Intern, Horticulture

Summary:

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.

Essential Duties and 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Core Competencies:

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  Communication - Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.

  
  

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  Collaboration - Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.

  
  

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  Accountability - Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues' concerns.

  
  

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  Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.

  
  

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  Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

  
  

Qualifications/Experience:

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  Demonstrated interest in public gardens and public horticulture career opportunities.

  
  

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  Basic knowledge of plant material and landscape maintenance techniques.

  
  

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  Basic knowledge of safe operating procedures of various landscaping tools and equipment.

  
  

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  Ability to work as part of a team to complete general projects.

  
  

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  Ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting, answering questions and working in close proximity to general public.

  
  

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  Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays for annual watering schedule.

  
  

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  Interest in living collections, curation and plant recording.

  
  

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  The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.

  
  

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  The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

  
  

Education:

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  Completion of or current enrollment towards degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany or related field.

  
  

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  An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

  
  

Computer Skills:

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  Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, Excel and Outlook Email).

  
  

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  Ability to enter data into spreadsheets and databases.

  
  

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  Solid internet research skills required.

  
  

Mathematical Skills:

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  Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and to calculate percentages and decimals.

  
  

Reasoning Ability:

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  Applies facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution

  
  

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

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  Must possess and maintain valid driver's licenses.

  
  

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  Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria.

  
  

Physical Demands:

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  Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment).

  
  

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  Must be able to work in bright sunshine with probable high UV levels and must be able to work outdoors year-round.

  
  

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  May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, lift operation, etc.).

  
  

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  Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time-- 80% or more of the workday is standing on feet

  
  

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  Ability to wear Garden issued Personal Protective Equipment.

  
  

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  Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).

  
  

Work Environment:

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  Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).

  
  

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  Actively works hands-on to complete landscape maintenance tasks.

  
  

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  Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions.

  
  

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

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  Garden employees, volunteers, guests, Green Industry vendors and contractors

  
  

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  National and international botanical institutions, government agencies, and conservation divisions

  
  

Supervisor: Senior Manager, Kemper Center for Home Gardening