RESEARCH

Horticultural Therapy in the Landscape Architecture: People-Plant Interactions

The article highlights that horticultural therapy improves memory, communication, task initiation, and social behavior, while also enhancing physical fitness, balance, and endurance when used in rehabilitation programs Well-designed therapeutic gardens also promote greater emotional stability, independence, and community connection, especially when adapted for people with disabilities or age-related conditions.

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social

Population Groups: General Population

Setting or Context: Public/Botanical Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Improved Cognitive Function, Improved Physical Health, Improved Balance, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Occupational Therapy, Landscape Design

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews, Book or Book Chapters

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health

Access: Free

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Summary

This article explores how horticultural therapy—using gardening and plant-based activities to support healing—can be integrated into landscape design to improve people’s physical and mental well-being. The authors describe how this form of therapy is already widely used in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, often in hospitals, care centers, and rehabilitation programs. Horticultural therapy involves more than just gardening; it includes planned, hands-on activities designed by trained professionals to help people recover from injury, reduce stress, and build confidence. It can also improve memory, language, physical strength, and social skills.

The paper provides practical guidelines for designing therapeutic gardens. These include creating wide, smooth paths for wheelchair users, selecting safe and low-allergy plants, and including features that stimulate the senses all year round. The gardens should be easy to navigate, feel welcoming, and offer both quiet and interactive spaces depending on users’ needs. Overall, the authors emphasize that these gardens must be tailored to all ages and health conditions to be truly healing and inclusive.