and can be used for cleaning the air.
Source:
ISAAA – Biotechnology in Ornamental plants
BirdsCaribbean – Heritage plants – Native Trees and Plants for Birds and People in the Caribbean
CANR – What is Horticulture? A Modern Applied Science
