In 1807 he was appointed teacher of mathematics at Lund University, in 1812 appointed professor of botany and natural sciences,[1] and was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1817, and of the Swedish Academy in 1831.

He was ordained a clergyman in 1816, received two parishes as prebend, and was a representative in the clerical chamber of the Swedish Parliament on several occasions from 1817.

He was rector magnificus of Lund University 1819-1820 and was appointed bishop of Karlstad in 1835, where he remained until his death.

For instance, Liliiflorae contains 11 orders; Specimens collected by Agardh are cared for in herbaria including the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL), Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria[4] He devoted considerable attention to political economy and as "a leading liberal", he "succeeded in improving and raising the standards of education in Sweden".

The greatest part of his Manual of Botany (2 vols., Malmoe, 1829–32) has been translated into German.