AHS Book Awards

CELEBRATING THE BEST NEW GARDEN BOOKS

Each year, the American Horticultural Society honors outstanding garden-related book published in North America. These books are evaluated on writing style, authority, accuracy, and physical quality. Each of the winners is inspirational and informative, and many remain useful, go-to guides for garden enthusiasts for years to come. This year, three award recipients were selected from more than 33 nominated books published or released in 2024.

BookAwards

2024 AHS Book Awards Winners

cover of "Plants for the Winter Garden," winner of the 2025 American Horticultural Society's Book Awards

Plants for the Winter Garden
Warren Leach
Timber Press

Scott Aker appreciates how the book is organized by the different attributes the plants provide in the winter landscape. “That to me makes it helpful if you’re looking for, say, a focal point accent or a fastigiate plant,” he said. “I think for the average gardener, that makes it very easy to use.” Georgia Silvera Seamans said, “Winter is often an overlooked season in the landscape, so it was really exciting to read a book that has put so much thought into how beautiful the outside can look in the winter.” Brian Thompson was among several committee members who felt that the book had relevance for gardeners in many regions of the country. “I liked the balance between text and illustrations,” he added.

cover of "The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation," winner of the American Horticultural Society's 2025 Book Awards

The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation
Lindsay Sisti
Cool Springs Press

Impressed by the attention to detail, committee members lauded this book’s organization, accessible yet authoritative writing style, and top-notch images. “It’s cool that this book is both instructional and inspirational” said Viveka Neveln. “It really makes you want to try some of this stuff. And, I will say, it is laugh-out-loud funny in some parts.” Lucy Mercer agreed, noting that “the author’s voice is so fresh and so funny, it really just keeps you going.” She also praised the design and layout, especially the “beautiful, crisp images.” Christine Froelich said, “I was won over by the organization of it and the way the author ties everything together. I thought I knew a lot about houseplants until I started reading this book.”

“The care that she took with illustrating each step was amazing to me. I’ve been at this [gardening] way too long yet I learned things from this book,” said Aker.

cover of "The Gardeners Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region," winner of the 2025 American Horticultural Society's Book Awards

The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region
Rick Gray and Shaun Booth
Firefly

Committee members praised the book’s format and content, calling it a strong model for other regional garden guides. “I know it’s a regional book, but there was so much to appreciate,” said Christine Froelich. “The user-friendly organization and practical advice stood out, especially the details on which wildlife each plant attracts.” Brian Thompson was impressed by the depth of plant information and found the appendices particularly useful. “There’s a lot of great information packed in there,” he noted. Georgia Silvera Seamans highlighted the images, saying they provide a clear view of plant parts—flowers, seeds, and foliage. She also emphasized the importance of regional guides, encouraging more authors to focus on native plants in specific areas.”

cover of "The Light Eaters," an honorable mention of the 2025 American Horticultural Society's Book Awards.

HONORABLE MENTION

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
Zoë Schlanger
Harper

2025 Book Awards Committee

Viveka Neveln, Garden editor at BHG.com in Des Moines, Iowa (Chair)
Scott Aker, Garden communicator and director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Wyoming
Christine Froelich, Horticulturist, landscape designer, and consultant, New York
Jim Long, Garden book author and nursery owner, Missouri
Lucy Mercer, Garden writer and blogger, Georgia
Georgia Silvera Seamans, Writer, podcaster, and adjunct professor of environmental studies at New York University, New York|
Brian Thompson, Horticultural librarian at the University of Washington

View all previous AHS Book Award Winners