A horticulturist is someone who is skilled in the science of cultivating, managing, and propagating plants. They use their knowledge to provide advice to fruit, vegetable, and flower growers and farmers, or to design gardens and landscapes in a way that maintains a healthy environment for plants to thrive.
Horticulturists might work in various settings, including botanical gardens, agricultural organisations, garden centres, nursery operations, landscape design companies, and government agencies.
Depending on where they work, a horticulturist’s daily duties can include:
The best courses for learning horticulture in Australia are the Certificate II and Certificate III in Horticulture. These nationally recognised qualifications prepare you with all the essential information you need to begin your career as a horticulturist.
This course prepares you for a career in horticulture by teaching you the fundamentals. You will be able to choose an area of specialisation, including nursery, parks and gardens, and landscaping. The course covers subjects like:
The course is self-paced and can be completed in around 18 months. Upon completion, you can apply for roles like Crop Worker, Gardener, Horticulturist Assistant, Nursery Assistant, or Landscaping Assistant.
This more advanced course builds on the fundamentals taught in the Certificate II in Horticulture and also includes a workplace project that provides valuable practical experience in a real-world setting under the guidance of an expert. The course covers topics such as:
The course is self-paced and can be completed in around 24 months. Upon successful completion, you can apply for roles such as Landscape Assistant or Horticulturist.
According to current resources, the average annual salary for horticulturists in Australia is $66,295, or $34 per hour. Entry-level horticulturists can earn $60,450 while more experienced positions can offer up to $77,218 per year.
This is an example career path to becoming a horticulturist in Australia:
Depending on which branch of horticulture you choose to specialise in, and where you want your career path to head, you may require different skills. That said, these are some important horticulture skills:
As a horticulturist, you will be spending the majority of your time in the garden, talking about plants, tending to plants, and researching plants. A love of nature and ability to get your hands dirty is therefore essential, as is the desire to promote sustainable work practices.
Horticulturists must have an in-depth knowledge of plants and what they need in order to thrive. This includes nutrition, water requirements, environmental tolerances, and growth habits. They must know how to identify plant species and spot signs of disease or infestation, how to care for plants, and how to propagate plants.
If you choose to follow a more research-based horticulturist career path, then you may need the ability to research and analyse information. This can help you develop new plant varieties, improve cultivation techniques, or simply build on your existing knowledge.
It’s important for horticulturists to communicate complex plant information to audiences who may not be as well-versed in the science, such as gardeners, landscape designers, or farmers.
Horticulture is an extremely rewarding career and it can be very fulfilling to spend your days working in the garden or tending to plants. That said, there can be some challenges to the role. For example, it can occasionally be physically demanding with lots of bending over, kneeling, and working outdoors in less than optimal weather conditions.
It’s also important to be able to carry a wide breadth of knowledge so that you can identify different plant species and know how to care for each one individually. If you don’t have the ability to retain large amounts of information, this can be a difficult aspect to the role.
Many people think a love of gardening is all that’s needed, however studying a course is essential to building the foundational knowledge required to forge a career as a horticulturist.
You’ll not only learn about various plants, growing techniques, treating weeds & diseases, environmental sustainability, soil sampling and testing, but also how you can develop specialisations in various areas and pursue different career paths. The Certificate III in Horticulture, particularly, also includes a valuable work project conducted on-site that provides important practical experience in the field.
Absolutely! Online horticulture courses are the best way to study for several reasons:
Horticulture is a fantastic career for anyone who loves working with plants and is passionate about nature. You’ll spend the majority of your time in the garden, tending to plants, and advising growers and farmers on best practices. At the end of the day, you’ll feel fulfilled knowing you are helping create thriving natural environments that not only look beautiful but are also cultivated sustainably.
Ready to cultivate your passion for plants and kickstart your thriving horticulture career? Start by exploring our online horticulture courses on this page, and enrol as soon as tomorrow!
Learn more about Horticulture Courses in your area.