Colorado Horticulture Research & Education Foundation

Growing the Future of Horticulture

The Colorado Horticulture Research & Education Foundation (CHREF) is a charitable foundation supported by the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association (CNGA), its members, industry partners, and friends who share a commitment to advancing horticulture through education, workforce development, and research.

More than $750,000 has been awarded and invested since 1983.

Investing in People

CHREF helps students pursue careers in horticulture through scholarships and educational opportunities.

For 2026/2027, CHREF is investing $70,000 in scholarships for students pursuing horticulture careers at Colorado State University and other educational programs.

CHREF supports community college horticulture programs, helping to strengthen hands on education and prepare students for careers in the green industry. We also support early horticulture education through HORT 100 dual enrollment in high schools.

CHREF scholarship recipients have gone on to careers throughout Colorado and the greater green industry, working in nurseries, landscape design and construction, CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and many other horticulture businesses and organizations.

Investing in Research

With real challenges facing the nursery, greenhouse, and landscape industries, CHREF is investing more than $70,000 in research in 2026, with multi-year commitments exceeding $180,000.

Research and education initiatives include:

Woody plant evaluations for the High Plains and Rocky Mountain region
Water and nutrient use in greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes
Water use studies in the landscape
Multi-site plant evaluations
Expanding HORT 100 programs in high schools
Strengthening community college horticulture education
+ Many other CHREF funded research projects that have benefited horticulture

The goal is simple: support research and education that can provide useful information and practical benefits to the horticulture industry.

Get Involved

CHREF is a horticulture foundation started by and funded by the nursery, greenhouse, landscape, and greater green industry.

Join us by sponsoring, donating, volunteering, or simply connecting with CHREF and helping us grow the future of horticulture.

Attend a CHREF Event

Our annual Sporting Clay event, Golf Tournament, and Industry Celebration during ProGreen EXPO bring people from across the industry together to connect, have some fun, and support CHREF's work in horticulture education, workforce development, and research.