Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Horticulturae Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design

Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A Special Issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524) belonging to the section "Floriculture, Nursery and Landscape, and Turf".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 13243

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Zsolt Szekely-Varga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Calea Sighișoarei 2, 540485 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
Interests: floriculture; dendrology; flower art; abiotic stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Clinical and Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: abiotic stress; bioinformatics; plant physiology; plant genetic engineering; pharmacology; molecular breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Endre Kentelky

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Calea Sighișoarei 2, 540485 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
Interests: biostimulants; dendrology; floriculture; landscape architecture; ornamental trees and shrubs; growth regulators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental plant cultivation and breeding is one of the most advanced cultivation methods in horticulture, which is spread worldwide and represents a significant economic income. Furthermore, ornamental plants are used in different shapes and forms, like indoor (cut flowers, potted houseplants) and outdoor plants (bedding flowers, ornamental shrubs and trees). In recent years, an increased demand for ornamental plants had been recorded on the market, and, because of this, horticulturists are working on the intensive cultivation, propagation, and breeding of new hybrids. Cultivating and breeding new varieties can be sometimes quite a challenging fact for horticulturists, since a lot of information about them is unclear and, most importantly, they need to cope with climate change, the rising demand for plants that can withstand urban environments, extreme weather conditions, or even water scarcity, and in addition to all of this, their most important attribute is to decorate the place where they are used. Therefore, horticulturists are constantly researching and experimenting to develop plants that are visually appealing and resilient to various environmental stressors. Additionally, collaborations with botanists and geneticists have become increasingly important in creating new hybrids that meet the demands of modern landscaping and gardening practices.

The present Special Issue aims to present advanced studies on new methods and innovations of cultivating, propagating, and breeding ornamentals plants and their uses in landscaping design.

We welcome original and review articles for this Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zsolt Szekely-Varga
Dr. Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan
Dr. Endre Kentelky
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

floriculture
ornamental trees and shrubs
aromatic plants
landscaping design
cultivation
plant breeding
propagation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 11011 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Reframing Urban Fragmentation as Green Infrastructure: Integrating Ornamental and Aromatic Plants into Post-Socialist Landscape Design

by Sina Cosmulescu, Andreea Trif and Andreea Melinescu

Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 877; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070877 - 17 Jul 2026

Viewed by 514

Abstract

Urban fragmentation represents one of the major challenges affecting post-socialist residential neighborhoods, generating underutilized spaces characterized by ecological degradation and reduced spatial cohesion. This study investigates the potential of ornamental and aromatic plants to support the regeneration of apartment courtyard spaces and their integration into urban green infrastructure systems through the evaluation of a proposed landscape design scenario. A comparative approach was employed, combining Space Syntax analysis, expert-based ecological assessment, and perceptual–visual evaluation to compare the existing site conditions with the proposed landscape design scenario in a post-socialist residential neighborhood in Craiova, Romania. Spatial configuration was assessed using the indicators of integration, connectivity, and mean depth, while ecological and perceptual performance were evaluated through biodiversity-related indicators and the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method based on expert assessments. The proposed intervention, founded on a stratified composition of ornamental and aromatic vegetation, reduced impervious surfaces and was associated with improvements in spatial permeability, biodiversity potential, and the visual quality of the landscape. Space Syntax analysis indicated an increase in configurational performance (ΔC ≈ +41.6%), while perceptual evaluation showed higher mean expert ratings for aesthetic, functional, and sustainability attributes in the proposed design scenario compared with the existing conditions. These findings suggest that, within the limits of this case study and the applied evaluation framework, small-scale green interventions based on ornamental and aromatic plants may contribute to improving the ecological and spatial performance of fragmented urban spaces and provide a methodological framework for assessing similar regeneration projects in post-socialist residential contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 27890 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Asexual Propagation of Campanula pelviformis and Petromarula pinnata—Two Local Endemic Plants of Crete with Multipurpose Crop Potential

by Ioannis Anestis, Eleftherios Karapatzak, Georgios Menexes, Stefanos Kostas, Andreas Mamolos, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Nikos Krigas and Stefanos Hatzilazarou

Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070826 - 6 Jul 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 872

Abstract

The urgency for sustainable propagation methods is increasing as anthropogenic disturbances threaten global biodiversity and plant productivity. This study focused on the cutting propagation of Campanula pelviformis and Petromarula pinnata, two local endemic species of Crete (Greece) with known multipurpose crop potential. For C. pelviformis, the effects of cutting type and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatments applied with or without the commercially available and environmentally friendly fertilizer Theocopper and population were investigated. For P. pinnata, the effects of cutting type and IBA treatments were examined. Root dry mass was assessed four weeks after propagation onset, while rooting success, root number and length were measured in the third week to evaluate overall rooting performance. Vegetative propagation of P. pinnata was straightforwardly achieved across cutting types (>90% rooting success), and superior root traits were observed in young shoot cuttings. In C. pelviformis, high rooting success (90%) was recorded in four of the six treatments using adventitious shoot cuttings, while the combined application of 1% Theocopper and IBA efficiently enhanced both rooting percentages and root traits in young shoot cuttings and sub-apical stem sections. The results further indicated a population effect on rooting success and traits among cutting types. The data produced may guide conservation purposes and/or sustainable utilization of these neglected species as novel multipurpose crops, especially in landscaping design with native plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 1990 KB

