1830 AWARD | CHS Hort

The 1830 Award

for Horticultural Excellence & Service

Celebrating the People Who Enrich Charleston's Gardens, Landscapes & Horticultural Traditions

The Charleston Horticultural Society's 1830 Award for Horticultural Excellence & Service recognizes an individual, organization, or collaborative group whose exceptional contributions have enriched horticulture in Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry.

NOMINATE SOMEONE

Nominations open NOW - November 27, 2026

WHAT DOES THE AWARD CELEBRATE?

Recognizing Those Who Make a Lasting Difference

The 1830 Award honors those who embody the spirit of The HORT through exceptional contributions to horticulture and the Lowcountry community.

Horticultural Excellence & Vision

Outstanding horticultural knowledge, achievement, creativity, and innovative thinking.

Stewardship & Preservation

Care and protection of our gardens, landscapes, plants, ecosystems, horticultural traditions, and history.

Education & Future Generations

Sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and inspiring those who will carry horticulture forward.

Service & Community Impact

Meaningful service that strengthens Charleston's horticultural community and enriches the people and places of the Lowcountry.

Who Can Be Nominated?

The 1830 Award is open to anyone whose work or service has substantially advanced horticulture in Charleston or the broader Lowcountry of South Carolina. Nominees may demonstrate their connection to the region through their work, service, research, gardens, educational activities, or community involvement.

Nominees may include:

Botanists, arborists & plant scientists
Community horticultural leaders
Garden designers & landscape professionals
Gardeners & plantspeople
Garden educators & mentors
Garden historians
Landscape architect
Nursery & garden professionals
Nonprofit organizations & community groups
Professional horticulturists
Preservationists
Teachers & youth educators
Volunteers

A Few Things to Know

HORT membership is not required to be nominated. The Award may recognize a living individual or organization and, in exceptional circumstances, may be presented posthumously. Self-nominations are generally not accepted, although organizations may nominate themselves.

Submitting a nomination is a privilege of HORT membership.

Nomination Timeline

SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

Nominations Open

NOVEMBER 27, 2026

Nominations Close

DECEMBER 2026

Selection Committee Review

JANUARY 11, 2026

Award Presentation

The recipient will be announced and recognized at the January 11 Cultivating Minds Lecture, followed by a celebratory reception. Because the recognition is intended to be a surprise, all nominations and the selection process will remain confidential until the announcement.

READY TO NOMINATE?

What you'll need to submit:

Nominee Information
- Name and contact information
Nominator Information
- Your name and contact information
Connection to the Lowcountry
- How the nominee is connected to Charleston and Lowcountry horticulture
Contributions & Impact
- A description of the nominee's work and specific examples of achievement or impact
Spirit of the Award
- Why the nominee reflects the values and spirit of the 1830 Award
Optional Supporting Materials
- Photographs, testimonials, publications, websites, or other relevant materials

Help Us Tell Their Story

Specific examples are especially helpful. Tell us what the nominee has done, who or what has benefited, and why the contribution matters.

Nominations close November 27, 2026

NOMINATE SOMEONE VIEW SELECTION CRITERIA

A Tradition Rooted in 1830

Connecting Charleston's Horticultural Past & Future

The 1830 Award for Horticultural Excellence & Service connects today's horticultural community with Charleston's rich horticultural history.

The Charleston Horticultural Society was founded in 2000 and established the Award in 2005. Its medal was inspired by an earlier horticultural award presented by the original Horticultural Society of Charleston, founded in 1830 and active until the 1860s.

Designed in 2005 by HORT founding board member Karl Beckwith Smith, the modern medal features the Atamasco lily (Zephyranthes atamasco), a plant native to South Carolina, and builds upon the design of the historic medal now displayed at The Charleston Museum.

In reviving this tradition, The HORT honors the vision of Charleston's early horticultural leaders while recognizing those shaping the future of horticulture in the Lowcountry today.

A Legacy of Horticultural Excellence

Since the modern award was established in 2005, The HORT has recognized individuals whose knowledge, service, creativity, and dedication have made a lasting contribution to horticulture in Charleston and the Lowcountry.