GCA Medal Recipients: Medal of Honor

For his substantial contributions to horticulture, botany, and biology.

For being a leader in the New Perennial Movement who has changed the landscape in public and home gardens around the country.

Presented to William Edward Friedman for his research on the evolution of flowering plants.

In recognition of his dynamic leadership and innovative vision, which revitalized the New York Botanical Garden through ambitious capital projects, research, and program development.

In recognition of his revolutionary genius, designing gardens that paint nature with vivid compositions, where visitors enjoy the beauty of plants in all seasons.

In recognition of his visionary leadership of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and dedicated service to the preservation of tropical plants and their habitats.

In recognition of her vision to celebrate the American spirit at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, uniting the power of art with the beauty of nature in the Ozark woodlands. 

In recognition of her contributions to conservation, agricultural diversity, sustainability, and food security in the tropics through the collection, cultivation, research, and distribution of breadfruit.

For her sustained commitment to the preservation of American landscapes and gardens, passionate support to the field of horticulture and visionary leadership in conservation.

For his life's work of innovative thinking, integrating business expertise with environmentally sustainable practices restoring the soil and soul of Mother Earth. 

Presented to The American Chestnut Foundation for outstanding dedication to the restoration of the American chestnut to our eastern woodlands.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club, Zone XII

For seeking the unique knowledge of expert gardeners and imparting it in each dynamic and educational issue of The Real Dirt.

For his service to horticulture and his commitment to connecting people with plants and landscapes as the Director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

For their enhancement and preservation of horticulture through scientific endeavors, and enthusiastic support of American public gardens, historic landmarks, and civic events.

Horticultural educator, who taught at both Kansas State & Ohio State Universities for 32 years as a professor of Landscape Horticulture. He organized the Perennial Plant Symposium which became the Perennial Plant Association, as a method to provide continuous horticultural education for nurserymen and various national and international plantsmen.

Horticulturist, botanist, educator, author, leader and visionary. The director of the botanical gardens at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in California. His passion for horticultural and botanical education inspired his conception and realization of the Botanical Center, comprised of the children's garden, teaching greenhouse, library, laboratories, classrooms and offices.

An award winning garden designer, best selling book author and nationally syndicated television host. Through his commitment to public service he has created an educational program for children and hands on demonstrations, along with his passionate mission of inspiring Americans to embrace the joy of creating beautiful gardens.

Outstanding in the art of bonsai, in growing worthy and unusual plants, and in bringing together an unrivaled collection of American botanical history, you have made an extraordinary contribution to the field of horticulture.

The world's leading plant explorer, whose achievements as propagator, author, educator, speaker, and nurseryman have changed the face of horticulture.

For his service to horticulture as a leader in the affairs of the New York Botanical Garden and his outstanding contributions in health related fields.

An educator and professor of Landscape Architecture as well as the Director of the School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University from 1972 until his retirement in 1998.

Presented to Dr. Harold M. Pellett, a research professor at the University of Minnesota and founder of the Landscape Plant Development Center. Dr. Pellett is best known for his research into the cold-hardiness of plants which has widely extended the range of area where many plants can be grown. 

President and CEO of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden since 1990, and a renown leader in American public horticulture.

For his vast knowledge, experience and expertise as a plantsman and as a skilled plant breeder.

For his tremendous contribution to horticulture through teaching, research, lectures and writings.

Presented to Polly Hill, for her impressive contributions to American horticulture, which include the registration and introduction of seventy-nine cultivars in eleven genera, and for freely sharing her gardening wisdom and products of her breeding program with students of horticultlure throughout the world. 

For her contributions to world of plants and her dedication to spreading information about them throughout the world.

Garden Guild of Winnetka, Zone XI

Distinguished horticulturist, author, landscape designer and educator, whose talents and generosity have advanced the causes of horticulture, botany and ecology in North America.

An exceptional horticulturist who willingly shares his vast knowledge and expertise through a commitment to education, active research, enthusiastic involvement and outstanding publications.

Vice President of Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden until his recent retirement; a national figure in the gardening world. A horticulturist, botanist and plantsman, he has made lasting contributions to gardening knowledge with generosity and enthusiasm.

For her dedication to inspiring people's interest in horticulture. Her remarkable knowledge and enthusiasm has introduced an enormous number of people into the fascinating world of plants and gardens.

In recognition of his many years of collecting, evaluating, introducing and distributing new woody ornamental trees and shrubs; for so generously sharing his knowledge with the public and nurserymen alike in his dedicated endeavors to better the environment in which we live.

For her long and prominent career in horticulture serving the Philadelphia area and the nation's horticultural community; especially her outstanding contributions while serving as President of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, and for her continuing interest in the greening of Philadelphia.

For his undaunted research and patience in breeding a new strain of wheat, and for his continued efforts to mitigate hunger in the world.

For his long and distinguished career as botanist, landscape designer and horticulturist, and especially for his development and preservation of the Willowwood Arboretum.

For playing a leading role in almost every important activity involving plants, plant science and gardens in Texas, the Southwest and Central America during the past half century.

Nurseryman, master plantsman and naturalist, noted for his enthusiasm for cultivation, propagation and distribution of rare and unusual plants.

For his intense learning, exuberant, contagious enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge and dedicated commitment to contributing to the beautification of man's environment.

To a most distinguished botanist for her dedication to horticulture and her significant contributions through her study of tropical plants.

For his service to horticulture and a dedicated career for over half a century, culminating in the completion of his New Encyclopedia of Horticulture.