Horticulture Courses
Horticulture is the science and art of growing flowers, ornamental plants, lawns, gardens, fruits or vegetables.
Horticulture is different things to different people. It is a science on the cutting edge of biotechnology, an art, profession, business, industry, hobby, way-of-life, and therapy for millions of people. Horticulture studies offer various career pathways including food production, plant propagation, land conservation/restoration, landscape, and garden design.
Examples of horticulture include the following:
- landscaping
- gardening
- growing crops for food, fiber, and fuel
- horticultural therapy—using horticultural methods to treat patients
Domestic
Students
As horticulture is one of Australia’s fastest-growing industries, creating economic, social and environmental value. To support this growth, the SA Government is providing subsidies to study Horticulture to domestic students to develop skilled workforce for the industry. For information on individual subsidised courses, see below. Visit www.skills.sa.gov.au for Participant Eligibility Criteria.
A career in horticulture
A career in horticulture means you will meaningfully contribute to creating liveable cities, and healthy environments and protecting the future of food security in Australia.
It’s all about the plants!! Horticulture covers all types of seed, plant, shrub, or tree stock, including but not limited to propagation plants, seedlings, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, nut trees, vines, and all plants in indoor and outdoor residential and public spaces.
While nature plays a very big role, there is an entire industry of around 3,000 businesses embracing tried and tested horticultural techniques, sensible science, and the latest in horticultural innovation to deliver over 2 billion plants into Australia’s landscapes, backyards, kitchen windows, and on to our plates. Over 25,000 individuals are committed to leading the greening of Australia. Will you be one of them?
There is a career pathway for everyone. A career path in Horticulture is only limited by your interests and motivation, many learning pathways can be taken including tissue culture laboratories, plant breeders, production managers, operations managers, soil scientists, growing media specialists, plant protection experts, plant nutritionists, entomologists, horticulturists, growers, garden retailers, landscapers, environmental scientists, communicators, marketers, logistics, television presenters, garden writers and radio broadcasters, automation experts, policy writers, researchers, academics and educators.
Why Study Horticulture in Adelaide, South Australia
Recognised for its excellence in environmentally clean, safe, and advanced production making Adelaide a key horticulture destination. Ironwood’s horticulture program allows our students to gain the skills and knowledge to become job ready in all sorts of horticultural positions.
- Adelaide is Australia’s 1st National Park City.
- South Australia is a major producer of premium horticulture.
- Technologically advanced and sustainable horticulture is a key focus in South Australia.
- Number one in protected cropping in Australia, with more than 700 hectares of greenhouses with a high number of professional, vertically integrated businesses across the supply chain
- Australia’s number one producer of onions and potatoes
- Home to Australia’s National Almond Centre of Excellence
- Home to the world-leading national Sterile Insect Technology facility
- The Northern Adelaide Plains (NAP) is a key horticulture region of South Australia that lies immediately north of the Adelaide metropolitan area. The NAP produces approximately 198,000 tonnes of fresh produce, generating around 20% of the state’s horticulture production by volume and 33% by value, with a farm gate value of $317 million. The area is renowned for growing premium quality vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, onions and potatoes. The region employs almost half of SA’s vegetable industry workers including job roles involving :
- broad-acre field vegetable cropping
- tree orchards
- high-technology climate controlled hydroponic systems and
- medium and low-technology poly and shade houses.
For more information visit https://www.northernadelaideplains.com.au/about
Adelaide is Australia’s 1st National Park City and the 2nd globally after London.
South Australia is a global leader in the production of premium, environmentally clean, safe and advanced horticultural crops.
Hear from Ironwood Students
Lindsey
Certificate III of Horticulture
Felix
Diploma of Horticulture
Heena
Certificate III in Nursery Operations
Marcelo Guerra
Diploma of Horticulture
Zoi
Certificate III of Horticulture
Hear from Horticulture Employers
Nick Femia
SA Mushrooms
Troy Topp
Perfection Fresh
Dino
Owner of Hi Fresh Virginia
Chris
Owner of Adelaide Plant Grows
Hear from Industry Peak Bodies
Dannielle Chapman
Executive Officer of the NGISA
Mark Cody
Primary Industries Skills Council of SA
Jordan Brooke-Barnett
AusVeg SA
Joy de Leo
ACPET
Grant Dalwood
Nursery & Garden Association SA
Karyn Kent
Study Adelaide
Learn more about the opportunities in Horticulture Industry
AUSVEG has created several deep dive videos that look into some of the obscure but vital roles in the industry. These videos show the daily tasks, responsibilities, and pathways within the Production Horticulture sector.
Why Ironwood Institute?
Outstanding Achievements
Ironwood Institute is an award‑winning education provider, recognised for excellence in Agribusiness and Horticulture training since 2008. We were named the South Australia Small Training Provider of the Year 2025. Our CEO, Navtej received an Industry Future Leaders Award in 2022 for outstanding contribution to international and vocational education in South Australia. Our students also shine globally, with students winning Global Footprint Scholarships(2024, 2025), and NGISA Horticulture Student of the Year (2022, 2023, 2025). These achievements reflect our ongoing leadership and commitment to shaping the next generation of green‑industry professionals.
