Pi Alpha Xi

Pi Alpha Xi (ΠΑΞ) is an American collegiate honor society for horticulture founded in 1923 at Cornell University.

History
After attending the 1923 International Flower Show in New York City, a group from Cornell University had the idea to start the honor society. Under the leadership of Professor Arno Nehrling, the Pi Alpha Xi constitution, ritual, and insignia/key were developed. Alpha chapter was installed at Cornell on June 1, 1923.

Pi Alpha Xi was established as an honor society for floriculture and ornamental horticulture but later changed to include all horticultural disciplines. Its mission is promoting fellowship, professional leadership, and scholarship and to enrich life through plants. Chapters are located in four-year colleges and universities that have horticultural programs.

By 1950, Pi Alpha Xi, chapters were established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Beta), Pennsylvania State University (Gamma), Michigan State University (Delta), Ohio State University (Epsilon), Rutgers University (Zeta), Washington State University (Eta), and the University of Maryland, College Park (Theta). The society's added a significant number of chapters during the 1970s. As of January 24, 2024, Pi Alpha Xi has forty chapters and 14,000 members. Its publication is the Lotus Leaflet.

Pi Alpha Xi is managed by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the ASHS annual conference.

Symbols
The society's name was selected to represent:
 * Pi (Π) – the first letter of polumathia, or scholarship;
 * Alpha (Α) - from the word anthemorgous, meaning to work with plants;
 * Xi (Ξ) – for zunoia, signifying the bond among gardeners, educators, and professional horticulturists.

Its colors are Nile green and cerulean blue, and its flower is the Nile lotus. Its symbols include the stylus, the Nile lotus, the Egyptian hoe, and the ancient vase. The motto of Pi Alpha Xi is "Always to Excel".

Its badge is a pin or key which is inscribed with the Greek letters ΠΑΞ and the stylus, Egyptian hoe, Nile lotus, and the ancient vase.

Membership
Membership is open to undergraduate students who are juniors and seniors interested in floriculture, landscape horticulture, or ornamental horticulture who meet GPA requirements. Faculty and graduate students are also eligible for membership. The society also issues honorary memberships.

Activities
Primarily, Pi Alpha Xi exists to recognize academic excellence. The national society sponsors the Pi Alpha Phi Annual Photography Contest, and publishes the Pi Alpha Xi Flower Judging Manual. It also recognizes Fellows from the Pi Alpha Phi membership for service or excellence in floriculture, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, or Pi Alpha Phi. There is a limit of 25 living Fellows.

Some chapters also sponsor field trips to horticultural sites and lectures with guest speakers. Chapters also sponsor scholarships so that members can attend the ASHS conference. The national organization matches local scholarships.

Chapters
Following is a list of Pi Alpha Xi chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.