Ruth Borun Horticultural Intern

About the role

Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, featuring year‑round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections, and seasonal horticultural displays. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums as a museum of living collections, it welcomes over 750,000 visitors annually. Principal collections include California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest camellia collections in the Western Hemisphere; a global rose garden; and significant presentations of lilacs, cherry trees and cycads. The Gardens hold the International Camellia Garden of Excellence designation. Operated by the Descanso Gardens Foundation (501(c)(3)) in a public‑private partnership with Los Angeles County, the $15 million annual budget is funded by memberships, philanthropy, fees and county support. The Ruth Borun Nursery and Propagation Center, established in 2022 via a gift from the Borun family, supports rare‑cultivar conservation, native‑plant propagation, and seasonal ornamental planting for displays. The internship is in‑person at Descanso Gardens.

The Ruth Borun Horticultural Intern will train in the propagation of camellia, lilac, rose, California natives and ornamental collections under the Manager of Horticulture and Nursery Horticulturist, then rotate through each section horticulturist. The internship runs from November 2, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (34 weeks, 30 hours per week, six hours a day, five days a week). The intern will work with the horticulture team to learn all areas of horticulture operations, contribute to collection sustainability, and gain experience in plant propagation, including writing a letter to the Borun family detailing their experience upon completion.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Nursery Horticulturist in maintaining the nursery and greenhouse through watering, fertilizing, grooming, transplanting, and weeding.
• Source, acquire, and propagate plants to support and enhance the Gardens’ collections and displays under the Horticulture team’s direction.
• Maintain and develop a propagation schedule.
• Assist with labeling and databasing protocols in the Nursery.
• Work with each section horticulturist (Camellias, Roses, Displays, California Natives, Plant Records) to develop a thorough understanding of the collections’ plants in their landscape.
• Assist with maintaining seed inventories.
• Maintain and develop propagation infrastructure, irrigation and greenhouse facilities.
• Assist section horticulturists in the development of seasonal displays and educational content.
• Lead volunteer teams in nursery assignments.
• Keep a daily work journal documenting projects and responsibilities throughout the internship.
• Write a letter to the Borun family detailing the internship experience upon completion.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable interest in horticulture and plant propagation.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Ability to work under variable weather conditions including heat, cold and rain.

Pay

$18.50 per hour.

Schedule

30 hours per week for 34 weeks (November 2, 2026 – June 30, 2027); six hours a day, five days a week.