Flowers and Plants: More Than Just Beautiful

1. Flowers and Plants
– more
than
just
beautiful…

3. Flowers and Plants –
more than just
beautiful…
AIPH
International Association of Horticultural Producers

4. Contents:
page
Introduction 3
Flowers and plants in history 4
Discovering new plants 7
Beneficial properties of plants 8
No life on earth without plants 8
Plants in modern cities 10
Plants around the house 12
Plants for the landscape 14
Traffic and plants 16
Cleaning properties of plants 17
Beneficial impacts of indoor plants 19
The healing power of flowers and plants 21
Psychological impact of plants 21
The special effects of gardening 22
Horticultural therapy 23
Cultural and social significance of flowers and plants 25
Cultural meaning 25
Flowers and art 26
Plants as a factor of social stability 27
Educational functions of flowers and plants 29
Plant lovers and their societies 30
Exhibitions of flowers and plants 31
Final remarks 32

5. Introduction
Flowers and plants are beauti- The basis for this brochure was
ful. Everybody feels that. Every- a presentation at the 56th AIPH
body is familiar with flowers and Congress in September 2004 in
plants; everybody is accustomed Ghent, Belgium. Promoting the
to them in daily life. But who idea that flowers and plants im-
knows what they really mean to prove the quality of life is one of
us? What do we know about the the objectives of AIPH; initiatives
benefits flowers and plants have like “Plants for People”, the “Green
for the eco-system, and about the City”, “Entente Florale”, and “Cities
contribution they make to in Bloom” do the same.
Ornamental horticulture pro-
mankind? To many people, flowers
duces all kinds of plants – trees
and plants seem like luxury
and shrubs, perennials and annu-
goods. But we depend on them in
als, cut flowers and pot plants. We
an elementary way. How can this
wish that this booklet may inspire
be? What is so special about flow- you to even more enjoy the art of
ers and plants? nature through its beauty and
This brochure tries to answer colour.
some of these questions. An out-
line of the historical background
of gardens, as well as people’s in-
terest in plants and flowers will be Dr. Doeke Faber
given. The main part deals with President of AIPH
plant properties and the benefits International Association of
deriving from that as well as the Horticultural Producers
cultural and social significance of
flowers and plants. June 2006
The message of this brochure is
that decision makers must recon-
sider their priorities in favour of
greenery and plants. People ought
to realise the benefits of flowers
and plants - and how much they
contribute to society at large. For
that reason, AIPH - the Internation-
al Association of Horticultural Pro-
ducers – is happy to share its
knowledge of the positive effects
that flowers and plants have on
daily life.
3

6. Flowers and plants in history
Owning a garden, or at least Creation: “And out of the ground
having access to one, seems to made the Lord God to grow every
fulfil a basic need. A brief look in- tree that is pleasant to the sight,
to history shows that gardens are and good for food; the tree of life
part and parcel of man´s cultural also in the midst of the garden,
development. and the tree of knowledge of good
According to Christian belief, and evil.”
the first thing God did after creat- So gardens, nice to look at,
ing man was to plant a garden. In were invented by God himself so
Genesis 2:8, it says: “And the Lord that man would have trees to give
God planted a garden eastward in him shade as well as delicious
Eden; and there he put man whom fruit.
he had formed.” The Garden of
Eden, also called Paradise, is pre- But what exactly is a
cisely described in the story of garden?
According to the Bible, it is a
place that is pleasant for people to
be in.
The words Paradise and Garden
have similar roots. Paradise is de-
rived from the Old Persian word
pairidaeza, meaning ‘an area sur-
rounded by a wall’ or ‘a tree gar-
den’. Garden stems from an Indo-
European word meaning ‘an enclo-
sure protected against the sur-
rounding area’ – the wilderness.
The same applies to the Latin
word hortus.
The history of gardens is a wide
field which can barely be touched
in this brochure. Garden culture
Left: “God planted a garden in
Eden”
Right: The famous Zen gardens of
the 16th century are admired
worldwide
4

7. started when people began to set- dens of the 16th century are ad-
tle. As nomads, they were roam- mired worldwide. In the European
ing around with their cattle. But monasteries of the 6th century,
when they started to work the soil monks started growing medicinal
in order to grow fruit, they had to plants, herbs and vegetables. But
protect it with a fence. In doing so also the aristocracy in their castles
they created a garden. So horticul- had small gardens where they
ture is actually older than agricul- spent their leisure time. In the
ture since everything started from 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in Eu-
a garden. rope, there was quite a big move-
In Upper Egypt they already had ment of creating fantastic gar-
gardens 3.000 years before Christ. dens. Many famous baroque and
Also the Chinese had gardens rococo gardens are still being
2.000 years before Christ. Excava- maintained, admired and visited
tions of Pompeii tell us about Ro- by the public. In England towards
man gardens. The Japanese start- the end of absolutism and during
ed having gardens at about 500 the first steps towards democracy,
after Christ. The famous Zen gar- the idea of landscape gardens
5

