AmericanHort publishes revised nursery standard

WASHINGTON — AmericanHort has announced the revised American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) is now available for industry use. The Standard reflects the consensus of the industry regarding 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.

If you buy nursery stock, it is important to provide your supplier with specifications that are consistent with the Standard, or you may not get what you expect. If you grow or distribute nursery stock, it is important for you to market and sell your plants in accordance with the Standard, or your customer may reject them.

The association’s Horticultural Standards Committee developed the 2014 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 2014 American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) is available for free from AmericanHort and may be downloaded at AmericanHort.org/standard. The development of the standard was funded in part by the Horticultural Research Institute, the Research Affiliate of AmericanHort.