About Us

Rooted in Cornell's long-standing horticultural tradition, Hortus Forum is one of the university's oldest plant-focused student organizations. Our history traces back to the late nineteenth century, when legendary horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey inspired students to learn through observation, experimentation, and hands-on cultivation. Among these early groups was the Lazy Club, which later evolved into Cornell's Floriculture Club, and eventually into the organization now known as Hortus Forum. While our name has changed over the decades, our mission has remained the same: to cultivate a community united by a passion for plants, horticulture, and lifelong learning.

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Today, Hortus Forum serves as Cornell's undergraduate horticulture club, welcoming students of all majors and experience levels. Our greenhouse is both a classroom and a gathering place, where members care for a diverse collection of tropical and arid plants while learning propagation, greenhouse management, sustainable growing practices, and plant identification. Through hands-on experience, members gain an appreciation for the incredible diversity of the plant kingdom while developing practical horticultural skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

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Many of the plants we grow are propagated and shared with the Cornell and Ithaca communities through our biweekly plant sales. These sales are more than fundraisers—they provide members with valuable experience in marketing, merchandising, inventory management, financial planning, and organizational leadership while helping support the continued growth of our greenhouse collection. This combination of horticultural education and nonprofit business experience makes Hortus Forum a truly unique student organization.

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Beyond campus, Hortus Forum proudly continues its long-standing tradition of exhibiting plants at the Philadelphia Flower Show, where members showcase the quality of our greenhouse collection while connecting with the broader horticultural community. Club trips also include visits to botanical gardens, research collections, and specialty nurseries, allowing members to learn directly from horticulturists, curators, and researchers while exploring some of the world's most remarkable plant collections.

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Education and community remain at the heart of everything we do. Throughout the year, Hortus Forum hosts weekly greenhouse sessions, workshops, guest speakers, and collaborative events that explore biodiversity, conservation, sustainable horticulture, and plant science. We also proudly preserve traditions that have connected generations of members, from exhibiting at the Philadelphia Flower Show to reviving historic events like the Mum Ball, reflecting our commitment to honoring the club's rich history while continuing to grow.

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More than anything, Hortus Forum is a community built around curiosity, collaboration, and a shared love of plants. Whether members are caring for our greenhouse, preparing for a plant sale, traveling to botanical gardens, or simply spending time together among the plants, they become part of a tradition that has flourished at Cornell for generations. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our mission: to cultivate a positive social community that fosters a passion for plants while promoting horticultural education, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.