Le Jardin Français is seeking a knowledgeable, hands-on Horticulturist / Forager to support our floral design, greenhouse, and retail operations.
This is a unique role for someone with strong professional knowledge of horticulture and plant material who enjoys working outdoors and in the field. A significant focus of the position is the regular foraging and harvesting of local branches, foliage, wildflowers, and other seasonal botanical materials used throughout Le Jardin Français’ floral designs, retail locations, weekly accounts, events, and installations.
We are looking for someone who already understands plants, their health, growth habits, seasonality, proper pruning and cutting techniques, and ongoing care, and who can apply that knowledge both in the field and throughout our horticultural operations.
The Role
The Horticulturist / Forager is responsible for identifying, harvesting, transporting, processing, and caring for seasonal foliage and branches used by our Floral Design Team. This requires an understanding of what can be responsibly harvested, when material is at its best, how and where to cut it, and how to properly process and hydrate it for maximum freshness and longevity.
The position works closely with our Floral Design Team to understand upcoming production needs and ensure a consistent supply of appropriate seasonal material for the Boutique, UWM, L’Atelier, weekly accounts, events, and special projects.
Beyond foraging, this individual provides hands-on horticultural support throughout Le Jardin Français. Responsibilities include the care and maintenance of plant material at our production & retail greenhouse, company locations, and client properties.
Daily horticultural work may include watering, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, repotting, increasing container sizes, monitoring plant health, maintaining potted gardens, and identifying and addressing plant-care needs.
Our greenhouse and living botanical offerings are another important part of the position. This individual will support the production, care, and repair of terrariums, planters, orchids, and other living botanical products, including custom client orders.
Le Jardin Français also maintains orchid subscription accounts that require ongoing care, maintenance, evaluation, and replacement of orchids at client properties. A working knowledge of orchids is a strong plus, as this role may naturally expand to support these accounts. Experience recognizing orchid health, understanding bloom cycles, providing appropriate care, and determining when plants require maintenance or replacement would be particularly valuable.
The position may also assist with sourcing horticultural materials, monitoring plant and supply inventory, communicating needs to the appropriate team members, supporting seasonal purchasing, and working with vendors when specialized plants or materials are required.
Because horticulture and natural materials touch nearly every area of Le Jardin Français, this role works collaboratively with our Floral Design, Greenhouse, Retail, and Event Teams and may assist with floral and event installations as needed.
Foraging & Field Work
Foraging is a core responsibility of this position, not an occasional assignment.
The Horticulturist / Forager will regularly travel to established and developing harvesting locations to source branches, foliage, wildflowers, and other seasonal material. This individual must be able to evaluate plant material for quality, freshness, structure, seasonality, and suitability for floral design.
Harvesting must be performed responsibly, with an understanding of proper cutting and pruning practices and consideration for the continued health and sustainability of each plant and harvesting location.
The role requires physical outdoor work throughout the year and the ability to adapt harvesting practices to weather and seasonal conditions. Proper hydration, handling, transportation, and processing of harvested material are essential responsibilities of the position.
As the seasons change, this individual should also develop an understanding of what is available locally and when, helping the team identify new opportunities for interesting branches, foliage, flowering material, and other natural elements that complement the Le Jardin Français design aesthetic.
Horticultural Knowledge & Qualifications
Strong horticultural knowledge is essential for this position. We are looking for someone who comes to the role with practical, hands-on experience working with plants rather than someone who is beginning their horticultural education.
Professional experience in horticulture, gardening, nursery or greenhouse operations, landscape horticulture, arboriculture, botanical gardens, farming, or a closely related field is strongly preferred.
The successful candidate should be comfortable identifying a broad range of trees, shrubs, plants, and seasonal foliage and possess a working understanding of:
· Plant identification and seasonal growth habits
· Proper pruning, cutting, and harvesting techniques
· Plant health and maintenance
· Watering and fertilization requirements
· Soil, containers, and repotting
· Seasonal plant care
· Safe use and care of horticultural and pruning tools
· Proper handling and hydration of cut botanical material
Working knowledge of orchids is a plus, particularly experience with orchid health, care and maintenance, bloom cycles, and recognizing when plants need intervention or replacement.
The ideal candidate is observant, reliable, physically capable, organized, self-directed, and genuinely passionate about horticulture and the natural environment. Strong communication skills are also important, as this position works directly with team members, vendors, and clients.
The role requires regular physical activity, including working outdoors in varying weather conditions, standing for extended periods, bending, pruning, cutting, lifting and carrying plant material, and assisting with installations.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means becoming a trusted horticultural resource for the Le Jardin Français team while maintaining a consistent supply of fresh, healthy, interesting, and seasonally appropriate foraged material for our floral work.
We are looking for someone who brings strong horticultural knowledge to the position from day one while continuing to develop an understanding of the Le Jardin Français aesthetic, our preferred foliage and branch materials, our harvesting locations, and the specific needs of our Floral Design Team and horticultural clients.
Over time, there is an opportunity for the right individual to apply their expertise across additional areas of the company, including our orchid subscription clients, greenhouse offerings and other horticultural services.
Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on seasonal, client, and operational needs.
Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