8. took shape, finding its adepts all
over the world.
Today, gardens and parks bor-
row from history, using elements
like topiary from Roman times,
herbaceous borders from 19th
century English gardens or ideas
from the medieval hortus con-
clusus (walled garden). Also, a
kind of exchange in garden tastes
is going on between the conti-
nents. Thus, Japanese gardens
with their purism enjoy growing
popularity in Europe, while flower-
ing plants, perennials, and herba-
ceous borders are becoming the
craze in Japan. The same ex-
change of ideas we see in floristry,
with Europeans practising Ikebana
and the Japanese visiting Europe
in order to study the different
styles of flower bouquets. Here,
concerning plant varieties, too, we
witness a kind of globalisation –
with breeders in Asia, America and
Europe quickly sharing novelties.
Left: Pavilion in a Renaissance
Garden
Above: Element of a traditional
Chinese Garden
Right: Doctors and then botanists
went abroad as plant hunters,
looking for new plants. Sir Joseph
Banks and Captain Cook landed in
Australia
6

9. Discovering new plants
In the 18th Century, botany (i.e. maximus”, which means “medium
the science of plants) became an sized oriental daffodil with yellow
independent branch of scientific chalice and strong scent.”
research. Before that time, only In the 18th century, Carl von Lin-
medicine was dealing with plants, né created his own new system of
since nature was man’s best and plant nomenclature. He boiled it
only pharmacy. Doctors had to be down to only genera and species,
plant experts, too. They used of all plus the cultivar’s name. In this
kinds of medicinal plants for cur- system, the daffodil is now called
ing people. At first the doctors, Narcissus tacetta ‘Minnow’. Due to
and later the botanists, went its striking clarity, Linné’s new
abroad as plant scouts, hunting for nomenclature became standard all
new plants. They went all over the over the world and has been in
world, but mainly to Africa, North use up to now.
and South America, and Asia, look- Working with these new names
ing for unknown plants and bring- made it much easier to communi-
ing them back to Europe. Alexan- cate with each other all over the
der von Humboldt, Franz von world. No wonder, then, that even
Sieboldt, Sir Joseph Banks, Engel- today, plant hunters are still on the
bert Kaempfer, David Douglas, move – no longer in undiscovered
Joseph Hooker were famous plant territories, true, but now roaming
hunters, just to name a few. the whole world; for there is still a
As the knowledge of new plants huge amount of wild plants –
quickly increased, it became neces- which can serve for cross-breeding
sary to find a precise way of nam- with known plants, endowing
ing them. Up to the 18th century, them with new qualities. Even in
plant names confined themselves botanical gardens or through col-
more or less to Latin definitions leagues from other countries,
like “Narzissus polyanthus oriental- plant hunters discover novelties
is calice medio luteus odoratus for markets at home or abroad.
7

10. Beneficial properties of plants
No life on earth without plants
Most people have forgotten live on plants. Even complex food
what they learnt in school: that, chains originate in grasses,
without plants, there would be no leaves, fruit or wood.
life on earth. No living beings – neither peo-
Only plants can, with the help ple nor animals or even plants –
of chlorophyll, collect the sun‘s can exist without breathing. They
energy as well as hold it and even need oxygen. But only plants have
store it – transforming it into sug- the ability to produce oxygen.
ar through the process of photo- During the process of photosyn-
synthesis. It is thanks to this ca- thesis, they take in carbon dioxide
pacity that single celled organisms CO2 and water H2O and change it
could evolve into complex plants, into carbon-hydrate CH2O, in or-
now serving as energy providers der to build their structures. The
themselves. Without plants, there remaining oxygen O2 is the basis
would be no food stuffs on earth. for life on earth. Every plant, down
We all – men as well as animals – to the pot plants in our home, gen-
A graph of Dr. Keeling’s famous curve of increasing CO2 concentration.
The little squiggles in the curve show the annual fluctuations caused by
vegetation
8

11. Every tree in our streets reduces carbon dioxide
erates oxygen. But for the amount carbon dioxide into the air. Our
we need, we have to rely on the output in carbon dioxide is as gi-
plants in the landscape, in the gantic as our energy consumption.
forests, and especially in the sea. Due to this, carbon dioxide has
Without plants, there would be won the bad reputation of a “glob-
no primary energies. Wood, coal, al warmer”, because the more CO2
peat, mineral oil and gas – they all rises into the atmosphere, the
derive from plant matter, even if, more our climate warms up.
during their millions of years of In the Kyoto agreement, nations
storage time in the ground, they have committed themselves to re-
may have undergone great trans- ducing their output of CO2 by sav-
formation. Fire, which was mas- ing energy. But the reduction of
tered by man in the course of his CO2 output is not only a matter of
cultural development, depends on responsible use of energy. Also
the plants’ capacity for producing plants can help – through their
and storing carbon-hydrates. The growth. Every green area as
process of burning is the reverse, against desert land, every refor-
as it were, of the process of photo- estion, every garden, every tree in
synthesis. The oxygen is con- our streets reduces carbon dioxide.
sumed, while the carbon dioxide Saving forests and rain forests,
locked up in the plant is released wood- and grasslands is important
again. This is why every car drive, – not only in order to keep animal
every coal-fired power plant, and plant species alive but also to
every lighting of the gas stove and keep CO2 inside the plants.
every aeroplane take-off blows
9

