L’Illustration Horticole, a monthly horticultural review, was founded in 1854 in Ghent, Belgium, by Ambroise Verschaffelt, a nurseryman who specialized in new plant introductions from South America. His editor for the venture was Charles Lemaire, the noted botanist, and cactus enthusiast.

Some of the most accomplished botanical artists in Europe contributed work to L’Illustration Horticole, which published full-page chromolithographs and woodblock illustrations. In addition to the sumptuous illustrations, L’Illustration Horticole aimed to satisfy the public’s demand for information about new plant introductions from abroad. It made a note of new horticultural introductions and included plant descriptions and histories, and culture advice on exotic plants such as orchids, begonias, dahlias, yuccas, and palms. It also provided descriptions of garden layouts, information on botanical expeditions of the day, and accounts of new scholarly botanical works.