About Thrive Horticultural
At Thrive Horticultural, we believe gardens are more than just outdoor spaces
In partnership with nature. Grounded in care.
Thrive is a team of horticulturists, designers and landscape specialists who believe a garden is more than a backdrop. It is a living system that deserves attention, respect and vision. We bring a balance of precision and creativity to every space, shaped by years of experience and a reverence for nature.
We work in partnership with the land and with our clients, designing green spaces that feel good to be in, function beautifully, and give back over time.
Local roots.
Growing strong.
Thrive began with two locals, a shovel and a vision to reshape how people experience outdoor spaces. Alex and Dale grew up immersed in the Gold Coast landscape, spending their days outdoors and learning how nature responds to care and attention. What started as a hands-on landscaping practice has evolved into a thoughtful, creative team focused on building spaces that give back to people, place and planet.
Our work is shaped by seasons, soil and story. With each project, we continue the quiet work of regeneration, design and care, building not just gardens but legacies rooted in nature.
We believe in doing good work, the right way.
A new kind of landscaping business
At Thrive, we work in partnership with the land. Every space we touch is treated as a living, breathing system, never just a job site. Our values guide how we design, install and maintain each project with intention, respect and quiet precision.
Our team shows up with care and consistency. We take ownership of every detail and treat each garden like it matters, because it does.
- Regenerative by design
- Integrity in every interaction
- Curious and creative
- Nature leads the way
- Always evolving
Real people. Expert care.
People who listen.
Craftspeople who care.
Our team is made up of qualified horticulturists, designers and landscape professionals who love what they do. We show up early, get our hands dirty and bring the right mix of creativity and know-how to every project.
Dale Rider
Co-Founder & Partner
Dale’s journey with Thrive began long before the business itself, in his mum’s veggie patch on the Gold Coast. What started as a love for edible plants and propagation grew into a career spent nurturing landscapes that feed both people and the planet. After years spent restoring a Queenslander in Brisbane, Dale returned home to co-found Thrive Horticultural with Alex Walton, blending horticultural expertise with heart.
Guided by Thrive’s core values of Ownership and Accountability and Work Hard, Have Fun, Dale leads the maintenance and horticultural side of Thrive with deep plant knowledge, creativity, and care. He loves seeing landscapes evolve into thriving ecosystems and sharing that learning with the team. A self-confessed comedy lover and cactus collector, he’s happiest experimenting in his own garden or wandering the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens. The same spot where he and his wife, Stacie, took their wedding photos.
Alex Walton
Co-Founder & Partner
With roots in bush regeneration, Alex built Thrive Horticultural to bring the restorative power of nature into people’s everyday lives — not just the bush. After years in the industry, he saw the need for a company that combined horticultural excellence with genuine care for people, training, and the planet.
Guided by Thrive’s core values of Never Stop Learning and Consistent Improvement = Success, Alex is driven to create opportunities for growth — for clients, staff, and the landscapes they nurture. Inspired by the lush rainforests of the Gold Coast hinterland, he channels that sense of vitality and connection into every garden, designing spaces that feel alive, purposeful, and deeply grounded in nature.
Stacie Rider
People & Safety Coordinator
Stacie brings a creative, grounded energy to Thrive Horticultural, blending her love of nature with a deep commitment to people and workplace wellbeing. A bit of a free spirit, she’s happiest getting her hands dirty in the garden or pushing her limits on obstacle courses and trail runs with her dog.
Guided by Thrive’s values of Work Hard, Have Fun and Never Stop Learning, Stacie supports the team’s growth, safety, and positive culture behind the scenes. Her favourite plants — from childhood snapdragons to iconic paperbark trees and even humble parsley — reflect her mix of curiosity and heart. For Stacie, the Gold Coast’s beaches and bushland are a constant reminder that balance, fun, and connection make everything thrive.
Sarah Tucker
Operations and Landscaping Estimator
Outdoorsy yet bookish, Sarah brings a thoughtful calm to Thrive Horticultural’s day-to-day rhythm. With cats at her feet, tea in hand, and an eye for detail, she keeps operations flowing smoothly while staying deeply connected to the natural world that inspires Thrive’s work.
