The International Symposium on "Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse" will be held in Brisbane, Australia in 2014 during the International Horticultural Congress (IHC2014). As fruits and vegetables feed the body, so ornamental plants nourish the soul. They are used in applications that range from the practical and functional to the purely aesthetic. For consumers, ornamental plants are desirable items but they provide the basis of an industry that provides livelihoods for many. This is an industry that spans borders, regions and time-zones being a truly international business. The science and technologies required to deliver the novel, high quality products sought by consumers spans a wide range of scientific disciplines.