The association is aimed at all participants in the horticultural sector and its mission statement is as follows:

- To encourage and promote horticulture in all its applications.

- To increase horticultural knowledge through research, studies, trips, surveys, publications and any communication initiatives.

- To contribute to coordinating and encouraging the work of horticulture societies, and to liaise between them where necessary.

- To promote the representation of French horticulture under all circumstances both at national and international level.

- To contribute to optimising consultation between researchers, horticulture professionals, users and amateurs.

- To take part in initiatives designed to further the knowledge, promotion and protection of our plant heritage and biodiversity.

These associations engage in very important work, dealing both with their own members and with the local authorities and numerous events are set up every year on their initiative.

The representatives of these associations have always looked to the SNHF for the support they need. In return they help to extend the influence of the SNHF to their members.

The associations which have joined the SNHF are now integrated. They are represented on the board and enjoy the benefits of a structure which is tailored to their needs through the unifying committee.

The unifying committee currently includes almost 250 associations all sharing the same values and which very often have similar objectives.

In addition to useful contacts and the service providing 2 copies of the Jardins de France (Gardens of France) magazine, the associations may obtain diplomas and medals, as well as books and documents at special prices.

Friendly relations have been created between the societies, they get to know one another better, they exchange information (for the purpose of organising visits and trips, for instance).

The unifying committee includes 18 members who were elected at the conference held in Bourges (May 2006). The SNHF chairman has entrusted the coordination work to an assistant chairman.

The association is aimed at all participants in the horticultural sector and its mission statement is as follows:

- To encourage and promote horticulture in all its applications.
- To increase horticultural knowledge through research, studies, trips, surveys, publications and any communication initiatives.
- To contribute to coordinating and encouraging the work of horticulture societies, and to liaise between them where necessary.
- To promote the representation of French horticulture under all circumstances both at national and international level.
- To contribute to optimising consultation between researchers, horticulture professionals, users and amateurs.
- To take part in initiatives designed to further the knowledge, promotion and protection of our plant heritage and biodiversity.
- To contribute to “in bloom” and enhancement initiatives in France, and to improving the local living environment.

1 st college : physical persons who are interested in horticultural activities or who have links to horticulture (individual members: amateurs, researchers, garden owners, etc.)

2 nd college : non-profit-making legal entities (associations under the 1901 law).

3 rd college : commercial legal entities (horticultural professionals (production, marketing, etc..) and the institutions which represent the profession.  

The society set up the scientific council as soon as it was formed to look at “the applications of the physical and natural sciences to horticulture”. Since 1999 it has called upon the skills of the whole of the profession and the research world to look into social problems which affect nature and also covering topical subjects.

It is made up of twelve leading figures from the scientific and professional world and has the task of helping people “to gain a better understanding in order to act more effectively”.

The specialist thematic sections

The annals of the SNHF show us that, ever since its very early days, our society has always set up highly active committees, specialising in the practical study of each branch of horticulture.

Field trips, experimentation reports and descriptions of new information / new discoveries / etc. have helped us to gather a great deal of information which is still of enormous use to us today.

So, in a genuine spirit of continuity, the amateur horticultural movement has thus picked up on professional concerns and has bridged the divide between horticulture for production purposes and horticulture for pleasure.

The SNHF offers its members a number of very active sections dealing with subjects as varied as: the art of gardening, floral art, ornamental trees and shrubs, camellias, pleasure gardens, roses, fuchsias, dahlias, cactaceae and succulents, vegetable and fruit gardens, pelargoniums, perennials, indoor plants and gardens but also the fine arts.

These sections' group work, conferences, study trips and publications are a tribute to their energy. There are no limits on how many of them there may be at any one time, this depends solely upon members' suggestions and commitment.

Channelling all of this energy towards a single objective means drawing up a CHARTER.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHARTER IS TO ALLOW THE PRIME MOVERS WITHIN THE ASSOCIATION to include the jointly defined fundamental purposes of the Société Nationale d'Horticulture de France within a framework drawn up by the Chairman and the members of the presidium.

This CHARTER was validated by the Board on 4 th April 2007.

Download the SNHF charter