Elizabeth Diehl

Director | Professor University of Florida

Gainesville FL

Elizabeth Diehl focuses on teaching, research and program delivery of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture.

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Biography

Elizabeth (Leah) Diehl, RLA, HTM is director of therapeutic horticulture at Wilmot Botanical Gardens and lecturer in the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida. She is a licensed landscape architect, master gardener and professionally registered horticultural therapist. She manages and teaches an undergraduate certificate program in horticultural therapy, conducts research and runs therapeutic horticulture programming for diverse populations, where she trains and manages clients, students and volunteers. Her current research explores the effects of a structured therapeutic horticulture program on student stress, anxiety and academic resilience.

Areas of Expertise

People-plant interactions

Student Mental Health

Garden therapy

Therapeutic Horticulture

Horticultural therapy

Healing gardens

Nature-based programs

Therapeutic Gardens

Media Appearances

How Talking to Plants Impacts Their Growth and Our Health

Next Avenue online

2025-08-08

People are generally healthier and happier when they have purpose, and plants provide that. Plus, they really are good listeners.

Wilmot Gardens show why interacting with plants can improve health

WUFT online

2025-03-14

Located on the UF’s campus, Wilmot Botanical Gardens offers therapeutic horticulture. The therapeutic horticulture program is built on the belief that engaging with plants and being in nature can be a restorative experience, creating a positive impact on people’s overall well-being.

Leah Diehl, Therapeutic Horticulture Director at Wilmot Gardens

WUFT online

2023-06-11

Today’s episode features Leah Diehl, Director of Therapeutic Horticulture at Wilmot Gardens and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. She creates programming for diverse populations and participates in research studies examining the impact of plants and nature on quality of life and wellness.

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Articles

The Effects of Therapeutic Horticulture on Student Well-being and Academic Resilience

Frontiers Psychology

Diehl, et al.

2025-09-15

The focus of this study was to explore the use of therapeutic horticulture (TH) with university students, specifically hypothesizing that participants would experience reductions in stress and anxiety and increases in resilience and academic resilience after participating in the program.

Pilot Study on Therapeutic Horticulture for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Mixed Methods Study

Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Sharififar, et al.

2024-04-30

The first aim of this study was to determine if and which patients who were receiving care for chronic LBP were interested in TH to help manage their pain. The second aim of the project was to quantify changes in LBP, functional tasks and anxiety upon completion of a TH session in patients with LBP.

Exploring the benefits of therapeutic horticulture in patients in gynecologic oncology: A pilot study.

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Jhaveri, et al.

2023-06-01

The purpose this study is two-fold: 1) to determine the impact of TH on quality of life and anxiety for gynecologic oncology patients and 2) to test the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a pilot TH program for this specific patient population.