Floriculture involves propagating, growing, harvesting and marketing cut flowers, flower seeds and seedlings. It also involves bulb growing, nursery operation, chemical protection of plants, post-harvest storage and handling and use of preservatives.

There are an estimated 5,000 flower growers in Australia with the industry worth about $1 billion a year. About 10 per cent of production is exported, the rest being sold on the domestic market.

The national peak body is the Australian Flower Council.

Work in the flower growing sector includes:

• Growing and harvesting of commercial flower, flower seed, foliage and essential oil crops
• Management and maintenance of field and controlled growing environments
• Post-harvest treatments and production of plant products
• Wild harvesting and processing of commercial flower, flower seed, foliage and essential oil crops

Useful Links

Flowers Australia
Flowers Victoria
Wildflowers Australia

Qualifications and occupations

Bolding indicates a qualification appears on the Victorian Funded Course List, meaning subsidies are available for eligible students. Refer to the latest Funded Course List for more information.

Related qualifications include horticulture and production horticulture.