About Us

The Southern California Horticultural Society is a forum for the sharing of knowledge and experiences in the areas of gardening and botany. Our monthly meetings usually feature a speaker, the Plant Forum table (where members can bring in specimens to discuss), and plant or book sales. We also organize social gatherings at local private gardens and field trips for more extensive tours.

Members of the Society are gardeners and professional botanists, nurserymen, landscape architects, designers, landscape contractors and consultants. They are just as often enthusiasts with no profession in horticulture. All have the desire to grow new plants and share the experiences of others. The Society does not have a specialty but is composed of people who grow an astounding array of plants and enjoy showing and talking about them with others.

Our Society came into being in 1937 and was composed of nursery professionals who with encouragement from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce wanted a civic voice. The ranks of members soon swelled to include those with no trade connections. In 1947 the Society was instrumental in the creation of the Los Angeles County Arboretum. 1949 saw the start of the highly successful International Flower Show that ran for many years in spring.

Scholarships/Internships

Scholarships and internships for students in botany and horticulture have long been a feature of our Society’s commitment to the community and the advancement of horticulture in Southern California. We have also supported a wide range of educational endeavors from science fairs for elementary students to greenhouses at community colleges. Here is a list of our Internship awards.

Horticulturist of the Year/SCHS Pathmaker Award

Each year we honor an individual with an outstanding career in horticulture as Horticulturist of the Year, and someone who has broken new ground with the Pathmaker Award. Our Annual Awards Banquet is held to celebrate their achievements and also bring together our peers and colleagues for a night of socializing and fun in a beautiful setting like the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club. The evening also includes our popular Silent Auction fundraiser with rare plants, books and unusual garden decor. Keep an eye out for our next event, usually held each year in the fall. To see a list of our past awardees, please see our Past HOTY Awards page or SCHS Pathmaker page.

Publications

A number of publications have been sponsored or published by the Society. Unfortunately, most of them are out of print. But if you are interested in trying to track one down, please see our Publications page.

The Southern California Horticultural Society condemns violence and injustice toward any person based on race, identity or belief. We strive to be a safe and welcoming space for all plant lovers that is inclusive and accessible to everyone in the Los Angeles area.

In solidarity with people of color, we have made donations to the Equal Justice Initiative and to the University of California Master Gardener Fund for Los Angeles County. We encourage others to support organizations of their choice that are dedicated to ending systemic racism and social injustice.