About Us

Botanical Software is dedicated to rethinking plant records through user-centred design and technology. We believe technology should feel effortless, inspire new possibilities, and make it easier for botanical collection holders to achieve their goals in the vital work they do for people and the planet.

Hortis

Born from nearly two decades of experience supporting botanic gardens, Hortis was launched in 2021 by Botanical Software as a new kind of plant collection platform — one that goes beyond the traditional plant records system. By putting the botanical community at the heart of our design, we help gardens of all sizes unlock the full power of their data.

Our History

Founded in 2007, Botanical Software Ltd. was one of three companies behind the IrisBG software. Alongside taking part in software development, with a focus on mobile solutions, we led its global rollout and community-building. From six institutions in 2007, we grew to 170 across four continents by the end of 2019.

In December 2019, Botanical Software Ltd, Compositae AS, and Digital Forvaltning AS ended the IrisBG collaboration to better meet the challenges ahead. We continue to support our existing clients through our database and map hosting services, and what was formerly “IrisBG Mobile” was rebranded as “Floria”.

In 2020, we started work on Hortis, which launched a year later. In December 2022, Botanical Software joined forces with Species360 to expand our shared mission: supporting global species conservation across flora and fauna. In September 2025, Botanical Software resumed full responsibility for the development and support of Hortis. This transition allows us to focus even more on serving botanical gardens and advancing innovation for plant records, while continuing to collaborate closely with Species360 as a partner in conservation.

Our Vision

Our vision is simple: to empower gardens with the tools they need to manage their collections with confidence and contribute to global biodiversity conservation. The concerns and needs of the botanical community are the driving force and inspiration for all the work we do.