Horticulture staff at public gardens are key stewards of one our most valuable assets: our living collections. Finding, hiring, and retaining these skilled horticulture staff, however, is becoming more difficult.

Formal horticulture training programs are drying up; competition in the labor market is high; and gardens themselves don’t always have the time, resources, or infrastructure in place to support regular training or professional development. Entry-level horticulturists may not come in with the foundation of knowledge needed to effectively care for living collections, and experienced garden staff may not have the time to devote to developing consistent, comprehensive training programs.

To address these issues, The Morton Arboretum has been awarded a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to develop a foundational curriculum for horticulture staff that will be applicable across the public garden industry. During the grant period, participating public gardens and arboreta will have free access to training materials through Arborversity, The Morton Arboretum’s online learning management system.

At the end of this three-year, grant-funded program, we will have developed:

• A curriculum, co-created with professionals from across the country, that captures a shared understanding of the basic skills necessary for horticulture roles at public gardens (Phase 1, fall 2024-summer 2025);
• A suite of online courses, in-person training guides and checklists, and other learning materials to support that curriculum (Phase 2, summer 2025-summer 2027); and
• Three model sites, developed in tandem with garden partners that demonstrate the capabilities of customizing the Arborversity platform (Phase 3, winter 2025-summer 2027).

How Can I Get Involved?

If you manage horticulture staff at a public garden or arboreta (or if you are otherwise responsible for making decisions related to training for horticulture staff), please fill out our State of Horticulture Training Survey.

The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and will remain open through December 2024.

Project Partners