12. Plants in modern cities
Every day, about 200.000 people ground is sealed with concrete
worldwide migrate from the coun- and asphalt, all moisture ex-
tryside to the cities. This is why the change with naturally grown soil –
United Nations have dedicated the and thereby the absorption of rain
World Environment Day 2005 to water – is prevented. This water,
“Green Cities”. More than 50 of the which otherwise would seep down
world’s largest cities committed to the water table, is being divert-
themselves to “build an ecological- ed via canal systems, thus depriv-
ly sustainable, economically dy- ing the water cycle.
namic and socially equitable future Not only waste materials such
for our urban citizens.” The agree- as exhaust fumes from cars and
ments call for action aimed at put- heating systems sully the city air
ting cities on a path to greener, but also massive dust due to dry
cleaner, and healthier environ- atmosphere. Therefore, a blanket
ments for their current residents as of smog settles over the city,
well as the estimated 1 million peo- keeping the air from circulating.
ple moving into cities each week. This situation puts a considerable
City climate is determined by stress on city dwellers – which can
stone and concrete. Both materials be significantly reduced by parks
have a high capacity for conduct- and trees, green aisles, streets,
ing and storing heat. That’s why and roofs.
city temperatures are about 5o C Vegetation functions like a
higher than elsewhere. Equally, buffer between direct solar irradia-
city air is considerably drier. If the tion and streets, roofs, and walls. If
10

13. the sunlight is kept out by foliage, binds an average of about 100 kg
all stone and concrete surfaces of dust per year. In Frankfurt/Ger-
heat up noticeably less, and a con- many, 11.490 dust particles per
siderable part of the energy goes cubic meter were measured in a
into photosynthesis. At the same treeless street – as against 3.830
time, the warming of the leaf sur- particles in a tree-lined street, in
faces stimulates the water conduc- otherwise equal conditions. The
tion from the root to the leaf. The latter air, then, considerably re-
leaf volatilizes moisture, and evap- duces irritation and stress for the
oration has a cooling effect. All of respiratory system.
which results in the fact that tem- Apart from local improvements
peratures in tree shade are princi- in climate and air quality, the city
pally lower than in building shade, climate as such can be improved,
conditions being otherwise equal. too. Green aisles leading out to
Air moisture is increased by the the countryside are conducive to a
evaporation from leaf surfaces. A better air exchange with the near-
beech tree one hundred years old by surroundings. The glasshouse
has 1.600 square meters of leaf effect over the city will be much
surface. Air moisture is also in- less massive.
creased by the evaporation from A diverse scene of trees and
the ground below, where not only bushes also reduces noise. While
the tree but also bushes and smooth surfaces directly reflect
herbaceous plants are rooted, thus sound waves, the nimble, un-
adding to the well-being of man. A steady leaf surfaces break and di-
lot of dust attaches itself to leaf vert sound waves, muffling the
surfaces. A single grown-up tree noise.
11

14. Plants around the house
A house with a facade covered is common with the other roof
in vines and a green roof strikes types mentioned above. During
us as beautiful. Yet its “green fur” winter, on the other hand, temper-
also has a direct influence on the atures are much milder under a
microclimate, the water house- green roof, while under the other
hold, and the ecology. roof types, temperatures of –20o C
Temperatures underneath a are not uncommon. This makes
green flat roof are more balanced. life under a green roof much more
While underneath a pebbled roof pleasant. Energy costs are low-
the temperature can easily climb ered, and the CO2 output is re-
to over 50o C, and under black bi- duced. The same effect is pro-
tumen foil even up to 90o C, un- duced by walls covered with
derneath a green roof with about climbing plants.
15 cm of soil and vegetation, it Moreover, a roof or a wall with a
hardly exceeds 20o C to 25o C. This “green fur” is not nearly as suscep-
is not only because of the cooling tible to repairs. While bare flat
effect of the plants’ evaporation roofs must, at the worst, put up
and their absorption of sun ener- with a temperature range of up to
gy. It is also so because earth is a 100o C a year, the range for a
bad heat conductor. Consequently, green roof is only about 25o. In
there is no heat congestion, which other words, there is less strain on
12

15. the roof insulation. The life span
of such a roof is extended by
about 60%. A greened wall is also
better protected against rainfall.
Green roofs have a high capaci-
ty for absorbing and storing rain
water. The release of surplus wa-
ter is considerably delayed. The
faster the conventional flat or
pointed roofs are being replaced
by green roofs, the more munici-
pal sewage systems can reduce
Above: Even a shed for dustbins
their dimensions. That’s why so
can be green
many municipalities in Germany
and other countries are in favour
Left: Houses with a façade
of greening house roofs.
covered in vines strikes us as
Apart from all these advan-
beautiful.
tages, we should not underrate
the aesthetic quality of green
Below: 3.000 square meters of roofs and walls – let alone their
green roof on an industrial significance as a habitat for birds
building and insects.
13

16. Plants for the landscape
Can you imagine a beautiful – not only for their beauty, but al-
landscape without plants? Impos- so for breaking the wind, for a
sible! Agriculture with its fields favourable microclimate, for pre-
and meadows plays an important venting erosion and for offering
role in shaping our landscape. But birds and other wildlife a habitat
a rich landscape also presupposes and refuge.
trees and shrubs, woods and Forest is the best protection
hedges. In the ‘70s, agricultural- against erosion through rain and
ists proposed, for efficiency rea- wind. Wherever a forest was cut
sons, to clear away trees and down, completely laying bare the
hedges in order to make space for top soil, all fertility was lost. In
bigger machines so as to increase very rainy regions like the tropics,
their work output. Trees and erosion is destroying the best soil,
hedges were considered obsta- turning the ground into washed-
cles. Nowadays this has changed. out skeleton soils, soon to end up
We now know that we do need as deserts. In the moderate zones,
trees and shrubs in the landscape arable soils and gardens have
14

