Science and advice
The RHS provides authoritative gardening and horticultural advice, with a comprehensive resource of information for everyone online.
To underpin this unique service for all gardeners, we carry out scientific research into plants, their cultivation, identification and pest and disease problems. Through lectures, seminars, and publications, we lead debate on issues influencing horticulture and gardening.
We have an increasing interest in the environmental implications of gardening. As a result, we have established five key environmental themes to help us develop our work programmes and our key partnerships.
In 2008, the RHS published a landmark report on the disease risks associated with imported plants, on behalf of a special working group of experts and stakeholders. Our research on garden problems has developed with special emphasis on the fungal disease Phytophthora - implicated in the loss of many woody plants - and a thorough study of lily beetles and other new pests rapidly spreading throughout the UK.
As horticultural trade extends ever further globally, the international reputation of the RHS in leading the development of the universal system of naming cultivated plants gains in significance.
We are continuing to develop the authoritative and extensive RHS Horticultural Database, underpinned by unique collections and taxonomic research that helps us manage the hundreds of thousands of names applied to plants in cultivation.