Intern – Horticulturist

Job Description

Horticulture Internship 2026

Brookgreen Gardens is seeking Summer Horticulture interns. The interns join the Horticulture staff and experience the daily tasks and responsibilities of a public garden horticulturist. Brookgreen Horticulturists teach the interns through discussion-based learning, practical, hands-on experience, and field trips. This internship is intended to give real world training and understanding into the upkeep and maintenance of a public garden.

Under the direction of supervising staff members, interns experience a variety of topics including annual and perennial plant management, greenhouse operations and propagation, woody plant care, and more. Interns are required to set goals for their internships, which Brookgreen will strive to help them meet.

The emphasis of this internship is to allow students to explore the various facets of horticulture in a public garden setting. Brookgreen Gardens’ Horticulture Internship is pleased to offer an “intern-centric” experience that focuses on the intern’s growth, development, and understanding of horticulture.

About Us

Brookgreen Gardens, located in Murrells Inlet on South Carolina’s coast, is a nationally recognized cultural institution known for its botanical gardens, American sculpture collection, and rich natural landscapes. Founded in 1931, Brookgreen spans more than 9,000 acres of preserved wetlands, forests, and historic sites, offering guests a unique blend of art, history, and nature.

Duties & Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:
• General horticulture tasks include but are not limited to: planting, pruning, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and turf upkeep
• Undertaking of a garden project from inception to completion
• Working with volunteers
• Operating and using light duty work vehicles
• Training, operating, and using small power equipment (i.e. backpack blowers, weed-eaters, stick edgers, etc.)
• Attending regular progress meetings and professional development sessions

Education and Experience

Applicant Requirements:

Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university horticulture or related program, or have recently (within a year) graduated from one. Applicants must be legally able to work in the United States. All applicants must be able to perform strenuous work in heat and humidity with exposure to biting and stinging insects and poison ivy. This is a paid internship of $13.00 an hour with an expected 37.5 hour work week. Applicant must be able to commit to interning for a 12 week period. Applicant is responsible for providing his or her own housing and transportation.

Additional Information

Prior to beginning the internship, the selected applicants must successfully complete a drug and background screening.

Application Instructions

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in this internship and your horticultural interests and goals, a résumé, unofficial transcript, and a completed Brookgreen Gardens Employment application. Please apply either by e-mail to Human Resources at Humanresources@Brookgreen.org, format documents as PDF files, and put the subject as “Horticulture Internship”, or by mail to:

Brookgreen Gardens
Human Resources
P.O. Box 3368
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

No phone calls please.

For more information about Brookgreen Gardens, please visit brookgreen.org.