17. been successfully preserved by
creating plant wind breaks. Their
protection is optimal, as they al-
low the wind to pass through
while slowing it down at the same
time. Impenetrable walls, on the
other hand, force air currents to
circumvent them, even accelerat-
ing their speed.
Slopes are even more exposed
to erosion than flat plains; and the
best means to forestall this is to
plant the slopes. What matters
most here is to bind loosely con-
nected layers of soil with roots,
which also prevent soil being
washed away by rain water or
subterranean water currents. De-
pending on the situation, erosion
can already be prevented by mat-
ted surfaces of lawn grasses, or by
planting fast growing pioneer
plants such as willow, robinia and
alder (Alnus glutinosa) the roots of
which penetrate deeper. Mean-
while, slow growing kinds such as
ash and oak can gradually take on
their task. This method is similar
to riparian repair. Here, too, a
mesh of live roots creates an elas-
tic barrier to the onslaught of
waves, protecting the soil behind.
Left: Fields and meadows play an
important role in shaping our
landscape
Above: Hedges serve as a wind-
break in the open landscape
Right: A mesh of live roots creates
an elastic barrier against the
waves
15

18. Traffic and plants
Mobility is a very important as-
pect of modern society. We need
an efficient traffic system in order
to meet people’s needs. We build
more and more streets, highways
and railway lines. Plants can play
an important role in counteracting
the negative impact of our traffic
systems on our landscape. Along
streets and highways, plants can
serve as protection for our eyes
from blinding lights, or as noise Above: Even railway stations can
buffers and wind-breaks. They be embellished with flowers
even function as crash barriers.
Especially the wild rosebush (Rosa
multiflora) makes a good natural
crash barrier. Tree lined roads are Below: Trees on parking lots keep
also a valuable element in the the temperature in the cars down
landscape. They also provide and lower the risk of accidents
16

19. shade, reduce street noise and opened beforehand and the AC has
serve as a wind-break. The same been put on. It takes five minutes
applies of course for tree lined for the air-conditioning to lower the
streets inside towns. inside temperature from 60o C to a
Most people see trees along bearable 30o C, and another five
roads and on parking lots as a mere minutes to bring it down to 25o C: a
embellishment. A survey by Bra- lot of time indeed in which heat
he/Bernatzky/Beck on parking lots stress can accelerate the heart
with and without trees, however, beat, resulting in dizziness and di-
shows that they do much more. If minished reaction capacity. A study
the sunlight is allowed to shine on driving under such conditions,
straight on to cars, the temperature carried out by the ADAC (General
inside can quickly rise by over German Automobile Club), docu-
20o C. If car owners start driving ments a 20 % accident increase. A
such a car, they get into heat high risk potential – that can be
stress, even if doors have been avoided by parking in tree shade.
Cleaning properties of plants
Procuring clean drinking water
for every human being on earth,
keeping our surface and under-
ground waters clean, plus the pu-
rification of sewage water, are
among the big challenges of our
time. Plants can play a decisive
role here. Swamp and water plants
have a considerable natural clean-
ing capacity that we can put to use
in plant-based municipal water fil-
ter plants, in turning sewage
waste into earth, in the renatural-
ization and restoration of
riverbeds, in the seepage of sur-
face water, and last but not least,
in swimming ponds.
In Europe, mostly bulrush, yel-
low iris and various reeds and
rushes are being used in this con-
text. Similar plants are available in
all other climate zones and re- Yellow Iris is not only beautiful but
gions of the earth. When con- has a considerable natural clean-
structing a purification plant, filter ing capacity
17

20. beds are planted out with them Besides using the rootzone treat-
and the contaminated water chan- ment of wastewater only cost a
nelled through them several third of the conventional sewage-
times, underneath the bed sur- works. But even aesthetically and
face. The bacteria nesting in their ecologically, plant filtering simply
roots draw all contaminating parti- makes more sense. They don’t
cles from the water, turning them stick out as obtrusive technical
into food for their own growth. constructions, but easily blend in
In this way, not only organic with their surrounding landscape.
substances, nitrates and phos- Little is known as yet about the
phates are being eliminated, but capacity of plants and their root
also dangerous germs. Even in bacteria for decontaminating soil
winter, when the plants above are as well. We do know, however,
dormant, their roots and bacteria that plants also can absorb soil
are active enough for a sufficient contaminators such as oil and
cleaning job. Studies in Europe heavy metals, integrating them in-
and USA prove that rootzone treat- to their metabolism. But in this re-
ment of sewage is as effective as spect, more research is urgently
any conventional sewage-works. needed.
Swimming ponds are kept clean by plants and do not need chemicals
18

