About greenlife
What is the Greenlife industry?
Greenlife is the foundation of Australia’s living landscapes – from the pot plant on your desk to the trees lining our streets and the seedlings feeding our farms. It’s a national industry that spans urban, peri-urban and rural environments, crossing all state borders and touching nearly every part of Australian life.
The sector is broad and deeply connected. It includes ornamental plants, starter crops for fruit and vegetables, and stock used in landscaping, forestry and revegetation. From commercial nurseries to city councils, greenlife supports food security, biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing.
A diverse industry with real-world impact
The greenlife industry is made up of small family-run nurseries, large commercial growers and allied businesses across the country. This diversity drives innovation, resilience and reach – powering everything from backyard gardens to national-scale infrastructure and environmental programs.
A growing contribution
- 25,000 full-time jobs
- 2.26 billion plants sold
- $2.78 billion in industry value (2022–23)
From cooling cities and managing water to improving mental health and productivity, greenlife plays a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future – especially as our urban areas continue to expand.
In 2022–23, the Australian nursery industry supported approximately 20,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs across 1,620 production businesses nationwide.
GIA’s role
Greenlife Industry Australia promotes greenlife as a practical solution to the environmental and health challenges of the future – and works to protect it through national leadership, advocacy and biosecurity programs. We support the industry through certification, education and strategic initiatives that keep plants – and the businesses behind them – thriving.
