Name: Naina Srivastava
Country: India

Year: 2022
Volume: Volume-7, Issue-2 (July-December)
Page Number: 118-127

ABSTRACT
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic value and are widely used to enhance the beauty of homes, gardens, parks, landscapes, and indoor environments. They include flowering plants such as Rose, Marigold, Jasmine, Hibiscus, and Dahlia, foliage plants like Croton, Fern, Money Plant, and Dracaena, ornamental trees and shrubs including Ashoka, Bougainvillea, Gulmohar, and Palm, and indoor plants such as Snake Plant, Peace Lily, Areca Palm, and Spider Plant. Beyond their decorative appeal, ornamental plants provide significant environmental benefits by improving air quality, reducing pollution and urban heat, conserving biodiversity, and supporting pollinators. They also contribute to social well-being by reducing stress, enhancing recreational spaces, and creating pleasant surroundings, while economically supporting floriculture, nursery businesses, landscaping, and entrepreneurship. The present study aimed to identify commonly grown ornamental plants, assess their aesthetic, environmental, social, and economic importance, examine cultivation challenges, and suggest measures for promoting sustainable ornamental horticulture. A descriptive and exploratory research design was adopted, and data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, field observations, plant documentation, and secondary sources. The findings revealed that ornamental plants play a vital role in environmental sustainability, urban beautification, and livelihood generation. However, challenges such as water scarcity, pest infestation, limited technical guidance, and high maintenance costs require appropriate interventions. The study concludes that promoting ornamental plant cultivation through sustainable gardening, landscaping, public awareness, and community participation can significantly improve environmental quality and overall quality of life.

Keywords: Ornamental Plants, Horticulture, Landscaping, Biodiversity, Environmental Benefits, Aesthetic Value, Plant Conservation