21. Beneficial impacts of indoor plants
Flowers and plants enhance the
quality of life also inside our build-
ings. And this applies to all kinds
of buildings: private houses,
apartments, offices, hotels or
shopping centres. On average, we
spend 20 hours per day indoors.
Nowadays building materials and
furniture are rarely drawn from
purely natural resources. Normally
they are made of, or treated with,
synthetic materials which in most
cases fill the air we are breathing
with volatile chemicals. Formalde-
hyde, xylene, benzene, phenol
and nicotine are some of them.
They are emitted from flooring,
chipboards, gloss paint, plastic
bags, glues or tobacco.
In the 1980’s Dr. Bill C. Wolver- NASA-Researcher Dr. Bill Wolverton
ton, a researcher at NASA, found
out that indoor plants effectively
reduce the level of harmful chemi- being and health. Particularly dur-
cals in homes and offices. More re- ing the winter months, however,
search on this subject was done in when the air is being dried by
Europe which confirmed Wolver- heating systems, most people live
ton´s findings that plants have and work in spaces with only 30 %
the potential to reduce the level of to 40 % relative air humidity. Burn-
harmful chemicals in the air. Thus, ing, reddened eyes, taut skin, irri-
a Chlorophytum comosum weigh- tation in nose and throat are the
ing 300 g decontaminates a space consequences. Resistance to bac-
of 50 cubic meters of 0.1 ppm teria and virus attacks decreases.
formaldehyde within one and a Cold, bronchitis, conjunctivitis
half hours. Other plants with an abound. Here, bringing in indoor
active metabolism like Ficus ben- plants has proved an effective
jamina and Epipremnum aureum countermeasure. Thanks to their
produced similar decontamination continual evaporation, they enrich
results. the air with biologically cleaned
No less important is the fact moisture, as it were. Technical air
that plants can improve the level humidifiers, on the other hand,
of air humidity: 50 % to 70 % air hu- not only consume more energy: if
midity is optimal for human well- not properly tended, they turn in-
19

22. breath, or skin irritations – went
down by 52 %. Absenteeism due to
illness decreased from 17 % to 6 %.
92 % of all employees were con-
vinced that the indoor vegetation
had positive effects.
In another example she asked
customers in a Norwegian shop-
ping-centre after its conversion in-
to a “green” place:
70 % were convinced that the
to hotbeds for infectious germs. 3 shopping-centre had a better
to 6 major plants suffice for rais- atmosphere
ing the moisture in a space of 30 26 % said it looked more
square (i.e. 90 cubic) meters to the beautiful, more attractive
required 50 %. than before
As a rule, the bigger, more vig- 10 % felt the air was better
orous and fast growing a plant is, The frequency of visits in-
the greater its capacity is for clean- creased by about 50 %.
ing and humidifying the air. Plants
with a very slow metabolism, like Green shopping-centres – better
cacti – that are adjusted to dry- atmosphere and more attractive
ness – are not nearly as helpful as,
e.g., the fast growing and big-
leafed Sparmannia africana or
Schefflera. Many plants, however,
have not yet been assessed for
their decontamination potential.
Our knowledge about plant prop-
erties concerning cleaning and im-
proving the air is still very scanty.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt
about their positive influence on
human health.
Tove Fjeld, a researcher from
Norway, has studied the effect of
“green” offices on the health of
those working in them. One half
of the rooms remained un-
changed, while plants were in-
stalled in the other half. In the
rooms with plants, hitherto typical
diseases of employees – like
colds, influenza, headache, short
20

23. The healing power of flowers and plants
Psychological impact of plants
Prof. Roger S. Ulrich, A & M Uni- symptoms like a higher blood
versity of Texas, architect and clin- pressure, tensed-up muscles and
ical psychologist, has for several increased sensitivity of the skin.
years been studying the impact of Other scientists confirmed Ul-
nature elements on the mental rich’s findings. In one such report,
and physical well-being of man. two groups of prison inmates
The results of his work: Looking at were compared. Those with a view
greenery and plants leads to sig- from their cells on to a natural sur-
nificant stress reduction in almost rounding fell ill significantly less
no time. often than those looking at prison
For instance, according to one walls through their windows. This,
of his studies, freshly operated pa- too, underlines the positive effect
tients who could look into green- of plants on man’s psyche.
ery were recuperating on average Greenery leads to stress reduc-
three quarters of a day sooner tion, is the undisputable conclu-
than patients who were looking at sion of these and further studies.
a wall. On average those looking Looking at natural greenery has a
at plants were getting up sooner, relaxing effect, not only in the ac-
needed less strong painkillers and tual stress phase but also in the
complained less about little post- regeneration phase following any
operational complications. Labora- stress situation. This means that
tory results of 120 persons tested difficult situations are experienced
showed that even a five minute as less burdensome and are over-
exposure to a natural scene or come faster if plants that calm the
simulation of one reduced stress soul are in sight.
21

24. The special effects of gardening
Instinctively many people are The garden gives people the
using the garden to relax and to possibility to be creative, to
reduce stress. What are the rea- make things on their own. They
sons for this? Why is a garden so are not bossed around or or-
special? dered to do their jobs along the
There seem to be several rea- normal guidelines.
sons for it. And there is the satisfaction and
The natural rhythms of a gar- pride in growing things.
den, of plants – their growing This is the reason why the Chinese
and blooming – work as a coun- say in their proverb:
terpart against stress, hectic,
the flood of information and the “If you want to be happy for an
pressure of the competition hour, get drunk.
which burden so many people If you want to be happy for
in our modern societies. three days, get married.
There is silence and peace in If you want to be happy for
the garden. eight days, kill a pig and give a
The work in a garden, the work feast.
with plants is quite different But if you want to be happy all
from the type of work many your life, make yourself a gar-
people have to do in their job. den.”
22

