About Us

Jackie Warburton

Passionate about horticulture, and proud to call Canberra home.

Terra Solarus is a Canberra-based horticultural business run by Jackie Warburton, Dip Des and her husband Bret Warburton. Together they’ve been working in Canberra’s gardens for over 15 years, building a reputation as the go-to team for everything from hands-on garden maintenance to specialist design, historic garden documentation and elm tree treatments.

Jackie is a registered horticulturist with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Her work spans the full spectrum - maintaining beautiful urban gardens, designing and documenting historic properties, managing government homestead gardens, and helping everyday Canberrans create outdoor spaces they love.

She holds a Diploma of Design from the University of Canberra and brings genuine horticultural depth to every project she takes on. Bret brings practical expertise and a steady pair of hands to the team’s on-ground work across Canberra.


Jackie in the media

Jackie is a weekly garden columnist for City News Magazine — one of Canberra’s most widely read publications. Her column is a favourite with readers who want practical, seasonal advice from someone who actually knows the Canberra climate.

Read Jackie’s City News columns

She is also a regular guest presenter on 666 ABC Canberra Radio, and has appeared on numerous podcasts including The Landscaping Podcast, On Garden Design, and Plants Grow Here.


Memberships & Credentials

Jackie is also a registered horticulturist with 20 years' experience in the industry and several notable titles and memberships, including:

  • President, Friends of Old Parliament House Rose Gardens (2025–current)
  • City News Garden Columnist (2021-current)
  • Guest Presenter, 666 ABC Canberra Radio (2020–current)
  • Member, Horticultural Media Association
  • Member, Landscape Design Institute
  • Diploma of Design, University of Canberra (2018)
  • Member, Australian Institute of Horticulture (2015-2021)
  • National Councillor, Australian Institute of Horticulture (2018-2021)
  • Registered Horticulturalist # 164
  • Member, National Trust ACT
  • Member, Australian Garden History Society
  • Member, Organic Growers Society Canberra
  • Member, Friends of ACT Trees
  • Member, Featherston Gardens, Weston ACT
  • Member, Horticultural Society of Canberra
  • President, Cactus and Succulent Society of ACT (2012-2018)
  • Committee member, Open Gardens Australia (2011-2015)
  • Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Card
  • Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Registered- 10501
  • Chemcert Accreditation

Media

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

Landscaping Podcast

With Joel Barnett, Episode 238, Terra Solarus (April 2025)

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

On Garden Design

Designing drought-hardy gardens

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

Plants Grow Here

Succulent plants are survival experts (Ep 109)

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

ABC 666 Canberra Radio

Garden segment, May 2021

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

City News

Jackie’s weekly garden column

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

Australian Institute of Horticulture

What is a succulent and what makes them different from other plants?

Bush Haven Article Jackie Warburton

Historic Bush Haven Goes on Show

Feature on the historic Huntly garden

Success with Succulents Jackie Warburton

Success with
Succulents

Horticultural Society Magazine profile on Jackie and Bret’s garden

Horticulturalist Jackie Warburton

Open Gardens Australia Display

Canberra Times

Open Garden Australia Jackie Warburton

Prickly End to the Open Gardens Scheme

City News

Sustainable Garden Jackie Warburton

A Full and Sustainable Garden

Good Food

Horticulturist Jackie Warburton

Women in Business: Jackie Warburton

City News

Jackie Warburton Horticulturist Canberra

Cacti and Succulent Extravaganza

Canberra Weekly (page 66)

Talks

2026

  • Australian Cactus and Succulent Societies Convention, Melbourne — Cold Climate Cacti; History of the Conventions and Get-togethers (April 2026)
  • The Horticultural Society of Canberra — Restoring a Heritage Garden (May 2026)
  • The Canberra Lakes Ladies Probus Club — Historic Gardens of the ACT and Surrounds (April 2026)
  • Cactus and Succulent Society of Canberra – Cold Climate Cacti (June 2026)
  • Weston Creek Garden Club — Trees of Canberra and the Region (June 2026)
  • Belconnen Garden Club — August 2026)
  • COGS Canberra Organic Growers Society — Propagation: How to Make Free Plants (November 2026)

2025

  • Horticultural Society of Canberra — Historic Gardens of the ACT and Surrounds (May 2025)
  • ACT Heritage Week — Historic Gardens and Surrounds (March 2025)
  • Second Canberra Garden Club — Historic Gardens of the ACT and Surrounds (July 2025)
  • Weston Creek Garden Club — England/Scotland and Chelsea Flower Show (June 2025)
  • COGS Canberra Organic Growers Society — Cacti and Succulents Q&A (November 2025)

2024

  • Bowral Garden Club — Elm Leaf Beetle and Garden Maintenance (June 2024)
  • NZ Cactus Conference, New Plymouth — What Makes a Succulent a Succulent; How to Grow Cacti in a Cold Climate; Euphorbias (March 2024)

2023

  • Cactus and Succulent Society of Perth — My Best Succulent Books for Australian Growers (September 2023)
  • Braidwood Garden Club — Adapting Your Garden in Times of Extreme Weather (August 2023)
  • Cactus and Succulent Society of ACT — Cold Climate Cacti (May 2023)

2022

  • Harden Community Garden — Succulent Talk and Workshop (November 2022)
  • Belconnen Garden Club — Succulents in the Garden (July 2022)
  • The English in Australia, Canberra Branch — Trees in the Canberra Region (July 2022)
  • Succulenticon, Cactus and Succulent Society of South Australia — Crassulacean Acid Metabolism; Growing Cacti in a Cold Climate (October 2022)

2021

  • Horticultural Society of Canberra — Some Classic Succulent Gardens (November 2021)
  • Yass Garden Club — Growing Succulents in a Cold Climate (November 2021)

2020

  • Cactus and Succulent Society of ACT — Planning a Succulent Garden (September 2020)

2018

  • Cactus and Succulent Society of ACT — Cristate and Montrose Succulents (May 2018)

2017

  • Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra — Hot & Cold, High & Dry: Growing Succulents in Canberra (July 2017)

2016

  • Yass Garden Club — Prepare Your Plants for Winter (July 2016)
  • Belconnen Garden Club — How to Grow Succulents in a Canberra Climate (August 2016)
  • Braidwood Garden Club — How to Grow Succulents in a Braidwood Climate (August 2016)

2015

  • Horticultural Society of Canberra — How to Grow Succulents in a Canberra Climate (October 2015)

2011

  • Cactus and Succulent Society of ACT — Pests and Diseases of Cacti and Succulents

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