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                                                                     Exhibit 4.5

                                  $175,000,000

                              HINES NURSERIES, INC.

                          10.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2011

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                          -----------------------------

                                                              September 30, 2003

Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

         Hines Nurseries, Inc., a California corporation (the "Issuer"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank
Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set
forth in a purchase agreement dated September 22, 2003 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10.25% Senior Notes
due 2011 (the "Initial Securities") to be unconditionally guaranteed (the
"Guaranties") by Hines Horticulture, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Hines SGUS,
Inc., a Nevada corporation, and Enviro-Safe Laboratories, Inc., a Florida
corporation (collectively, the "Guarantors" and together with the Issuer, the
"Company"). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, to
be dated the date hereof (the "Indenture") among the Issuer, the Guarantors and
The Bank of New York (the "Trustee"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of
the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the
Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the Private
Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "Holders"), as follows:

         1. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than 60 days after (or if the 60th day is not a business
day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the
Initial Securities (the "Issue Date"), file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
(as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of
the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued by the
Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture (the "Exchange
Securities") and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities
and Guarantees (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6
hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective under the Securities Act within 135 days (or if the 135th
day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue
Date of the Initial Securities and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed
to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration
Period").



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         If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the
commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer.

         Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6
hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning
of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course
of such Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate
in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law
or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer)
to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United
States.

         The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities
(an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an
Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange
for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to
deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such
sale.

         The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that
(i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period
shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and
the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless
such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company
shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange
Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer.

         If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities".

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         In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

                  (a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
         of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
         appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

                  (b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
         30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
         notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

                  (c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
         Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
         New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

                  (d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
         prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
         on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

                  (e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

         As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

                  (x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
         and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
         Private Exchange;

                  (y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
         Securities so accepted for exchange; and

                  (z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
         each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
         Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
         the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

         The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.

         Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.

         Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the

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distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

         2. SHELF REGISTRATION. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within
180 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect
to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to
be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held
by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder
(other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange, the Company shall take the following actions:

                  (a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
         (but in no event more than 40 days after so required or requested
         pursuant to this Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter
         shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective
         a registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and,
         together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
         "Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities
         Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
         Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders thereof from
         time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth
         in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities
         Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration"); provided, however, that no
         Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the
         Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement
         unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions
         of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and, provided, further,
         that, with respect to Exchange Securities received by an Initial
         Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an
         unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current
         interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a post-effective
         amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the
         information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508, as
         applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph (a)
         with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed
         by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

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                  (b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep
         the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to
         permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the
         Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for
         such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the
         date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate
         when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i)
         have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted
         securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any
         successor rule thereof). The Company shall be deemed not to have used
         its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
         effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any
         action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not
         being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless
         (x) such action is required by applicable law or (y) such action is
         taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not
         including avoidance of the Company's obligation hereunder), including
         the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company
         promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 3(j)
         hereof, if applicable; provided, that the Company shall not be entitled
         to rely on this clause (y) for more than 45 days in the aggregate
         during any 12-month period and no single period of reliance may last
         more than 30 consecutive days.

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
         the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
         and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
         of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
         supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:

                  (a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
         prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
         Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
         if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
         Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
         from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
         Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its
         reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed
         with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably
         may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto
         on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures"
         section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C
         hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming
         a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the
         information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
         delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
         by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507
         or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
         the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
         Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
         reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a
         summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
         of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of
         any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
         13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer

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         in the Registered Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"),
         whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
         the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the
         reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of
         counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
         of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf
         Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders, who propose
         to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as
         selling securityholders.

                  (b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
         Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
         Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
         that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
         Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
         be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
         until the requisite changes have been made):

                           (i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
                  thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
                  Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                  has become effective; provided, that if such Registration
                  Statement is the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, then
                  the notice required by this clause (i) shall only be required
                  to be given to the Initial Purchasers;

                           (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
                  or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
                  included therein or for additional information; provided, that
                  if such Registration Statement is the Exchange Offer
                  Registration Statement, then the notice required by this
                  clause (ii) shall only be required to be given to the Initial
                  Purchasers;

                           (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
                  order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
                  Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
                  purpose;

                           (iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
                  counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
                  the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
                  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
                  proceeding for such purpose; and

                           (v) of the happening of any event that requires the
                  Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
                  fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
                  therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
                  case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made) not misleading.

