Welcome to Garden History Girl, a resource dedicated to the women who shaped the history of gardens and horticulture — the designers, botanists, plant hunters, writers, illustrators, and ecological pioneers whose contributions transformed landscapes around the world.

From the medieval herb gardens of Hildegard of Bingen to the ecological planting revolution championed by Beth Chatto, the story of gardens is deeply intertwined with the stories of remarkable women. This site profiles their lives, their gardens, and the ideas they left behind.

Browse by Era

Follow the history of women in gardens from antiquity to the present day.

Ancient & ClassicalHerbalists, healers, and the earliest botanical minds MedievalConvent gardens, herbals, and Hildegard of Bingen Renaissance & Early ModernBotanical illustration and the age of exploration 18th CenturyPlant collectors and the birth of American botany Victorian EraThe golden age of women in horticulture Early 20th CenturyBeatrix Farrand, Vita Sackville-West, and the country house garden Mid-Century ModernLandscape architecture, organic gardening, and new voices ContemporaryEcological planting, the new perennials, and the present day

Browse by Contribution

Notable Gardens

Visit the notable gardens section to explore the places these women created or transformed, from Sissinghurst and Dumbarton Oaks to the Beth Chatto Gardens.

Getting Started

Not sure where to begin? Try Garden History for Beginners for an overview, or dive into the biography of Gertrude Jekyll, the figure many consider the most influential woman in garden history.