The rapid iteration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is reshaping the educational ecosystem of modern agricultural science. As the main base for cultivating regional horticultural industry talents, the horticulture major in local colleges and universities has long suffered from a structural imbalance in its course teaching content, characterized by an emphasis on theory over practice, experience over data, and production over management. Against the backdrop of AI, the teaching content of horticulture courses should transform from the traditional agricultural knowledge system to a "smart horticulture" knowledge system. This paper analyzes the current predicament of the teaching content of horticulture courses in local colleges and universities, explores the intrinsic logic of integrating AI technology into horticulture courses, and proposes innovative paths such as constructing an "AI + horticulture" modular course system, developing a virtual-real integrated teaching resource library, and innovating the case-driven presentation of teaching content, aiming to cultivate new agricultural science talents who can adapt to the development of smart agriculture.