25. In this garden in Southern Germany horticultural therapy is applied to
young people with psychological and psycho-social problems
Horticultural therapy
Horticultural therapy makes use with plants and animals – became
of the positive effects of flowers, calm, less aggressive and lost
plants and gardens on body and their fears. Their senseless, bor-
soul in order to cure ill people or ing, unstructured life took on a
to make their living circumstances meaning. They experienced suc-
better. Horticultural therapy is a cess through their own hands.
very wide field and it is actually an Recognising this, doctors started
umbrella word for all those differ- to use working in gardens and
ent medical indications and appli- fields as a therapy. Working thera-
cations. py they called what was the first
The roots of horticultural thera- use of horticultural therapy.
py date back to the 19th Century, With the discovery of anti-de-
when huge asylums for mentally pressants the situation changed.
ill people were built. Because of Only a pill was necessary to keep
the high costs the asylums were patients calm. The low efficiency
planned to produce their own of their work in gardens and fields
food so patients worked in the made no sense any more. But in
fruit and vegetable gardens and time patients and their relatives
the fields. Here doctors noticed started to complain about the side
that patients working – especially effects of the psychopharmaca,
23

26. that changed the personality and How plants are used and which
made them feel like living behind plants are used, depends on the
glass. This is why in the ‘60’s the special needs of the patients for
value of horticultural therapy was whom the garden is planned.
rediscovered in the USA. Again Most important for horticultural
hospitals for psychic or mentally therapy are:
disabled people started to let
them work in gardens. In the ‘70’s
a first course of study „Horticultur- the calming and relaxing ef-
al therapy“ was offered at the fects of plants
Kansas State University. Today it the natural rhythm of the
takes four years of study to be- plants, which is a counter-
come a horticultural therapist. part to daily stress and
From the USA horticultural ther- makes people patient
apy came back to Europe and to work with living organ-
started to move towards Asia. Sin- isms, that follow their own,
gle projects like hospitals, homes unchangeable rules
for elderly people and workshops the colours, aromas, tex-
for handicapped people use horti- tures, sounds and even the
cultural therapy very successfully. tastes of plants, that tackle
But the public and politicians do all senses
not really take notice of these the effort of coordination in
projects. In spite of this, horticul- working with plants on mus-
tural therapy has developed a lot cles, care and attention
in the last years. the huge variety of different
We note the application of horti- applications making it possi-
cultural therapy in following cases: ble to suit the abilities of
every patient and offer them
the chance to experience
psychological and psychoso-
success
cial disorder
the normality of the garden
addictions
in contrast to the sometimes
dementia
frightening atmosphere of a
rehabilitation after accidents
clinic or a caring institution.
and strokes
rheumatic diseases
geriatric and orthopaedic re-
habilitation
motorial disorder
disorder of perception
apallic syndrome (coma)
curative education
blindness and deaf blindness
24

27. Cultural and social significance of
flowers and plants
Cultural meaning
So far little research has been In nearly every society around
done regarding the social and cul- the world they are an integral part
tural functions of flowers and of rituals from birth to death. It is
plants. We know, however, from therefore all the more astonishing,
the myths of all kinds of peoples how little is understood about
that from very early on, plants their significance in celebrating
were said to have special powers. and grieving. Researchers found
Plants nourish, warm, quench the that flowers are an important part
thirst, and alleviate complaints. of the bereavement process as a
Yet they can also make ill, cause source of comfort and warmth and
mischief and have demonic prop- to help deal with grief. Their func-
erties. They harbour strength, tions in brightening up the som-
toughness, the capacity to resist bre environment and providing a
and to assimilate. They disappear conversational diversion also were
under the earth and reappear. highly appreciated. The primary
They endure the worst frosts with- reasons for sending flowers are to
out any harm. All this has inspired comfort survivors and show re-
men to endow them with a soul, spect for the deceased.
to put them on a par with gods The message of some flowers is
and spirits. They were convinced understood equally around the
that some of the magical power
was passed on to anybody who
was adorned or honoured with the
flower or plant in question, secret-
ly mixed into their food or hidden
in their clothes.
In this natural religion lies the
root of all plant symbolism that to
this day motivates people world-
wide to make presents of flowers,
or decorate with flowers or use
them in religious ceremonies.
Plants become carriers and harbin-
gers of wishes, longings and
hopes. They accompany the small
gestures of friendship and affec- In nearly every society all around
tion, the central feasts and holi- the world flowers are an integral
days, but most of all the decisive part of rituals from birth to
life dates. death.
25

