In this issue of Hort Journal, we celebrate ornamentals and the people who grow, trial and champion them. We also turn the spotlight on women in horticulture, recognising their contribution across production, design and leadership.
My personal taste in ornamental plants leans heavily towards those that are also edible, so potted colour is usually not the first thing to attract my attention.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Corban
Running a business is not easy. The early mornings, the physical work, the constant problem-solving, the pressure of keeping jobs profitable, keeping staff happy and wanting to stay, and ensuring clients are satisfied can wear anyone down. If you are feeling stretched, tired or frustrated at times, that does not mean that you are doing it wrong, it means that you are in the thick of running a real business.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Jennifer McQueen
What keeps women in greenlife? It is not just plants. It is purpose, flexibility, shared knowledge and the quiet strength of community. In this International Women’s Day reflection, women from across Australia share how they found their way into the industry, and why, despite the challenges, they choose to stay.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Flowers are highly-functional green infrastructure. Beyond looking pretty, they can support both at-risk urban ecological communities and pest-suppressing insects such as hoverflies and micro-wasps. However, with gardens becoming smaller, it is harder to obtain a full spectrum of flowers throughout the year.… Continue reading
Read MoreIn spring 2025, the Greener Spaces Better Places program launched a national consumer campaign funded by the nursery levy.
With lack of interest overtaking cost as a key barrier to buying more plants, a new campaign has made the benefits of plants hard to ignore by linking them to property value.… Continue reading
Edimentals, those plants that are both edible and ornamental, are reshaping planting design by delivering yield, resilience and visual appeal in a single planting choice. This issue explores fruit trees, shrubs and other edible plants used well beyond kitchen gardens — in streetscapes, campuses, public landscapes and private gardens.… Continue reading
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The Summer Soiree kicks off the Australian Horticultural Trials Week (Image: Ludovic Vilbert, Inwardout Studio)
By Gabrielle Stannus
The 2025 Australian Horticultural Trials Week kicked off on Monday 1 December with a Summer Soiree held at KCC Park in Skye. The Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) announced the winners of its 2026 Plant of the Year awards during the evening, with Mansfield’s Propagation Nursery taking out the top gong for Corymbia ficifolia ‘Precious Pearl’.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Tania Harman and Daniel Knox
The Australian Government’s R&D Tax Incentive offers horticulture businesses a valuable opportunity to fund innovation and reduce costs. This practical guide explains how to prepare a successful claim, avoid common pitfalls and maximise benefits.… Continue reading
Read MoreHow one nursery transformed its business
Between managing orders for 3,000 trees a year, planning for staff retirements, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly, big-picture improvements like clarifying roles or tightening systems often
sit in the ‘too hard’ basket.… Continue reading
By Daniel Fuller
Australia is home to many plant species that have fed people for thousands of years. Did you know that the following ornamental species are edible?
Dianella caerulea berries are almost like little blueberries with pleasantly crunchy seeds.… Continue reading
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