Open AccessArticle

Screening and Validation of qRT-PCR Reference Genes in Different Tissues and Autumn Leaf Coloration Period of Euonymus maackii

by Jiayu Yu and Yan Hong

Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070773 - 24 Jun 2026

Viewed by 723

Abstract

Euonymus maackii is an important ornamental tree species valued for its autumn foliage in northern China. To precisely elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the distinct leaf coloration types in E. maackii during autumn, this study aimed to identify the optimal reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization across different tissues, developmental stages, and autumn leaf coloration types. Using 10 different tissues of E. maackii as experimental materials, 10 candidate reference genes were comprehensively evaluated for expression stability using three software tools, including geNorm, and the RefFinder online platform, with structural genes of the pigment biosynthesis pathway employed for validation. The comprehensive evaluation revealed that TIP41 was the most stable reference gene across different tissues, developmental stages, and the full sample set; EF-1α exhibited the highest stability among samples representing different autumn leaf coloration types; and GAPDH was the least stable in all sample groups. Quantitative validation of target genes demonstrated that when EF-1α and TIP41 were used in combination for normalization, the expression patterns of pigment biosynthesis structural genes were highly consistent with the phenotypic changes observed in autumn leaf coloration. In summary, this study recommends TIP41 as a universal reference gene for expression analysis across different tissues and developmental stages of E. maackii; for studies involving different autumn leaf coloration types, a dual-reference normalization approach combining EF-1α and TIP41 is recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5308 KB

Open AccessArticle

Application of High-Quality Potting Substrates Improved the Growth Vigor of Potted Hellebore (Helleborus × hybridus)

by Yanxin Peng, Jiaxin Gong, Xiaoyun Cao, Xiaohua Shi and Lingjuan Du

Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121469 - 5 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1061

Abstract

Substrate composition plays a vital role in the soilless cultivation of Helleborus; high-quality substrates can create optimal growth conditions and enhance plant quality. However, knowledge regarding suitable substrates for Helleborus remains limited. The aim of the study was to test the effects of different substrates on growth of potted Helleborus × hybridus seedlings. In total, 12 treatments were formulated by mixing organic components (moss peat, cocopeat, domestic peat) with inorganic particles (perlite, kanuma soil, vermiculite) at a 1:1 ratio, using moss peat moss as the control. The results indicated that substrates of moss peat + vermiculite (1:1) and cocopeat + vermiculite (1:1) significantly promoted plant height, shoot number, leaf number, and root development. The treatment with domestic peat + perlite + kanuma soil + vermiculite (3:1:1:1) yielded the highest soluble protein content, whereas the CK group showed the highest soluble sugar content. A comprehensive evaluation by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified moss peat + vermiculite (1:1) as the optimal substrate, followed by coir + vermiculite (1:1). Considering economic costs and environmental protection factors, the cocopeat + vermiculite (1:1) mixture demonstrated superior potential. Collectively, our study clarifies the effects of different substrate compositions and provides new insights for achieving cleaner and more efficient soilless cultivation of Helleborus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 8512 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Sustainability of Rosa rugosa Thunb. Under Climate Change Conditions: A Study of Morphological Variability in Urban Areas

by Jelena Čukanović, Sara Đorđević, Djurdja Petrov, Mirjana Ocokoljić, Radenka Kolarov, Milana Čurčić and Mirjana Ljubojević

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060684 - 14 Jun 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2353

Abstract

Urban stressors intensified by climate change affect plants in terms of growth, vitality, and ornamental value. This study examines how different light availability (full sun, partial shade, and shade) affect the development, fruit morphology, and planting suitability of Rosa rugosa Thunb. in urban environments. A total of 360 shrub individuals were analyzed in a linear formation along a riverbank in Novi Sad, Serbia, linking climatic parameters with the bioecological characteristics of the investigated plants. Comparison of the groups was performed using the multivariate methods and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Furthermore, 13 morphological parameters were analyzed on a sample of 100 fruits per group. There were no significant deviations in fruiting patterns, but the fruit parameters, even though showing high yield and favorable fruit size, indicated that light variation affects morphology. These findings confirm the species’ resilience and adaptability to urban environments, capable of withstanding various challenges, including proximity to paved surfaces, heavy traffic, and diverse light conditions. R. rugosa proves to be an ideal choice for urban planting and nature-based solutions that enhance human well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1568 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on Alchemilla mollis and Geranium psilostemon: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE

by Türker Oğuztürk and Cengiz Acar

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060653 - 9 Jun 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1841

