A beautiful garden, a field of flowers, and greenery are a great backdrop for a perfect Instagram picture. It holds to most natural landscapes. And here’s why you should pay attention.
We have all heard about how important plants are and how we need to conserve them. And there are a group of people who not just work on conserving them, but also making the most out of it! They are Horticulturists.
Want to extend your love for plants and flowers into a career? Read the article on how to become a horticulturist, the courses and colleges you can apply to in India and abroad, the job prep required, and the salary insights.
A horticulturist is a specialist who has a thorough understanding of plants and soils and applies that understanding to the cultivation, propagation, improvement, or conservation of ecosystems for either commercial or environmental goals.
They also understand the physiology of fruits, flowers, insects, etc., and apply it to the field.
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To become a Horticulturist, one needs to choose the science stream and acquire an undergraduate degree. Though a postgraduate degree isn’t mandatory, one can pursue it to gain further specialization.
After the completion of Grade 10, one will have to choose the science field with subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB). While choosing an undergraduate program, one can choose horticulture, botany, chemistry or related fields.
Certificate courses are a good way to show that you have mastered a certain skill. Many certificate courses are important for entry-level positions and employment purposes.
Certificate courses are provided on topics such as nursery, production horticulture, floristry, etc. Kindly note, that some of the certifications are provided on different levels and require some prerequisites before opting for them.
Here are a few courses you can try:
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Nursery/Greenhouse Technician certificate by Oconee Fall Line Technical College | 17 hours |
| Wine Studies Certificate by East Durham College | 4-6 months |
| Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting | 2 years |
| Certificate IV in Production Horticulture by Technical Institute Of Victoria | 2 years |
| Certificate III in Floristry | 2 years |
Also read: How to become a Botanist
One can choose to do a bachelor’s in agriculture, horticulture, botany, or related fields. Post which they can do internships for practical knowledge and experience to become a horticulturist.
How to become a Horticulturist after 10th
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Diploma in Horticulture | 2 years |
How to become a Horticulturist after 12th (UG Courses)
During the bachelor’s program, you will learn about plant physiology, growth, and development of horticultural crops, biochemistry, agronomy, fundamentals of food technology, etc.
To become a horticulturist in India –
A minimum of 55% in 10 + 2 or equivalent from a recognized board and university is required to apply for undergraduate courses. A few universities have their specific entrance exams for which you are expected to qualify. (Example: HORTICET, CGPAT, UPCATET, etc.)
| Name of the course | Duration |
| BSc/ BTech in Horticulture | 3 -4 years |
| BVoc Horticulture Sciences | 3 years |
| BSc (HONS.) in Agriculture | 3 years |
| BSc Agribusiness Management | 3 years |
| Name of the College | Location |
| Horticultural College and Research Institute | Tamil Nadu |
| Annamalai University | Tamil Nadu |
| Lovely Professional University | Jalandhar |
| Chandigarh University – [CU] | Chandigarh |
| Shri Guru Ram Rai University | Dehradun |
| Anand Agricultural University | Gujarat |
| University of Horticultural Sciences | Bagalkote |
| Indra Gandhi Agricultural University | Raipur |
| DY Patil Agriculture & Technical University | Kolhapur, Maharashtra |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi |
To become a horticulturist abroad
Candidate should have a minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent in science stream from a recognised board and university.
They should also have a minimum of 2 references, and language proficiency tests such as TOFEL, IELTS, SOP and LOR.
| Name of the course | Duration |
| BSc (Hons.) in Horticulture (Commercial) | 3 years |
| FdSc Horticulture: Garden Design | 4 years |
| BSc in Horticulture: Food and Farming | 3 years |
| Bachelor – Horticulture & Business Management | 4 years |
| Bachelor in International Horticulture & Management | 3 years |
| Name of the College | Location |
| University Of Greenwich | UK |
| Durham College | Canada |
| Nottingham Trent University | UK |
| Aeres University of Applied Sciences | Netherlands |
| University College Dublin | Ireland |
| University of Alberta | Canada |
| McGill University | Canada |
| The University of Melbourne | Australia |
| Arizona State University | US |
| Illinois State University | US |
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One can apply for an internship during or after the undergraduate program. Companies or sectors offer internships to study floriculture, urban gardening, landscape design, etc. This would be a good time to identify your niche in horticulture.
Owing to the diversified growth of the field, one can choose multiple sectors to work on and build their profile around it with internship experience and certifications.
The portfolio would include your personal and professional projects, sample case studies, skillsets related to the area of specialization, images, etc.
Freelance opportunities are mostly provided by commercial and designing firms on a project basis. After gaining substantial experience as a horticulturist, you can continue to work as a freelance consultant Horticulturist.
Based on the role and experience the salary of a Horticulturist differs from one to another. Apart from this, the pay scale may also differ from region to sector of employment.
| Role | Horticulturist | Agronomist | Horticulturist Technician | Floriculturist | Olericulturist |
| Avg. Salary p.a. | ₹19 lakhs | ₹20lakhs | ₹4.1 lakhs | ₹4.3 lakhs | ₹5 lakhs |
| Country | US | UK | Canada | Australia | Netherlands | France |
| Avg. Salary p.a. | $41,454 | £23797 | $40,950 | $63,205 | €52,120 | €47,195 |
It is one of the jobs that offer a good pay scale and gives scope for innovation. Apart from the economical benefits, it’s a profession that truly contributes to society and provides great job satisfaction. If you are someone who loves nature and believes in nurturing and protecting it, you should definitely become a horticulturist.
A horticulturist is a specialist who has a thorough understanding of plants and soils and applies that understanding to the cultivation, propagation, improvement, or conservation of ecosystems for either commercial or environmental goals.
The average annual salary of a horticulturist in India is ₹19 lakhs.
After Class 12th one can enrol for a bachelor’s program in horticulture, botany, chemistry or related fields.
Technical knowledge, Communication skills, Planning and Management Skills, Problem-solving skills, Innovation, Analytical skills, and Time management.
To become a Horticulturist, one needs to choose the science stream and acquire an undergraduate degree. Though a postgraduate degree isn’t mandatory, one can pursue it to gain further specialization.
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