Guided by Thrive’s values of Communication and Consistent Improvement = Success, Sarah ensures every team and client stays supported from the first call to the final garden flourish. A rural girl at heart, she’s happiest near a creek or under a canopy of trees — anywhere lush, green, and alive with the kind of foliage that reminds her why she loves what she does.
Jon-Erik “JJ”
Administration & Client Success
Originally from Wisconsin, USA, Jon-Erik brings a bright energy and meticulous eye to Thrive Horticultural’s office and client coordination. He loves balancing his passion for the outdoors with his tech-savvy side — whether gaming, hiking Lamington National Park, or exploring Moran’s Falls.
Embodying Thrive’s Communication and Work Hard, Have Fun values, JJ ensures every client interaction runs smoothly while keeping the team smiling. His favourite plant, the Venus flytrap, reflects his personality perfectly — curious, adaptable, and a little bit metal. With a love for laughter and the Gold Coast’s natural beauty, JJ helps make Thrive’s culture as vibrant as its gardens.
Luke Mitchell
Team Leader
A natural leader with a love for the outdoors, Luke brings energy and enthusiasm to every project he touches. Equal parts car enthusiast, driver–operator, and surfer, he’s as comfortable behind the wheel as he is shaping soil into something spectacular. His easygoing nature and upbeat attitude make him a favourite on-site and with clients alike.
Guided by Thrive’s values of Work Hard, Have Fun and Ownership and Accountability, Luke leads by example — taking pride in doing things right and keeping the team’s spirit high. He’s inspired by the strength and form of fig trees, especially those with sweeping buttress roots, and finds balance between the beach and the lush rainforests of Mount Tamborine — where his love of nature feels most at home.
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Join our passionate team and make a difference!
We keep it simple, grounded and clear.
We approach each project with intention. From first meeting to final mulch, our process balances creative thinking with practical precision, so your landscape feels considered, elegant and alive.
1. Consult
We listen. On-site walk-through, design brief and honest budget conversation, no surprises.
2. Design
Creative concepts, personalised plant palettes, and the groundwork for a thriving landscape, tailored to your site.
3. Build
Skilled, professional crews with a dedicated lead. Safe, efficient and tidy work. We show up and get it right the first time.
4.Care
Seasonal garden care and maintenance that supports your space to grow better each year, not just stay alive.
Awards & certifications
Endorsement is earned, not claimed.
Recognition is not the reason we do the work, but it reflects the care we bring to every detail. Thrive has been quietly acknowledged by our peers, industry leaders and long-time collaborators who value depth, quality and consistency.
Finlaysons H&T Award Nominee (Outdoor Space category)
Being nominated for the Finlaysons H&T Award (Outdoor Space) validates our commitment to design excellence. It reflects our passion for crafting enduring, functional, and beautiful exterior environments.
Fully certified, insured and compliant with trade standards
We operate with absolute integrity, maintaining full certification, comprehensive insurance, and strict adherence to trade standards. We build on a foundation of safety, reliability, and peace of mind.
Partnered with respected builders and regenerative-focused suppliers
Collaboration is key. We work alongside respected builders and regenerative suppliers, ensuring every material and method aligns with our shared values of durability, sustainability, and superior craftsmanship.
Trusted Partners
What you can expect when you work with Thrive
At Thrive, excellence is not an extra. It is our baseline. Each landscape we shape carries the clarity of intention and the weight of responsibility. From the first visit to the final planting, we act with care, consistency and a spirit of collaboration.
- Listening deeply to design with purpose
- We show up when we say we will, and we keep you in the loop
- Clean, respectful and mindful work on every site
- A horticultural perspective that protects and nurtures your space
- A grounded team who works hard and brings joy to the process
Thrive are brilliant, knowledgeable and communicative. They look after our acreage garden and have done hardscaping work too. Highly recommend.
Rachel K.
Homeowner
Ready to Thrive?
A great garden starts with good design. Ready to bring yours to life?