28. world, like the red rose, symboliz- autumn and awareness of death.
ing love and eroticism. Others sig- Only due to the increase of vari-
nify all sorts of feelings, like the eties and year-round production
chysanthemum, which in China is has it gained a more positive im-
considered a symbol of long life, age. As shown in these two exam-
whereas in Japan it is the emper- ples, functions of flowers and
or’s flower and symbolizes loyalty plants depend on the specific soci-
to the master, and in Europe it was ety and culture, on their values
for a long time the flower of late and customs.
Flowers and art
Art also tells us of the close heart of Suleiman the Great with
connection between man and his song of the rose and the
plants. Poetry and literature, from nightingale. But also in folksong
the Song of Solomon to Goethe or and children’s verse the flowers of
James Joyce, flowers, plants and the yearly cycle abound. They give
gardens play a central role. The fa- cause to play and dance.
mous poem on the chrysanthe- Plant paintings are as numer-
mum by the Chinese poet Tao ous. From Japanese ink drawings
Yuanming was written in the 3rd to the murals of Pompei to Monet
century after Christ. Around 1560, and Andy Warhol, flowers and
the Osmanli poet Fasli touched the plants populate our works of art.
Many of the oriental carpets weave
plants, blossoms and vines and
even have been interpreted as gar-
dens that could be taken along as
a reminder of things alive into the
most inhospitable regions. Porce-
lain painting is a chapter in itself.
Flower and plant motives decorate
Chinese vases thousands of years
old, as well as the tiles of the Top-
kapi Palace in Istanbul or the prod-
ucts of the Royal Danish Porcelain
manufacture. Plates, cups, vases,
boxes and bowls all over the
world were decorated with roses
and water lilies, iris, poppies, for-
get-me-not and many other flow-
ers. The eye was to take pleasure
Flower and plant motives often in them even if the natural cycle of
decorate porcelain seasons wouldn’t allow it.
26

29. Plants as a factor of social stability
In modern cities many people soon as plants move into such
have to live far from a natural en- neighbourhoods, these develop-
vironment. Does it mean anything ments however can be reversed.
to them? If one compares the The slum gardens of the once no-
costs of flats and houses it be- torious New York Bronx are a fa-
comes clear that their prices in- mous example. In the early ‘70s,
crease when they are surrounded the first of these gardens devel-
City neighbourhoods with a green environment have fewer social problems
by gardens and greenery. Living oped on rubble fields, roofs and
vegetation and gardens obviously back yards. They worked like a
are considered valuable. Whoever signal against discouragement,
can afford it chooses not to live in lethargy, and indifference. These
a grey, stony environment. That is garden projects were for the first
felt to be boring and anti-life. time bringing the neighbourhood
City neighbourhoods without together. Out of chaos arose veg-
greenery often turn into social etable gardens, flower beds and
problem areas with poverty, van- green oases used as playgrounds
dalism, and a high crime rate. As and meeting points. These gar-
27

30. dens became a signal for survival,
creative open air workshops –
places, where a new sense of re-
sponsibility for one‘s living sur-
roundings was coming to light.
Similar paths were trodden in
the Russian city of Danilov, where
a devastated park in the city cen-
ter was restored by a group of
young people out of work. Not on-
ly vandalism stopped here. Else-
where in the city greenery was
perceived with new eyes – people
started to appreciate it again. Working in these gardens is a
Gardens are also helpful for good antidote to apathy and de-
refugees and migrants to find root pression. Their contact with na-
again. In various German cities, ture helps them to slowly get over
so-called „international gardens“ grief and traumas, and also breaks
offer refugees from a variety of down their isolation. The garden
cultural backgrounds the opportu- and the preoccupation with plants
nity to plant, tend and harvest. offer opportunities for cross-cul-
tural contacts. People exchange
experiences and support each oth-
er, and of course also celebrate to-
gether.
In general one can say that
parks and gardens are important
places for social interaction, for
events and activities. Parks and
greenery bring a friendly and
peaceful atmosphere to a town
and are places for communication
and recreation, incorporate play-
grounds for children, and are an
invitation to tourists.
Above: For refugees and migrants
working in a garden is a good
antidote to apathy and depression
Below: It makes children proud to
have grown a nice plant and
builds up self-confidence
28

31. Educational functions of flowers
and plants
Flowers and plants should be treated; in this way, you can expe-
more integrated in the upbringing rience the consequences of your
and education of children. Dealing own doing. Looking at and obser-
with plants teaches children al- vation reveal the dynamics of na-
ready at a very early age to care ture, e.g. the larvae of a lady bug
and to take responsibility for a liv- suddenly cleaning up the blackfly
ing being. It teaches them about on the tips of new sprouts. Your
nature and the environment so own doing leads to changes, but
they understand how necessary it not everything is within your pow-
is to protect them. It helps to build
up their self-confidence. It makes
them proud to have grown a nice
plant and it improves their skills.
Some plants in their home, a little
place in the garden, projects in
Kindergarten and schools and a
school garden will help to accom-
plish this.
Gardens for children, particular-
ly now in the computer age, can
help young people to shift from
the head to the hand. Gardens con-
vey practical experience instead of
theory. In this, concrete learning-
by-doing processes are only one
aspect. Directly experiencing na-
ture is at least as important. Plants
feel warm and cold, smooth and
rough, soft and hard. They smell,
are fragrant or stink. They demand
aim-oriented activity and teach or-
ganizing work. Planning your own
beds stimulate your imagination
and creativity and produce their re- Gardens can help young people to
ality check. shift from the head to the hand
Not the grown-ups but the
plants demand responsible behav- er, is the subtle message. Thus,
iour. If watered rightly, they stand children gain a more realistic idea
stiffly erect, if their watering is for- of their surroundings and are be-
gotten, they turn limp. Plants react ing helped to appreciate the reality
immediately to how they are being of their life in a new way.
29

