HORTICULTURE

Like the animals in a zoological park, plants need specialized care too! Some zoos even double as zoological parks and botanical gardens. There are arborists, gardeners and even botanists on staff at most zoos. Horticulture staff are responsible for the care, maintenance and propagation of various plant species throughout the park. They play a major role in helping to design exhibits by determining what plants are appropriate for which animals. For instance, the potential toxicity of plant species and selecting what plants best represent an animal’s natural habitat. Additionally, without horticulture, we wouldn’t have the beautiful landscapes throughout our parks that invite indigenous wildlife and offer guests a beautiful environment in which to spend their visit.