Dive into the fascinating world of horticulture as we demystify the language of gardening, empowering enthusiasts within the knowledge to cultivate thriving gardens. Join us as we explore the rich lexicon that defines the art and science of horticulture.

Aggregate Fruit: noun Botany. A fruit formed by several ovaries in the pistil of a single flower. All these tiny eggs are pollinated and meld together to form a single fruit. Examples include raspberries and blackberries.

Accessory Fruit: noun Botany. A fruit that is derived from the pollinated ovary and other flower parts which expand and ripen around the seeds. They do not split open to disperse the seeds. Examples include strawberries, pears, apples, pomegranates and figs. Think of all of the seeds inside the fruit!

Berry: noun Botany. A true fruit formed directly from the ovary of a flower. (See Horticultural Terms article in the Fall 2023 blog.) Examples include blueberries and bananas!

Fruit development is a complex and varied botanical event that provides nutritious treats for birds and bees and animals of all kinds, but most delightfully to humans. Most of us just call them by their common names: berries of all kinds, apples, and pears. But scientists have been able to analyze the details of fruit procreation and development in ways unimaginable. 

The general public will continue to call fruits by their common names, but now when you find the seeds in a fruit or feel the lumpy exterior of a raspberry you can marvel at the diversity of morphology within the category of “fruit.”