AmericanHort published a revised American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1), which now is downloadable for free at AmericanHort.org/standard.
The standard highlights how nursery stock—living plants other than annuals—should be specified and sold within the trade. For instance, it includes how to measure and state the size of a plant, determine the acceptable relationship between the plant and the container or root ball and describe a plant intended for a particular use. In addition to trees and shrubs, it covers liners and understock plants, perennials, grasses, groundcovers, vines, bulbs and roses.
AmericanHort’s Horticultural Standards Committee developed the 2004 edition from 2005 to 2013. It was submitted to horticultural associations, government agencies and companies for their review in order to develop evidence of industry consensus to meet requirements for accredited national standards. The results of the ballots from the industry were unanimous, and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently approved the new standard.
The development of the standard was funded in part by the Horticultural Research Institute, the research affiliate of AmericanHort.
