Overview

FNGLA's goal is to provide sustainable funding to benefit the nursery and landscape industry. The association does this primarily through endowments within two Foundations:

University of Florida Foundation

Worth over $1.8 million, all interest earned annually from FNGLA's Endowed Research Fund at the UF Foundation goes to support research projects conducted by the University of Florida. 

This fund specifically benefits UF's SHARE program (Special Help for Agricultural Research & Education), through UF/IFAS. The SHARE program includes research and education programs which develop new technological advances for the industry.

Read more on FNGLA's Endowed Research Fund priorities here.

Search for FNGLA-funded projects here.

Selections for 2025 research projects funded by the FNGLA Endowed Research Fund were announced November 9, 2025.

Funded projects for 2025 include: 

• Optimizing systemic insecticide use for ornamental palm protection, Adam Dale, Ph.D., Entomology and Nematology, Main Campus  

   

• Alternative Fertilizer Option to Correct Nutrient Deficient Royal Palms, Mica McMillan, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Ft. Lauderdale REC

   

• Identification of free nitrogen-fixing bacteria for improving foliage plant production, Jianjun Chen, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Mid-Florida REC, Apopka  

   

• Automating Irrigation in Seedling Production in Ornamental Crops, Paul Fisher, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Main Campus  

   

• Using brassinosteroids to protect young citrus plants in the nursery and at planting, Fernando Alferez, Ph.D., Horticultural Sciences, Southwest Florida REC

   

• Evaluating Urban Landscape Species for Resilience to Storm Surge-Induced Saltwater Flooding, Andrew Koeser, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Gulf Coast REC  

   

• Quantifying the impact of biochar soil amendments on urban tree gas exchange, climate resilience, and growth, Ryan Klein, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Main Campus  

   

• Developing Best Practices for Plant Recommendations and Guidelines for Low Water Landscapes Plant Materials throughout Florida, Jeb Fields, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture, Main Campus  

   

• Evaluating herbicide strategies for managing mature doveweed [Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan] in Florida turfgrass systems, Pawel Petelewicz, Ph.D., Agronomy, Main Campus  

   

• Assessing the Extent of Non-Plant Landscape Elements in Florida to Identify Potential Next Steps: A Needs Assessment Approach, Laura Warner, Ph.D., Ag. Ed. and Communication, Main Campus  

National Horticulture Foundation

A $4.2 million foundation which believes in the future of the nursery and landscape industry, the National Horticulture Foundation (NHF) plays an integral part in building future leaders and addressing industry challenges through supporting needed research. 

Each year, NHF’s scholarship program continues to establish pathways for qualified students in need of financial support. For more information about NHF’s scholarship program, visit NHF's website.

To date, NHF has given more than $500,000 to the industry to support research projects in the areas of production, marketing, utilization and distribution.

Whether to understand how to improve plant quality and longevity during transportation, or how to increase purchasing motivation of consumers to increase demand, NHF is committed to positive outcomes and a greater return on investment for the green industry.

Search for NHF-funded projects here.

FNGLA also supports the following initiatives:

HRI - The AmericanHort Foundation

American Floral Endowment

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Inc.