[1][2] Jones was born in Victoria and in his youth was a student at Burnley Horticultural College, then the University of Melbourne, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
He was employed for 14 years by the Victorian Department of Agriculture where he helped develop programs involving the nutrient requirements of Australian native plants.
[1][2] Jones facilitated a cooperation with groups of both professional and amateur botanists which has led to the description of many new species.
Jones has travelled extensively and visited many remote areas of Australia in the search for new orchid species.
He is the author of more than 350 papers describing new species of orchids, 18 of cycads, as well as of other groups including the fern genus Revwattsia,[5] and has published many books on Australian plants.