Garden Media Group announces seventh annual Women in Horticulture Week

Garden Media Group is celebrating the contributions of women in horticulture, inspiring the next generation and building a more inclusive and resilient industry during the seventh annual Women in Horticulture Week, May 24 to 30, 2026.

“Women in Horticulture Week is our opportunity to recognize the incredible mentors, role models and changemakers in our field, including my mother, who paved the way for so many,” said Katie Dubow, president of the women-led Garden Media Group. “Our industry has every opportunity to harness the energy of female leaders and create lasting pathways for them to be entrepreneurs in horticulture.”

Women-owned businesses now generate $3.3 trillion in revenue and make up nearly 40% of all U.S. businesses. Female entrepreneurs are now responsible for 49% of all new businesses, a 69% increase from 2019.

The number of women-owned businesses grew 43.5% faster than men-owned businesses from 2019 to 2024.

Across global venture capital in 2024, about 2.3% of total VC dollars went to female-only founding teams, yet those companies consistently outperform their male-founded counterparts on capital efficiency. Women now make up nearly half of all angel investors, and 46% of businesses seeking angel capital are women-owned.

“Diversity is more than gender — it includes age, socioeconomic background and ethnicity,” said Jazmin Albarran, executive director at Seed Your Future. “Bringing different perspectives into our industry strengthens teams, fosters innovation and better reflects the diverse consumers we serve.”

How to participate in Women in Horticulture Week 2026

• Share your story and highlight inspiring women in business to motivate others.
• Mentor or volunteer to support aspiring female horticulturists and entrepreneurs.
• Attend the NJNLA Women in Horticulture Meeting on June 3 at Timothy's Center for Gardening.
• Attend the Women in Horticulture series hosted by AmericanHort, including the luncheon on July 13 at Cultivate'26.
• Join the new LinkedIn community WiH group, led by Megan Morrison.
• Support the movement on social media by updating your profile picture and using #WomenInHort to share stories and recognition.

“Women are at the forefront of shaping a greener and more innovative future,” said Corrina Stellitano Andrews, director of marketing at Plant Development Services, Inc. “Through workforce development, industry-leading research and community investment, we are driving meaningful change. And most importantly, we’re inspiring the next generation of leaders in horticulture.”

Nominations are also open for Rooted & Rising, a women’s leadership development program created specifically for women in horticulture. Learn more and nominate a woman here.