                  (c) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
         obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

                  (d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
         included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
         at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
         post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
         schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
         thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

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                  (e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
         each Initial Purchaser who so requests, without charge, at least one
         copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
         post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
         schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests,
         all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

                  (f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
         deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
         the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
         prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
         Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
         such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to
         the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any
         amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the
         Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
         covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
         included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

                  (g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
         Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
         persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
         Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
         included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
         or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
         Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
         use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
         Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
         such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
         Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
         the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement.

                  (h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant
         to any Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
         cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
         respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
         laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
         Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
         or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
         jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
         provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
         qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
         then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
         general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
         is not then so subject.

                  (i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
         Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
         certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
         Shelf Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in
         such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may
         request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities
         pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.

                  (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
         paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
         which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
         Statement, unless (i) the Company determines in good faith and for
         valid business reasons (which shall not include avoidance of the
         Company's obligations hereunder) including acquisition or divestitures
         of assets) that it is not prudent to do so; and (ii) the Company does
         not rely on clause (i) for more than 45 days in the aggregate during
         any 12-month period and no single period of reliance lasts more than 30
         consecutive days, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a
         post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement
         to the related prospectus or file any other required document so that,
         as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of
         Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a

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         material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the
         Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities
         and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs
         (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the
         prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been
         made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and
         any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such
         prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
         Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer
         Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be
         extended by the number of days from and including the date of the
         giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial
         Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating
         Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented
         prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

                  (k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
         Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
         Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
         printed certificates for the Exchange Securities or the Private
         Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit
         with The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto under the
         Indenture.

                  (l) The Company will use reasonable best efforts to comply
         with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so
         long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the
         Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security
         holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the
         Securities Act) an earnings statement (which need not be audited)
         satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no
         later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if
         such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the
         Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of
         the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month
         period.

                  (m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
         under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
         and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
         qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
         appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
         appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
         of the Indenture.

                  (n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
         sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
         Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
         the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
         for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
         exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
         unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
         after receiving such request.

                  (o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
         (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
         and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
         shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
         Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

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                  (p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
         (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
         Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
         to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
         other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
         underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
         corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
         Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
         supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
         the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
         in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
         is reasonably necessary and customary for similar due diligence
         examinations; provided, however, that any information that is
         designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at
         the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
         the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent,
         unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or
         required by law, or such information becomes available to the public
         generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
         of confidentiality; provided, further, that the foregoing inspection
         and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
         designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
         Section 4 hereof.

                  (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
         requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
         its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
         Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
         underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
         opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
         being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
         include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
         the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and
         its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
         authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
         type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
         execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
         enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
         legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
         subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
         obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
         offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
         type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
         such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
         reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
         Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of
         the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf
         Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
         as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement
         and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented,
         and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue
         statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents,
         in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
         documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii)
         its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and
         certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the
         applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to
         provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any
         underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering
         matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in
         connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of
         appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by
         Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

                                       9


<PAGE>

                  (r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
         by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer who
         reasonably establishes that it is entitled to a "due diligence" defense
         under the Securities Act in connection with its offer or sale of the
         Securities, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such
         Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion
         in the form set forth in Section 6(c) of the Purchase Agreement with
         such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
         Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to
         deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a
         comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the
         substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase
         Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

                  (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
         be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to
         the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in
         exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be
         marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial
         Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities
         or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event
         shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

                  (t) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take
         all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities
         covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

         4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Mayer,
Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in
connection with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered
Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in
the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the
Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and expenses of one firm of
counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Initial Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the
Initial Securities in connection therewith.

         5. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof to
which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus
or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus
relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof;
provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to
the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf
Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) the foregoing indemnity
agreement with respect to losses, claims, damages or liabilities shall not inure

                                       10


<PAGE>

to the benefit of any Indemnified Party (or the Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer controlled by such Indemnified Party) with respect to any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon (x) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact in a preliminary
prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement or (y) the omission or
alleged omission to state in a preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf
Registration Statement a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, if: (1) a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be
delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act
in connection with such purchase; (2) the Company previously furnished
sufficient copies of the prospectus to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Securities to such person; (3) the person asserting such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities purchased Securities from the Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer and a copy of the prospectus was not sent or given by or on behalf
of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer to such person; and (4) a court of
competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that
the prospectus would have cured the defect in the preliminary prospectus giving
rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities. This indemnity agreement
will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to
such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their
officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided
above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors and each
other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any
such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus
or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus
relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such
Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically
for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately
preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or
any of its controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying
party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above
except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the
forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided
further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under
subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to

