The Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society.

The award was established in 1897 "in perpetual remembrance of Her Majesty's glorious reign, and to enable the Council to confer honour on British horticulturists." The Society's rules state that only sixty-three horticulturists can hold the VMH at any given time, in commemoration of the sixty-three years of Queen Victoria's reign. Therefore, the honour is not awarded every year, but may be made to multiple recipients in other years.

Awards

1897 – The first 60 medallists

The first 60 medals were awarded on 26 October 1897:

• John Gilbert Baker (1834–1920)

• Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853–1922)

• Peter Barr (1826–1909)

• Archibald F Barron (1835–1903)

• Edward John Beale (1835–1902)

• William Boxall (1844–1910)

• William Bull (1828–1902)

• George Bunyard (1841–1919)

• Frederick William Burbidge (1847–1905)

• William Crump (1843–1932)

• Richard Dean (1830–1905)

• George A Dickson (c1835 – 1909)

• Henry Honeywood D'ombrain (1818–1905)

• Charles Thomas Druery (1843–1917)

• Malcolm Dunn (1837–1899)

• Henry Nicholson Ellacombe (1822–1916)

• Henry John Elwes (1846–1922)

• Michael Foster (1836–1907)

• John Fraser (1821–1900)

• Paul George (1841–1921)

• George Gordon (1841–1914)

• John Heal (c1841 – 1925)

• George Henslow (1835–1925)

• Hermann Carl Gottlieb Herbst (c1830 – 1904)

• Samuel Reynolds Hole (1819–1904)

• Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911)

• Francis Daltry Horner (c1838 – 1912)

• James Hudson (1846–1932)

• Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932)

• Peter Edmund Kay (1853–1909)

• John Laing (1823–1900)

• Charles Maries (1851–1902)

• James McIndoe (1836–1910)

• Henry Ernest Milner (1845–1906)

• Edwin Molyneux (1851–1921)

• George Monro (c1847 – 1920)

• Frederick William Moore (1857–1949)

• Daniel Morris (1844–1933)

• George Nicholson (1847–1908)

• James O'Brien (1842–1930)

• William Paul (1822–1905)

• T Francis Rivers (1831–1899)

• Lionel Walter Rothschild (1868–1937)

• Frederick Sander (1847–1920)

• Henry Schröder (1824–1910)

• John Seden (1840–1921)

• Nathaniel Newman Sherwood (1846–1916)

• James Smith (1837–1903)

• Martin Ridley Smith ( – 1908)

• Walter Speed (c1835 – 1921) Head Gardener at Penrhyn Castle, Wales

• Arthur Warwick Sutton (1854–1925)

• Owen Thomas (1843–1923)

• William Thompson (1823–1903)

• David Thomson (1823–1909)

• Harry Turner (c1848 – 1906)

• Ellen Willmott (1858–1934)

• George Fergusson Wilson (1822–1902)

• Charles Wolley-Dod (1826–1904)

• John Wright (1836–1916)

• George Wythes (1851–1916)

1900–1909

1900

• George Herbert Engleheart (1851–1936) breeder of daffodils

• Trevor Lawrence (1831–1913), President of the Royal Horticultural Society 1885 to 1913

1901

• George King (1840–1909)

• Eleanor Ormerod

• James Sweet, Messrs J. Sweet & Sons Ltd, nurserymen, Whetstone

1902

• Mordecai Cubitt Cooke (1825–1914), Mycologist

1903

• Thomas Smith, Daisy Hill Nursery

• Sir Thomas Hanbury

• Thomas Humphreys (afterwards Curator of Birmingham Botanical Gardens)

1904

• Edward Mawley (1842–1916)

1905

• Henry Eckford (1823–1905)

1906

• Richard Irwin Lynch (1850–1924), Curator of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

• Harry Veitch (1840–1924)

1909

• William Botting-Hemsley (1843–1924). Keeper of the Herbarium and library, Kew Gardens.

1910–1919

1911

• Charles Robert Fielder (1857-1946 Bramshaw)

1912

• Ernest Henry Wilson (1876–1930)

1916

• Edward Augustus Bowles (1865–1954)

1917

• William Jackson Bean (1863–1947)

• Frederick Chittenden (1873–1950), first Director of the RHS Wisley Garden.

• Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell (1845–1937)

• Peter Veitch (1850–1929)

1920–1929

1921

• George Forrest (1873–1932)

1922

• Arthur Boscawen (1862–1935)

1924

• Arthur Grove

1925

• Samuel B. Dicks (1845–1926), seedsman

• William Rickatson Dykes (1827–1925)

• William Wright Smith (1875–1956)

• George Yeld (1845–1938)

1926

• Herbert George Alexander (orchid grower)

• Frederick Vincent Theobald (1868–1930)

1927

• Frederick Robert Stephen Balfour (1873–1945)

1928

• W. Nelmes

1929

• Sir William Lawrence (1870–1934), Lionel de Rothschild (1882–1942)

1930–1939

1931

• Laura McLaren, Baroness Aberconway (1854–1933)

1933

• George Percival Baker (1856–1951)

• Frederick William Millard (1864–1964)

1934

• Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway (1879–1953)

• George Monro (1876–1951)

1935

• Amos Perry (1871–1953), of Perry's Plant Farm

1936

• Stephenson Robert Clarke (1862–1948), of Borde Hill

• James Comber (1866–1953), of Nymans, Handcross

• Frederick Augustus Secrett (1886–1964)

1938

• William Fleming Bewley (1891–1976)

• Frederick George Preston (1882–1964).

1939

• Charles Percival Raffill M.B.E.(1876–1951), Curator, Kew Gardens. Raffill was also honoured in 1934 as an Associate of Honour of the Royal Horticultural Society (AHRHS).

1940–1949

1940

• Sir Frederick Claude Stern (1884–1967) – Highdown chalk garden

1941

• Edwin Lawrence Hillier – Hillier Nurseries

1942

• Lady Iris Lawrence

1943

• Arthur Disbrowe Cotton

1944

• Arthur Dorrien-Smith (1876–1955)

• John Hutchinson (1884–1972)

1945

• Fred Streeter (1879–1975) – horticulturalist and broadcaster

1946

• Vera Higgins (1892–1962)

1948

• Wilfrid Fox (1875–1962) – Winkworth Arboretum

1949

• Ernest Ballard (1870–1952)

• Harry Higgott Thomas (1876–1956) – Editor of Popular Gardening

1950–1959

1951

• Peter Crichton Kay (1889–1954)

1952

• Albert Maurice Amsler (1877–1952)

• Collingwood Ingram (1880-1981)

• Thomas Wallace (1891–1965)

1953

• Archibald Park Balfour

• Sir David Bowes-Lyon (1902–1961)

• C Edward Hudson

1954

• Raymond Henry Stoughton (1903–1979)

1955

• Robert L. Scarlett : for his contributions to horticultural experimental work in Scotland & United Kingdom.

• Lilian Snelling (1879–1972)

1957

• William MacDonald Campbell

• Harold Roy Fletcher(1907–1978), Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

• John Scott Lennox Gilmour (1906–1995)

• Harold Hillier (1905–1985) – Hillier Nurseries

1958

• Frank P. Knight (1903–1985), Director of Wisley Garden

1960–1969

1960

• Maurice Mason (1912–1993)

1961

• Sir Edward Bolitho of Trengwainton, Penzance

• Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900–2002)

• William Gregor MacKenzie, curator of Chelsea Physic Garden

• Thomas Hope Findlay (1910-1994) Keeper of Gardens Windsor Great Park 1943-1975

• Charles McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway (1913–2003)

1963

• S. Millar Gault

• Sir James Horlick (1886–1972) of The Island of Gigha

1964

• Gwendolyn Anley

• Hans Hvass – Danish writer on natural history

1965

• John Paul Wellington Furse (1904–1978)

• Beatrix Havergal (1901–1980)

• William T. Stearn (1911–2001)

1967

• Arthur Hellyer (1902–1993) – RHS. Horticultural writer and journalist.

• Sir Giles Rolls Loder, 3rd Baronet (1914–1999) of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham

1968

• Graham Stuart Thomas (1909–2003)

1970–1979

1970

• Roy Hay (1910–1989)

• Alan F. Mitchell (1922–1995)

1971

• Alan Bloom (1906–2005)

• Frances Perry (1907–1993)

• Patrick Synge (1910–1982)

1973

• Julia Clements

1974

• Roy Copeman Elliott (Alpine gardener)

• Martin O. Slocock

1975

• Herbert Rawnsley Barr (1903–1987)

• Valerie Finnis (1924–2006)

1976

• Christopher D. Brickell

• John Pilkington Hudson (1910–2007)

• Lady Marie Loder of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham

1977

• Percy Thrower (1913–1988), Television gardener

• Mrs Desmond Underwood

1978

• W Martin Robinson, vegetable expert.

