Horticulture Intern

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is looking for part-time Horticulture Interns. Interns will assist with

opening horticulture tasks, general maintenance of the tropical conservatory and outdoor pollinator

gardens, and larger seasonal horticulture projects.

Assists with opening tasks, including watering tropical conservatory and outdoor gardens,

clearing pathways, and tidying plants and beds in preparation for guest arrival.

Learns and executes many typical horticultural practices, including how to water, fertilize, weed,

mulch, plant, and scout for plant pests, using a variety of horticultural hand and power tools.

Learns and executes plant-specific pruning, watering, and maintenance techniques.

Practices plant identification of our tropical and native collections, as well as seasonal annuals

and weeds.

Observes plant-animal interactions and learns to identify native pollinators.

Interacts with visitors to answer basic questions and assists while entering and exiting the

tropical conservatory.

Assists with maintenance of indoor and outdoor ponds (includes waterlily care in the summer

months)

Completes a project to support our horticulture program, to be displayed as the end of the

internship.

Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to

Employee Handbook, Butterfly House Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.

Performs other duties as assigned.

The role responsibilities listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or

abilities required.

Currently pursuing a major in horticulture or related field

Past gardening or nursery experience is a plus

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Strong attention to detail

Willingness to learn and adapt to new practices, as needed

Ability to work on your feet in high temperatures and humidity

Ability to work stooped over for extended periods

Ability to lift 50 lbs

Lives in the Greater St. Louis, MO area

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden located in

Chesterfield, Missouri. The Butterfly House supports the Garden’s overall mission to discover and share

knowledge about plants and their environment by fostering a greater understanding of plant and animal

relationships to promote the conservation and restoration of natural habitats.

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is home to over 60 tropical butterfly species and over 150 tropical

plant species, in our enclosed 8,000 square foot Tropical Conservatory. This breath-taking garden

habitat, combined with the beauty of the butterflies, is the heart of the Butterfly House. The entire

facility, which also includes an insect zoo, classrooms, theater space, and a seasonal Native Butterfly

Garden, is open year-round.