Horticulture & Gardening

Photo by Debbie Laverell, The Garden Workers, PA

“To want a garden is to be interested in plants, in the winds and rains, in birds and insects, in the warm-smelling earth.”

– Liberty Hyde Bailey, recipient of the GCA's 1931 Medal of Honor

 

GCA PRIORITY:HORTICULTURE & GARDENING

One of the basic tenets of The Garden Club of America's purpose is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening.

Gardening
Why do we garden?

Photo by Lara Olivieri, Three Harbors Garden Club

Photo by Lara Olivieri, Three Harbors Garden Club, NY

Photo by Kim Bishop, The Seattle Garden Club, WA

For Pollinators

Pollinators support our agricultural economies, food supply, and surrounding landscapes but there is increasing evidence that many pollinators are in decline.

Photo by Karen McCormick, Magnolia Garden Club, TX

For Birds & Wildlife

Gardens are spaces to protect and nurture wildlife, including those who fly in. Birds aid in pollination, spreading seeds, and insect control.

Photo by Jane Shafer, The Short Hills Garden Club, NJ

For Our Health

When the world gets you down, open the window and take a long, deep breath… better yet, head to a garden.

Photo by Kelly Armstrong, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton, VA

For Our Communities

We can enhance, protect, and restore the local environment—and improve the community—through sharing the knowledge of plants and gardening.

Horticulture
Horticulture is the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.

Photo by Ann Judd, Garden Club of Mount Desert, ME

GCA members clubs prioritize their time to help where it’s most needed. 81% work with local and community gardens, 56% around historic sites, 33% in partnership with arboretums and botanic gardens, 23% at schools, and 19% at hospitals or nursing homes.

Pollinators & Native Plants

We seek to nurture the knowledge and love of gardening, promote useful and valuable plants, and conserve those at risk. Photo by Kate Fahey, Four Counties Garden Club

Community Parks

Like Frederick Law Olmsted, we know there is a correlation between exposure to nature and well-being and we believe that everyone should have access to clean, green space. Photo by Christine Paxhia, Milton Garden Club

Knowing, Growing, and Showing

We support GCA clubs in their efforts to educate their communities in responsible ways to plant, propagate, grow, and show. Photo by L. Anna Forbes, Kanawha Garden Club

The 2025 Plant of the Year
Winner

Quercus montana commonly known as Chestnut oak or Mountain oak, is The Garden Club of America’s Plant of the Year.

Since 1995, the GCA has identified a stellar North American native plant to receive The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal: GCA Plant of the Year.

Explore More Noteworthy Native Plants

The 2025 Plant of the Year
Honorable Mention

Magnolia fraseri commonly known as Fraser magnolia, was awarded an honorable mention for The Garden Club of America’s Plant of the Year.

Since 1995, the GCA has identified a stellar North American native plant to receive The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal: GCA Plant of the Year.

Explore More Noteworthy Native Plants

The 2025 Plant of the Year
Special Recognition

Hamamelis vernalis commonly known as Ozark witch hazel, was awarded a special recognition for The Garden Club of America’s Plant of the Year.

Since 1995, the GCA has identified a stellar North American native plant to receive The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal: GCA Plant of the Year.

Explore More Noteworthy Native Plants