32. Plant lovers and their societies
The great variety of plants as Also in other countries garden-
well as their beauty and unique- ing was no longer a subject re-
ness inspired man very early on to served only for the nobility. Like
collect them. Whereas at first, only the RHS it was discovered that hor-
the well-to-do could afford the ticulture and gardening enrich
hobby of plant collecting, soon al- people’s lives, that it is worth
so commoners were infected by bringing the personal and social
the passion for collecting. It did benefits of gardens and gardening
not take long for them to band to- to a diverse audience of all ages,
gether in order to share their infor- to help people share a passion for
mation and experience, as well as plants, to encourage excellence in
admire each others‘ exploits, and horticulture in private and public
also to encourage others to find spaces, to help create healthy, sus-
an interest in garden and plants. tainable communities and support
The Royal Horticultural Society long term environmental improve-
(RHS) established in London in ments. Our modern societies are
1804 was one of the first – maybe discovering again how important
the first – dedicated to advancing flowers and plants are for the well
horticulture and the promotion of being of the people.
gardening. Besides the societies for garden-
ing in general, associations of
30

33. plant lovers arose to exchange ing groups and plantsman‘s soci-
knowledge about their special eties, taken as a whole, constitute
plants. For many of their members a strong, stabilizing element in
they are an essential means for our society. Politically speaking,
communication, social contact however, they are usually not giv-
and encounter. All of these garden- en credit as such.
Exhibitions of flowers and plants
Exhibitions are one of the most
important initiatives on the part of
these garden and plant societies.
Anybody successfully collecting
plants and bringing them to grow,
flower and bear fruit, will want to
present their success to others.
Such private shows soon became
so popular that they had to extend
their framework. Almost two hun-
dred years ago, societies such as
the RHS, the „Societé d‘Agriculture
et de Botanique de Gand (Agricul-
tural and botanical society of
Ghent)“ or the „Verein zur
Förderung des Gartenbaues in den
Königlich Preussischen Staaten Above: AIPH coordinates interna-
(Society for furthering gardening tional horticultural exhibitions
in the Royal Prussian States)“ start-
ed organizing flower and plant ex- Left: Perennials are an important
hibitions. What started as short- group of plants for plant lovers
term show in halls and exhibition
grounds, soon extended to open
air shows lasting up to half a year. Former military bases became
Soon it was realized that these recreation parks, like Magde-
open air shows were an excellent burg/Germany in 1999 and Pots-
means of creating new parks and dam/Germany in 2001. New cities
green landscapes. Thus, garden were given their green structure
shows became an instrument of through garden shows, as 1992 in
green politics. With their help, Zoetermeer/Netherlands. The AIPH
huge disaffected industrial areas (International Association of Horti-
were transformed into green land- cultural Producers) coordinates
scapes, such as the Liverpool and recognizes international horti-
South Docks/Great Britain in 1984. cultural exhibitions worldwide.
31

34. Final remarks
Considering all these aspects be influenced by information, pro-
one has to ask if flowers and motion and marketing. But it is
plants really get the attention they not only the private consumer
deserve in our societies? How can who makes decisions about buy-
you measure their significance in ing flowers and plants, as well as
comparison with other fields like building or improving a garden.
music, theatre, sports, museums Politicians of communities and
or arts? One could of course com- other state bodies are always ea-
pare the turnovers of these differ- ger to explain that they would like
ent branches. One could also look to spend more money on trees,
at the media coverage these sec- shrubs and other plants, on parks
tors get – in newspapers and mag- and green spaces – inside cities,
azines, in literature or on TV. Or along streets and roads, and in the
one could add up the competitive open countryside. But that they do
time people spend on these sub- not have enough money for it. Or
jects. We do not know of any such there are, as they put it, other pri-
analyses. Some degree of research orities. Priorities must change in
in this field seems to be urgently favour of greenery and plants.
needed. Politicians have to realize the ben-
In a free market oriented econo- efits of flowers and plants – and
my people decide according to what they contribute to the mem-
their preferences. Preferences can bers of society at large.
32

35. Photo Acknowledgements:
BGM Düsseldorf page 13 B
CMA 28 T, 29
Die grüne Stadt 12, 20 T
Grünes Presse Portal 11, 20 T, 28 T, 29
Helga Panten Title, 5, 6 B + T, 9, 10, 11, 13 T, 15 B + T,
17, 18, 20 B, 21, 22, 26, 30, 31, 32
Plants for People 19
Peter Ruhnke 14, 16 B + T, 23, 25, 27, 28 B
Editor: AIPH
International Association of Horticultural Producers
Louis Pasteurlaan 6, P.O. Box 280, 2700 AG ZOETERMEER (NL)
Fon: 31-79-347 07 07, Fax: 31-79-347 04 05
E-Mail: aiph@tuinbouw.nl , Website: www.aiph.org
Authors and
Layout: Helga Panten, Peter Ruhnke, Bonn/Germany
Translation: Ethel Rae Perkins, Cologne/Germany
Printed: Köllen Druck+Verlag GmbH, Bonn/Germany
First Printing – September 2005
Second Printing – December 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this brochure may be used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in articles and reviews