What is the scientific study of flowers and flowering plants known as?

The scientific study of flowers and flowering plants is referred to as floriculture. This discipline specifically focuses on the cultivation, breeding, and management of flowering plants, particularly those grown for ornamental purposes. It encompasses various aspects such as plant selection, propagation, pest management, and marketing, which are essential for both commercial production and landscape design.

While botany is concerned with the broader study of all plants, including their physiology, structure, ecology, and evolution, floriculture zeroes in on those plants that produce flowers, making it a specialized branch within the larger field of botany. Agronomy deals with crops and soil management, and horticulture refers to the science of growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants in a more generalized context, which includes elements of floriculture but is not limited to flowering plants alone. Therefore, the correct choice is floriculture, as it directly relates to the scientific study and practices surrounding flowers and flowering plants.