Abstract

The selection of suitable growing media plays a vital role in the successful adaptation of high-altitude plant species to lowland urban landscapes. This study assessed the morphological and physiological performance of two native perennial species, Alchemilla mollis and Geranium psilostemon, under low-altitude conditions using three different soil–sand (mil) mixtures: TA (50% soil–50% sand), TB (75% soil–25% sand), and TC (100% soil). Over a 17-month period, key plant growth parameters—including height, canopy diameter, leaf number, and chlorophyll concentration—were systematically monitored. Additionally, soil samples were analyzed before and after cultivation to determine pH, total nitrogen, organic matter, organic carbon, phosphorus, and electrical conductivity levels. To evaluate overall performance, the PROMETHEE multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method was applied, incorporating 11 criteria spanning plant development, soil quality, and economic considerations. Results revealed that the TC medium offered the most favorable outcomes for both species, particularly in terms of chlorophyll content and biomass accumulation. Conversely, the TB medium supported higher retention of nitrogen and organic matter. While A. mollis exhibited greater resilience under suboptimal conditions, G. psilostemon demonstrated rapid development under favorable settings. These findings underscore the potential of native perennial species in sustainable landscape design and validate the use of MCDM approaches in optimizing plant–soil interactions in horticultural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 16768 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Transcriptomic and Physiological Analysis Reveals the Drought Adaptation Strategies of Sapindus delavayi, an Important Tree for Industrial Use in the Dry–Hot Valleys

by Xinyu He, Meng Xie, Lan Wang, Liangjun Yu, Fengjuan Li and Hong Ma

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060603 - 29 May 2025

Viewed by 1308

Abstract

Sapindus delavayi is a drought-resistant tree species endemic to the dry–hot valleys of Southwestern China and is of great significance for soil and water conservation and ecological restoration. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptome of its leaves using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform and obtained 96.12 Gb of high-quality data (Q20 = 98.68%, Q30 = 95.62%), which were de novo assembled to obtain 89,228 unigenes (N50 = 1538 bp), of which 63,005 (70.61%) were successfully annotated to at least one database (NR, NT, SwissProt, KOG, KEGG, GO, Pfam). Overall, 53.96% of the unigenes in the S. delavayi leaves were annotated to Acer yangbiense, which belongs to the same family as S. delavayi. A total of 42,870 CDSs and 21,488 SSR loci were detected, with the highest mononucleotide repeat rate at 42.72% of the total number. Drought stress experiments identified 669–1203 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Through our research, the first high-quality transcriptome database of S. delavayi has been constructed and its drought-resistance-related gene features have been analyzed, laying an important foundation for future functional gene mining, molecular marker development, molecular diversity studies, molecular breeding, and ecological adaptation research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4275 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reproductive and Pollination Characteristics of Three Understory Impatiens Species

by Yuxi Xue, Qitao Su, Yuxin Zhang, Shujian Zhang, Heng Li, Leiqin Liao, Jia Zeng, Weiyuan Huang and Yian Xiao

Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050453 - 23 Apr 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2908

Abstract

Understory flowering plants often face limitations in pollinator availability. This necessitates an investigation of pollination mechanisms and reproductive traits to understand their survival strategies. Floral syndromes, which are critical determinants of plant–pollinator coevolution, significantly impact the reproductive success and diversification dynamics of angiosperms. The genus Impatiens is known for its remarkable floral diversity and varied pollination systems and it is also serves as an exemplary model for examining plant–pollinator interactions. Therefore, this study was performed to elucidate the pollination characteristics and breeding systems of three sympatric species, Impatiens davidii, Impatiens jinggangensis, and Impatiens commelinoides. The results indicated all the Impatiens species exhibited similar individual flower longevity (4–5 days). However, I. commelinoides and I. jinggangensis peaked in July-August, whereas I. davidii primarily flowered in August-September. These species shared a self-compatible breeding system that requires pollinators for facultative outcrossing, with bumblebees (Bombus) and polyester bees (Amegilla) identified as the primary pollinators. The presence of wing petals had a significant impact on fruit set in both I. davidii and I. commelinoides. The three Impatiens species demonstrated notable interspecific differences in their floral scent profiles, accompanied by distinct variations in floral morphology and scent characteristics. These differences collectively represent pollination strategies and life-history tactics that highlight pronounced interspecific divergence. The variation in pollination strategies is attributed to the synergistic interaction between floral morphology and scent chemistry. Thus, these findings offer valuable insights for the investigation of forest understory plant conservation, resource utilization, and co-evolutionary relationships with primary pollinators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Studies in Cultivation and Breeding Propagation of Ornamental and Aromatic Plants and Their Use in Landscaping Design

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI