American Public Gardens Association (APGA)
The American Public Gardens Association is the leading professional organization for the field of public horticulture. We advance the field by encouraging best practices, offering educational and networking opportunities, and advocating on behalf of our members, our programs and public gardens worldwide. We work together with our members and others to strengthen and shape public horticulture, providing the tools and support industry professionals need to better serve the public while preserving and celebrating plants creatively and sustainably. Since 1940, we have been committed to increasing cooperation and awareness among gardens. Our members include more than 585 institutions, spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 24 countries. Our members include, but are not limited to, botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, museums, colleges and universities, display gardens, and research facilities.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Horticulture
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
About Us
American Public Gardens Association connects the field of public horticulture to strengthen collaboration and to enhance its impact.
- We have a 75+-year track record of convening and educating the public horticulture community.
- We provide a peer group for all types and sizes of public horticulture organizations and professionals. Members value the learning that enables them to thrive.
- Our members value the way that the American Public Gardens Association connects them to peers to form a powerful national and international network.
- We are proactive in providing best practices and resources for professional growth. It organizes subject-specific peer groups and provides frequent updates on trends and job opportunities.
- We spark insight and improvement across the field of public horticulture by providing a variety of in-person and online networking forums.
American Public Gardens Association protects our natural heritage and ensures the future of public horticulture through pioneering programs and advocacy.
- Our singular programs protect and recognize plant collections (Plant Collections Network; formerly NAPCC), respond to the threats posed by invasive species (Plant Protection Program) and address the challenges of limited natural resources and climate change (Climate & Sustainability Alliance).
- We recognize the power and responsibility of its collective membership – stewards of the botanical treasures of so much of the world -- and what could be lost if they do not have the tools and resources to remain strong.
- We provide resources that enable members to build strong futures for their institutions by making the case for public gardens.
American Public Gardens Association champions the role of public horticulture in improving the quality of life for all.
- We offer a unified voice for public horticulture. We publicize the work of its members in addressing issues from the role of public gardens in the nation’s economy to their role in conservation.
- Our board members are knowledgeable, engaged leaders in the field.
- Executive Director Casey Sclar is a seasoned and trusted leader in public horticulture who has served the field in many ways. He speaks on behalf of the field of public horticulture on its roles in strengthening the economy, education, and conservation.
American Public Gardens Association serves public gardens and advances them as leaders, advocates, and innovators.
Vision StatementA world where public gardens are indispensable.
Who we are
American Public Gardens Association serves public gardens and advances them as leaders, advocates, and innovators.
Vision StatementA world where public gardens are indispensable.
Diversity and Inclusion Policy StatementThe American Public Gardens Association is committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated. The Association also seeks to encourage and support its members in creating this same culture within their own institutions.
Just as the gardens and landscapes we present are biologically diverse and engaging, we seek to consistently re-examine our professional values, modify our existing practices and remove barriers to being diverse and inclusive.
To learn more, visit the Employee Development, Diversity, & Inclusion Attribute of the Public Gardens Sustainability Index on our website here.
Who We AreThe American Public Gardens Association is the leading professional organization for the field of public horticulture. We advance the field by encouraging best practices, offering educational and networking opportunities, and advocating on behalf of our members, our programs and public gardens worldwide. We work together with our members and others to strengthen and shape public horticulture, providing the tools and support industry professionals need to better serve the public while preserving and celebrating plants creatively and sustainably.
Since 1940, we have been committed to increasing cooperation and awareness among gardens. Our members include more than 600 institutions, spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 24 countries. Our members include, but are not limited to, botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, museums, colleges and universities, display gardens, and research facilities.