Intern, Horticulture

Missouri Botanical Garden • St. Louis, MO

7d

About The Position

Missouri Botanical Garden Horticulture Division is seeking to fill our paid summer internships for the 2026 season. These seasonal, full-time internships provide a hands-on learning experience for students or early-career professionals interested in exploring career opportunities within public horticulture. Interns will work directly with staff to assist with the design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes and individual plants while learning the highest standards of care.

Requirements

• Demonstrated interest in public gardens and public horticulture career opportunities.
• Basic knowledge of plant material and landscape maintenance techniques.
• Basic knowledge of safe operating procedures of various landscaping tools and equipment.
• Ability to work as part of a team to complete general projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting, answering questions and working in close proximity to general public.
• Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays for annual watering schedule.
• Interest in living collections, curation and plant recording.
• Completion of or current enrollment towards degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany or related field.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, Excel and Outlook Email).
• Ability to enter data into spreadsheets and databases.
• Solid internet research skills required.
• Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and to calculate percentages and decimals.
• Applies facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution
• Must possess and maintain valid driver’s licenses.
• Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment).
• Must be able to work in bright sunshine with probable high UV levels and must be able to work outdoors year-round.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, lift operation, etc.).
• Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time-- 80% or more of the workday is standing on feet
• Ability to wear Garden issued Personal Protective Equipment.
• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100°F as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).
• Actively works hands-on to complete landscape maintenance tasks.
• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions.

Responsibilities

• Performs a wide range of landscape maintenance tasks important to the cultivation, preservation, protection and transplanting of existing plants, including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, staking, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilization, pruning, training, and IPM.
• Collaborates with Horticulture staff to record changes in inventory in Living Collections Management System.
• Ensures that all tool storage areas and work areas are kept clean and tidy.
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed and adapts or modifies work methods to reduce hazards.
• Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately to supervisor.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees