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RHS Level 2 Unit 2 exam course

Everything for the Unit 2 paper: Plant Science II; Planting Styles; Horticulture and Society; Biodiversity. Animated lessons, drills, flashcards and model answers, written for the 2026 specification.

30 lessons59 minutes of video209 flashcardsHandouts included
Photo: Ian Alexander, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Unit 2 exam has three sections: multiple choice, structured short answers and an extended written answer. Each lesson below covers a set of assessment criteria from the specification, and ends with an exam-style written question and a marked model answer.

Topic 5: Plant Science II

Leaf, stem, root, flower and seed adaptations, totipotency and growth habit

  1. 1Leaf adaptationsTopic 5 · Learning outcome 1 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3)
  2. 2Stem adaptationsTopic 5 · Learning outcome 2 (2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
  3. 3Root adaptationsTopic 5 · Learning outcome 3 (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
  4. 4Totipotency: new plants from leaves, stems and rootsTopic 5 · Learning outcomes 1–3 (1.4, 2.4, 3.4)
  5. 5Flower adaptationsTopic 5 · Learning outcome 4 (4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
  6. 6Seeds: dispersal, storage and germinationTopic 5 · Learning outcome 5 (5.1, 5.2, 5.3)Free lesson
  7. 7Breaking dormancy, and the soil seed bankTopic 5 · Learning outcome 5 (5.4, 5.5, 5.6)
  8. 8Growth habit adaptationsTopic 5 · Learning outcome 6 (6.1–6.4)

Topic 6: Planting Styles

Historic styles, heritage gardens, formal and informal planting, associations, uses, edibles and bedding

  1. 1Historic styles I: Renaissance to GardenesqueTopic 6 · Learning outcome 1 (1.1, 1.2)Free lesson
  2. 2Historic styles II: Arts and Crafts to modernTopic 6 · Learning outcome 1 (1.1, 1.2)
  3. 3Heritage gardens todayTopic 6 · Learning outcome 1 (1.3, 1.4)
  4. 4Formal planting and lawnsTopic 6 · Learning outcome 2 (2.1–2.4)
  5. 5Informal plantingTopic 6 · Learning outcome 3 (3.1–3.4)
  6. 6Plant associationsTopic 6 · Learning outcome 4 (4.1–4.4)
  7. 7Plant usesTopic 6 · Learning outcome 5 (5.1, 5.2, 5.3)
  8. 8Edible landscapesTopic 6 · Learning outcome 6 (6.1–6.5)
  9. 9Short-term plantingsTopic 6 · Learning outcome 7 (7.1, 7.2, 7.3)

Topic 7: Horticulture and Society

Wellbeing, environment, climate change, the UK economy and community horticulture

  1. 1Gardening and wellbeingTopic 7 · Learning outcome 1 (1.1–1.4)Free lesson
  2. 2Horticulture and the environmentTopic 7 · Learning outcome 2 (2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6)
  3. 3Climate change and sustainable practiceTopic 7 · Learning outcome 2 (2.3, 2.5)
  4. 4Horticulture and the UK economyTopic 7 · Learning outcome 3 (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
  5. 5Community horticultureTopic 7 · Learning outcome 4 (4.1, 4.2, 4.3)

Topic 8: Biodiversity

Food webs, gardens for wildlife, climate change, habitats, citizen science, policy and legislation

  1. 1Food webs and plant diversityTopic 8 · Learning outcome 1 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3)
  2. 2Gardens as places for biodiversityTopic 8 · Learning outcome 1 (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7)
  3. 3Climate change and plant selectionTopic 8 · Learning outcome 2 (2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
  4. 4Creating habitatsTopic 8 · Learning outcomes 3–4 (3.1, 3.2, 4.4, 4.5)
  5. 5Citizen science and recording wildlifeTopic 8 · Learning outcome 4 (4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
  6. 6Biodiversity policy and legislationTopic 8 · Learning outcome 5 (5.1, 5.2, 5.3)Free lesson

Across both exams

Sustainability and the three pillars; health and safety, best practice, equality and diversity

  1. 1Sustainability: the three pillarsQualification-wide outcomes · Sustainability (spec Section 3)
  2. 2Safe, professional and inclusive practiceQualification-wide outcomes · Health and Safety, Best Practice, Equality and Diversity (spec Section 3)
2026syllabus

Which syllabus we follow

Written for the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development, qualification specification v8 (15 April 2026), for exams from September 2026.

We update the course whenever the specification changes.