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
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Banksias and grass trees provide a uniquely Australian beauty to this garden (Image: John Fitzsimmons)
By John Fitzsimmons
If our theme this issue is ‘Ornamentals: Beauty that endures’ then surely, we must start by defining ‘beauty’ and that raises more questions than answers. On such a theme, just where do we start? Beauty is a subjective and multi-faceted quality that evokes pleasure, admiration or deep emotional responses.… 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 John Stanley, Sid Raisch and Dries Jansen
Doubts about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society are fading as breakthrough after breakthrough becomes reality. What was once speculation is now a demonstrated fact. Technology experts agree on the transformation ahead, differing only on timing and which company announces the next major advancement.… 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 MoreBy Gabrielle Stannus
A town planner by trade, Natalie Vallance has grown into the role of a grower with the support of her late husband and horticulturist, Steve. Together the pair transformed an essentially vacant block of land 50 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia, into the Muchea Tree Farm, a thriving production nursery specialising in Australian natives and Proteaceae.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Russell Larke
Public landscapes offer much more than visual beauty; they play a critical role in shaping how people experience and connect with place. They can tell stories, preserve culture, celebrate biodiversity and encourage people to think differently about the country they live on.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Patrick Regnault
Designing a garden that lasts more than a few years seems to be more of a challenge these days when compared to previous centuries. The fast pace of change and our desire for constant renewal accompanied by quick results are not conducive to a generational view of landscape design.… 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
