Charleston Horticultural Society

What Charleston Horticultural Society does

Charleston Horticultural Society is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 2011 and headquartered at 46 Windermere Blvd., Charleston, SC, serving the South Carolina Lowcountry. Its mission is to equip garden enthusiasts and horticultural professionals in the region to cultivate community, resiliency, and beauty through gardening. The organization is led day-to-day by Executive Director Darcy Whalen, supported by a two-person staff (Marketing/Communications and Membership/Programs), and governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Madeleine McGee for the 2026-2027 term.

The society's core offerings include a tiered membership program (individual, family, and Business Partner at $250/year with an Emerging rate of $75/year for new horticultural businesses), the Cultivating Minds Lecture Series (free to members, September-May), the annual Beneath the Oaks Symposium and Plantasia event, hands-on workshops, online and in-person plant sales, the Patti McGee Memorial Library of 500+ horticultural publications, and a HORT retail store. Programming is anchored by the Atamasco Lily (Zephyranthes atamasca) as its symbolic foundation, refreshed visually in 2025 while retaining continuity with the original Karl Beckwith-Smith design.

Revenue is generated through a community-led go-to-market model: recurring membership dues, event ticket sales, charitable contributions and Lowcountry Garden Fellow recognition levels (Micheaux, Magnolia, Camellia, Azalea, Patrons), grants (notably from the Colbert Family Fund through Coastal Community Foundation of SC), and merchandise. Distribution runs through direct website enrollment, Constant Contact email (Hort Happenings weekly newsletter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channels, and ticketed in-person events at venues including the Charleston Museum, MUSC Drug Discovery Building, and the HORT Office. The organization serves three primary segments — garden enthusiasts, horticultural professionals, and horticultural businesses — with no disclosed adoption of proprietary technology or AI capabilities.

Name

Charleston Horticultural Society

Legal name

Charleston Horticultural Society

Website

https://chashortsoc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Charleston Horticultural Society is a Charleston, SC-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers horticulture education, lectures, workshops, plant sales, and community events to garden enthusiasts, horticultural professionals, and landscape businesses across the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horticultural Education and Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Home & Garden Hobbies (Gardening, Floral Design, Home Decor) (EDAAAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pruning, Deadheading & Plant Health Maintenance (Non-tree) (HSAIAFAI)

Keywords

• Horticulture education programs
• Garden community memberships
• Horticultural lectures workshops
• Plant sales events
• Nonprofit gardening society

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual, family, and business partners. Business Partners pay $250/year, with reduced rate of $75/year for emerging horticultural businesses in operation for three years or less.
2. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for events including the Beneath the Oaks Symposium, Cultivating Minds Lecture Series, workshops, and other educational programs.
3. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from donors including Lowcountry Garden Fellows at various recognition levels (Micheaux, Magnolia, Camellia, Azalea Fellows, Patrons) as well as grants from foundations such as Colbert Family Fund through Coastal Community Foundation of SC.
4. Plant Sales: Online and in-person plant sales offering members advance access to purchase plants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Charleston Horticultural Society is a nonprofit membership organization that delivers horticultural education and community programming in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Its core offerings include membership tiers (individual, family, and business partner), the Cultivating Minds Lecture Series (September–May), the annual Beneath the Oaks Symposium, the Plantasia event, online and seasonal plant sales, and access to the Patti McGee Memorial Library of over 500 horticultural publications.

