A "cultivar" is a plant that has been bred to enhance specific characteristics, and which has been given a unique name. This "new" plant, with its specific characteristics, can be propagated over and over again.

While distinct from their ancestors, cultivars inherit many of their parents' qualities. Will a cultivar that has been derived from invasive ancestors also be invasive? Is it possible to develop an invasive cultivar from normally non-invasive parent plants? These are important questions that should be considered when developing new plants for the market.

To address these questions, a workshop was held in 2008 at the U.S. National Arboretum. Participants included representatives of the horticulture industry, natural resource managers, environmental conservation groups, and researchers. They worked to identify knowledge gaps, priorities for ornamental plant breeding, natural area protection research, and related issues. The focus was on the research agendas for the USDA's U.S. National Arboretum, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). Research by other agencies and institutions was also discussed.

The results of that workshop are posted here:
Read the cultivar report!  (July 2008)

Horticulture Home
History and development of the Voluntary Codes of Conduct for horticulture.
Codes of Conduct
The Findings and Principles that were developed at the Missouri Botanical Gardens 2001 Workshop.
Using the Codes
Information on how to implement these Codes with your business, organization or other group. Examples of how to implement each of the Codes are given.
Other resources
Tools such as brochures to help you in your work to stop invasions through horticulture.