What is Therapeutic Horticulture?
Therapeutic horticulture uses plant and nature-based activities to work towards the psychological, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, and personal goals of its participants.
We design every class with the scientifically-backed principles of therapeutic horticulture.
Principle 1: Attention Restoration
The principle of Attention Restoration suggests that nature gently captures our attention in a way that allows our overworked, focused brains to rest.
Plant-based activities create what researchers call “soft fascination,” a calm, effortless engagement that helps us mentally recharge (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Berman, Jonides, and Kaplan, 2008).
Studies show that even a 40 second glance at natural scenery can improve focus (Lee et al., 2015), and just 10 minutes of viewing nature scenes can sharpen attention and boost short term memory (Berman et al., 2008).
Principle 2: Sensory Stimulation
Plant activities wake up all the senses, the scent of herbs, the feel of soil, the colors of blooms, and the soft sound of leaves. This rich sensory experience helps ground us in the present moment and lift our mood (Ulrich, 1993; Detweiler et al., 2012).
Research shows that even short plant-based activities can calm the body. Just 15 minutes of transplanting flowers lowered stress responses in the nervous system (Park and Kim, 2013), and a simple 10 minute plant-watering activity reduced blood pressure and promoted relaxation (Chen et al., 2024).
Studies also show that engaging in horticultural activities for an hour can improve heart rate variability, a sign of better stress regulation (Lee, 2010), and that consistent sessions over time have meaningful stress-reduction benefits (Lee et al., 2023).
Principle 3: Biophilia
The principle of Biophilia suggests that humans have an innate connection to the natural world and a tendency to seek out life and life-like processes (Wilson, 1984; Kellert & Wilson, 1993). When we work with plants, we tap into this built-in affinity, which often brings comfort, calm, and a sense of belonging.
Research supports the idea that contact with nature is linked with improved well-being and positive emotions; for example, people who spend as little as 120 minutes a week in natural environments report better health and greater psychological well-being compared with those with little or no nature contact.
This connection to nature not only feels meaningful, it appears to play a real role in supporting mental and emotional health.
