Learning with Experts

RHS Level 2 Certificate: Principles of Plant Growth & Development

£955






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You can buy this course through your business or organisation for individuals and groups up to 20. To find out more contact us

Course description

Are you passionate about plants, gardening, or starting a career in horticulture? The RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth & Development is the ideal course to expand your knowledge, whether you're a beginner or looking to take your skills to a professional level.
  • Accredited by the RHS – Recognised as the gold standard in horticultural education.
  • 100% Online & Flexible – Study at your own pace from anywhere in the world.
  • Ideal for Gardeners & Career Changers – Perfect for hobbyists and those seeking a career in gardening, landscaping, or horticulture.
  • Comprehensive Learning – Covers essential topics, from plant science to garden maintenance.
  • Expert Support – Guidance from experienced horticulture professionals.
  • Plant classification, structure & function
  • Plant nutrition & the science of soil health
  • Growth & development of plants
  • Maintaining plant health & understanding pests & diseases
  • Horticultural practices for different environments
  • Aspiring horticulturists & gardeners
  • Landscape designers & garden maintenance professionals
  • Plant enthusiasts eager to deepen their knowledge
  • Anyone looking to achieve an RHS-recognized qualification
  • Enrol Today – Secure your spot with instant access.
  • Study at Your Own Pace – Learn with engaging online materials & resources.

  • Pass Your Exams – Take assessments to earn your qualification.
  • Achieve RHS Certification – Open doors to new opportunities in horticulture!
  • Start Your Journey in Horticulture Today!
  • Enroll Now & Grow with Confidence!

Course preview

Overview of topics


This course provides a strong foundation in plant biology, health, identification, and styles, ensuring students develop a well-rounded understanding of how plants grow, thrive, and respond to different conditions.

It consists of two key units:

Unit 1

1. Plant Science 1

  • Provides underpinning knowledge of the plant, its structure and function. 

2. Plant Health

  • Provides underpinning knowledge and understanding of the effect of a range of factors on plant health. 

3. Plant Nutrition

  • Provides horticultural knowledge of plant nutrition and growing media. 

4. Plant Specification

  • Provides horticultural knowledge to make recommendations for planting based on matching plant need and site requirements. 
Unit 2

5. Plant Science 2

  • Provides an understanding of the range and role of plant adaptations. 

6. Planting Styles

  • Provides horticultural knowledge of the factors involved in creating a wide range of different horticultural plantings

7. Horticulture and Society

  • Allows learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of horticulture’s contribution to society, including social, environmental and economic. 

8. Biodiversity

  • Provides an applied knowledge of the roles of plants in creating habitats to encourage biodiversity. 

Student success

Meet the tutors

Dr Noel Kingsbury

Renowned garden designer and author known for naturalistic planting and collaborating with Piet Oudolf.

Dr Noel Kingsbury is an acclaimed garden designer, best-selling author of numerous books and long-time collaborator of the renowned designer Piet Oudolf. With a doctorate from the University of Sheffield he is a leading figure in naturalistic planting design and the New Perennial Movement.

Tom Cole

Experienced educator, horticulturist, BBC broadcaster, and RHS Associate specializing in land-based education.

Tom has spent much time delivering RHS qualifications at Capel Manor College. He is an RHS Associate and speaker, qualification writer for Pearson/ BTEC and marks RHS Level 2 exams. Tom is also currently expanding a small, but perfectly formed soft landscape and maintenance business. Aside from teaching, he regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio Essex with Ken Crowther and contributes to various garden magazines.

Chris Whitelock

Senior RHS Examiner, horticultural consultant, trainer, and former Head of Horticulture.

Senior Examiner for the RHS and a consultant and trainer for horticultural businesses and trade organisations. He has also inspected horticultural colleges for Ofsted and has been a Head of Horticulture for numerous institutions.

Ki Tong

PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and a chartered landscape architect with 8 years of experience.

Ki is studying for her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the design of outdoor spaces for older adults in care homes. She is also a chartered landscape architect with over 8 years of design and construction experience.

Stephen Millam

Horticulture lecturer and plant scientist with 20+ years of experience.

Dr Millam studied Horticulture at Writtle College. He then spent 20 years as a plant scientist in Scotland and is now a lecturer who has successfully delivered RHS courses for over 18 years.

Why choose Learning with Experts?

Start whenever it suits you, and immerse yourself in motivational lesson tutorials with expert guidance.
Enhance your learning and personal growth with lesson assignments. Each course includes an optional assignment at the end of every lesson.
Drop a friendly message or respond to your assignment feedback. Our world-class experts are just a click away, ready to help you!
Stay informed about your own progress and those of your peers, and take joy in celebrating achievements along the way.
Chat and share ideas with passionate communities of learners from around the world.

Frequently asked questions

What is an online classroom?

Our online classroom has been developed to allow you to learn from our experts in a sociable environment alongside up to 20 other students. After each video tutorial led by your expert, you will be encouraged to practice what you have learned with optional assignments - these can be seen by the other students in your class, who are free to share their own thoughts and questions with you.

You will be encouraged to take part in an ongoing class discussion where you can discuss ideas, post images or work, and comment on each other’s assignments. It’s a great way to learn from other like-minded people who share your passion from all over the world.

This means not only do you benefit from people who are outstanding in their field, but also from a close-knit group of like-minded people whom you can learn alongside. Group learning has shown to greatly improve not just the experience of studying, but also how well you retain the knowledge, and we have built our classroom experience around this fact.

When can I start my course and how long will it take?

You can start your course any time within 12 months after receipt of your purchase confirmation email. Once you start, you’ll have lifetime access — meaning you can revisit the lesson videos and notes whenever you want.

Our courses are designed so that you can study at your own pace, some prefer to binge learn while others like to spread their studying over a longer period of time - it’s completely up to you. To give you a rough time frame, each lesson video is approximately 30-40 minutes long, and we recommend that you spend around an hour on each assignment.

How often can I speak with the Expert?

If you opt for the Expert version of your course, the time you have to interact with your tutor is limited to course length. You will have one week per lesson to chat to your tutor and to have your assignments marked, and during this period you can ask them as many questions as you would like.

To find out the length of each course, head to the product page and look at the Course outline to see how many lessons it contains. e.g. a four lesson course assumes that you will have completed the assignments within four weeks.

Your tutor interaction period will start as soon as you enter the classroom. If you find that you are struggling to complete the assignments in the allocated time or you wish to put this function on hold, just get in contact with one of the team via the support button and we will help you out.

Support and full FAQs

If you need any help with a course, be it one you’ve started already, or one you are looking to purchase, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Support email address, or view the full FAQ’s here.

You can also use the orange speech bubble on your page to start a conversation with us.

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Awards and accreditations