Last 35 years have seen a tremendous emphasis on their in vitro tissue culture and micropropagation, while the latter 10-15 years has seen a surge in transformation experiments, all aimed at ameliorating aesthetic and growth characteristics of the plants. Recent modern techniques of propagation have been developed which could help growers to meet the demand of the horticultural industry in the next century. An overview on the in vitro propagation via thin cell layer, meristem culture, regeneration via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis is presented. Available methods for the transfer of genes could significantly simplify the breeding procedures and overcome some of the agronomic and environmental problems, which otherwise would not be achievable through conventional propagation methods. The international trade in floriculture is estimated to be worth about US $150 billion, with the global demand for ornamentals steadily increasing. Consumer choice is influenced by factors such as plant architecture and flower color. Conventional breeding has been responsible for the introduction of novel traits into ornamental plants and has played an important role in the development of new cultivars. However, a restricted gene pool and failure of distant crosses have led to the exploitation of somatic cell techniques, particularly genetic transformation, to generate plants with desirable traits. Because ornamentals are not used for human consumption, genetic manipulation approaches with these plants may be more acceptable in the immediate future to the general public, in certain parts of the world, than genetically manipulated food crops.