                                       11


<PAGE>

such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other
than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes
an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any
claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities,
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         (e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any
investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         6. ADDITIONAL INTEREST UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Initial Securities
shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (vi) below a "Registration Default"):

                                       12


<PAGE>

                  (i) If by the 60th day after the date hereof, neither the
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration
         Statement has been filed with the Commission;

                  (ii) If the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
         declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 135th day after
         the date hereof or, if obligated to file a Shelf Registration Statement
         pursuant to clause (i) of Section 2, a Shelf Registration Statement is
         not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 135th day
         after the date hereof.

                  (iii) If by 40 days after the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement is declared effective, the Registered Exchange Offer is not
         consummated;

                  (iv) If the Company is required to file the Shelf Registration
         Statement pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 2, the
         Company fails to file the Shelf Registration Statement with the
         Commission on or prior to the 60th day (the "SHELF FILING DATE") after
         the date on which the obligation to file a Shelf Registration Statement
         arises;

                  (v) If the Company is obligated to file a Shelf Registration
         Statement pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 2, the
         Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to
         the 90th day after the Shelf Filing Date, or

                  (vi) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
         or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A) such
         Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such
         Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable
         (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales of
         Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein
         because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
         prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
         fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it
         shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
         the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
         Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

The rate of the Additional Interest will be 0.50% per annum from the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of a Registration Default,
and such rate will increase by an additional 0.50% per annum with respect to
each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured,
up to a maximum Additional Interest rate of 1.0% per annum.

         (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly, subject to the provisions of Section 3(j)
hereof, and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration
Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however,
that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in
excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the
above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such
Registration Default is cured.

                                       13


<PAGE>

         (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest
payment dates with respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest
rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

         (d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a person
other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the
Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the
Registered Exchange Offer of a Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date
on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which
such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act
and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the
date on which such Initial Securities is distributed to the public pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act.

         7. RULES 144 AND 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of
Initial Securities, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.
The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Initial Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time
to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by
Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company
will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial
Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request.
Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver
to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be
deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the
Exchange Act.

         8. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

         No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

         9. MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

                                       14


<PAGE>

         (b) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.

                      if to the Initial Purchasers;

                      Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
                      Eleven Madison Avenue
                      New York, NY 10010-3629
                      Fax No.:  (212) 325-8278
                      Attention:  Transactions Advisory Group

         with a copy to:

                      Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
                      190 S. LaSalle St.
                      Chicago, IL 60603
                      Fax No.:  (312) 701-7711
                      Attention:  Philip J. Niehoff

                  (2) if to the Company, at its address as follows:

                      Hines Horticulture, Inc.
                      12621 Jeffrey Road
                      Irvine, CA 92620
                      Fax No.:
                      Attention:  Claudia Pieropan, Chief Financial Officer

         with a copy to:

                      Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                      695 Town Center Drive
                      17th Floor
                      Costa Mesa, CA  92626
                      Fax No.:  (714) 979-1921
                      Attention:  Stephen D. Cooke

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (c) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

                                       15


<PAGE>

         (d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.

         (e) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (f) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (g) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

         (h) SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (i) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.

                                       16


<PAGE>

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Initial Purchasers and the Issuer and the Guarantors in accordance
with its terms.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      HINES NURSERIES, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Claudia M. Pieropan
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Claudia M. Pieropan
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
                                             and Treasurer

                                      HINES HORTICULTURE, INC.

                                      By: /s/  Claudia M. Pieropan
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Claudia M. Pieropan
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
                                             and Treasurer

                                      HINES SGUS, INC.

                                      By: /s/  Claudia M. Pieropan
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Claudia M. Pieropan
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
                                             and Treasurer

                                      ENVIRO-SAFE LABORATORIES, INC.

                                      By: /s/  Claudia M. Pieropan
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Claudia M. Pieropan
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
                                             and Treasurer

                                       18


<PAGE>

The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

By:      /s/ Harold W. [unintelligible]
   -----------------------------------
Name:    Harold W. [unintelligible]
Title    Managing Director

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

By:      /s/ Paul Cahalan
   -----------------------------------
Name:    Paul Cahalan
Title:   Director

                                       19