Ornamental plants are those grown for decorative purposes both inside and outside public and private landscapes. For the most part they are not grown to provide food, although lots of edibles have ornamental value.
Examples of plants are grasses, trees, shrubs, houseplants, perennial and annual flowers and foliage plants. They contribute to our quality of life by providing shade, serving as wind barriers, anchoring soil, filtering pollutants, reducing noise, providing wildlife habitat, and appealing to our sense of beauty and well-being. It is believed that ornamental gardening was started by the ancient Egyptians.