Product overview

The Charleston Horticultural Society operates as a nonprofit membership organization offering a suite of interconnected educational and community programs focused on horticulture in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The core offerings include membership programs (individual, family, and business partner tiers), the Cultivating Minds Lecture Series (free member lectures September-May), the Beneath the Oaks Symposium, and the annual Plantasia event. Additional services include the HORT Happenings weekly newsletter, The Vine Online quarterly newsletter, the Patti McGee Memorial Library with over 500 horticultural publications, and advance access online plant sales. The organization generates revenue through memberships, event tickets, donations, and the HORT store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bartlett Tree ExpertscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner and sponsor of the Charleston Horticultural Society, supporting the organization's mission and programs in the Lowcountry horticultural community.
• Magnolia Plantation and GardenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member and prominent Lowcountry horticultural institution collaborating with the Society.
• Forvis Mazars, LLPminorOthersProfessional services firm providing IRS Form 990 preparation and completion support for the organization's financial filings.
• The Loutrel HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member and sponsor providing event venue support and community engagement.
• SeamonWhitesideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member representing landscape architecture and design services.
• A Makers PostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Allora Solutions GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Artis ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member in construction related to horticultural/landscape projects.
• Atelier LandscapesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing landscape design services.
• Big Plant ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the plant/plant nursery community.
• Blooms By BethminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing floral services.
• Brownswood Nursery & LandscapeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing nursery and landscape services.
• The Charleston ArboristminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing arborist services.
• Charleston MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing media and publishing services.
• Charles Quinn Landscape ArchitectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing landscape architecture.
• Cove ConciergeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Creative GreeneryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing greenery and plant services.
• Davey Resource GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing environmental consulting and resource management services.
• EcoTacticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing ecological and environmental services.
• Elizabeth Pope Landscape ArchitectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing landscape architecture.
• Elizabeth Stuart DesignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing design services.
• Four Seasons Management, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing property management services.
• The Hell Hole NaturalistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member and sponsor providing naturalist and environmental education services.
• Live Oak LandscapesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing landscape services.
• Humble Acres OrganicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing organic farming and plant services.
• Hyams Garden & Accent StoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing garden products and accent items.
• JR Kramer - ReMark StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing design and studio services.
• Nature WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Our KuleanaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Shoshanna RichekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Rita's RootsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing garden and plant services.
• Roots and Shoots NurseryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing plant nursery services.
• Julie RogersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• SkinPro StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member serving the horticultural community.
• Swell BotanicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing botanical services.
• Tidal Creek DesignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member and sponsor providing landscape design services.
• Urban Edge DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing urban design services.
• Wild Goose Flower FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner member providing flower farm and floral services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Southeastern botanical garden offering educational programs, lectures, plant sales, and membership tiers. Comparable horticulture-education mission and member-program structure, though operates a large physical garden at much greater scale.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: National botanical center focused on native plants, conservation, and education. Comparable educational mission around horticulture and native plants, though operates a physical garden complex at greater scale than CHS.
• National Garden Clubs: National federation of garden clubs with thousands of affiliates offering education, scholarships, and community programs. Broader-scale member organization with comparable core mission of advancing gardening knowledge and community engagement.

Regional players

• Brookgreen Gardens: Southeastern horticultural and sculpture garden in South Carolina offering educational programming, plant sales, and membership tiers. Operates a physical garden site but overlapping regional horticulture audience and educational mission.
• Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: Prominent Lowcountry horticultural institution and CHS business partner offering gardens, tours, and educational programming. Operates a physical garden site but comparable regional horticulture audience and overlapping educational mission.
• South Carolina Native Plant Society: South Carolina-focused nonprofit promoting native plant conservation through education, plant sales, and field trips. Directly overlapping geographic focus and educational mission around regional horticulture.

Direct peers

• Native Plant Trust: Regional nonprofit focused on native plant conservation and education through lectures, workshops, gardens, and publications. Comparable educational nonprofit model with overlapping Lowcountry-relevant native plant and ecological horticulture focus.
• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: Philanthropic horticultural society offering membership, education, and major events like the Philadelphia Flower Show. Closely comparable nonprofit model with similar revenue streams (memberships, events, sponsorships) and educational mission focused on gardening.
• Massachusetts Horticultural Society: Regional nonprofit horticultural society offering classes, lectures, plant sales, and member programs. Closely parallels CHS in membership tiers, educational programming, and event-based revenue model.
• American Horticultural Society: National nonprofit dedicated to horticultural education, stewardship, and member programs. Directly comparable membership/education model with similar publications, lectures, and advocacy focus on gardening excellence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@charlestonhorticulturalsoc9845
• Facebookfacebook.com/charlestonhorticulturalsociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/chashortsoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charleston-horticultural-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charleston Horticultural Society