1979

• Christopher Lloyd (1921–2006)

1980–1989

1980

• Leonard Broadbent (1916–2002) – Professor in Biology at the University of Bath

• Sheila Macqueen – Flower arranger

1981

• John Bond (1932–2001) – Keeper of Windsor Great Park and the Savill Gardens

• Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, 3rd Baronet (1894–1972) and Lady Heathcoat-Amory (1901–1997)

1982

• Adrian Frank Posnette

1983

• John Stewart Mattock

1984

• Kath Dryden (−2009) – alpine plant expert

1985

• Adrian Bloom – Bressingham Steam and Gardens

• Douglas Mackay Henderson (1927–2007), Keeper, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

• Fred Whitsey (1919–2009)- Gardening correspondent of The Daily Telegraph

1986

• Lady Anne Berry (1919–2019)

• Robin A.E. Herbert (1934–2024) Former President of RHS

• John B. Simmons (1937–)

1987

• William Lawrence Banks

• Beth Chatto (1923–2018)

1988

• Roy Lancaster (1937–)

1989

• Carolyn Hardy (1930–2016)- Chairman, National Gardens Scheme

• A.D. Schilling

1990–1999

1990

• Sylvia Crowe(1901–1997)

• D.J. Fuller

1991

• P. Cox

• Brian Mathew

• Frederick Alkmund Roach (1909–2004)

• Miriam Rothschild (1908–2005)

• D.J. Sales

1993

• Alan Hardy (1926–1999) – Sandling Estate

• Mary Shirville Newnes (1926–2020) – flower arranger

• Charles Notcutt (1935–2015)

1994

• Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe (1900–1996) – landscape designer

• James Smart – of Marwood Hill Garden

1995

• Raymond J Evison (1944–)

• David McClintock (1913–2001)

• Helen Robinson (1919–2004) – Hyde Hall

1996

• John G. Hillier – Hillier Nurseries (1935-2025)

• Penelope Hobhouse (1929–)

• C.R.M. Notcutt

1997

• J.W. Blanchard

• Mary Grierson (1912–2012) – Botanical artist

• John Palmer, Earl of Selborne

1998

• Joyce Stewart (1936–2011) – Director of Horticulture, RHS

• Rosemary Verey (1918–2001)

1999

• Hal Moggridge

• A. Moon

• Sir Ghillean Tolmie Prance (1937–)

• G.H. Rae

2000–2009

2001

• P. Erskine

2002

• David Austin (1926–2018) for his rose breeding

2003

• Peter Beales (1936–2013) for his rose breeding and media promotion of gardening

• Andrew Dunn for his pioneering of virus-free rootstock

• Peter Seabrook (1935–2022) for his rose breeding

2004

• Ray Bilton for his work with orchid hybrids

• David S. Ingram (1941–) for his pioneering research into plant diseases

• Alan Titchmarsh for his broadcasting and authorial gardening educational outreach

2005

• Martin Lane Fox for his work in landscape garden design

• Tony Lord for his work as a garden photographer and horticultural consultant

• Edmund Leopold de Rothschild for his work with rhododendron hybrids

• Tom Wood for his administrative work promoting horticulture

2006

• Jim Buttress, for his work as a garden show judge

• Sibylle Kreutzberger, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent

• Dr. Henry Oakeley, for his scientific work on orchids, the genera Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa

• Pamela Schwerdt, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent

2007

• Colin Ellis – "for his long and distinguished service since 1983 with RHS Council and numerous committees."

• Christopher Grey-Wilson – for "his many achievements as botanist, photographer, botanical explorer and author of many books and articles."

• Sir Richard Carew Pole (1938–2024) – former RHS President

• Brian Self – "for his lifetime of service to amateur and professional fruit growers."

2008

• John Ravenscroft – "for his plantsmanship, entrepreneurial talent and encyclopaedic knowledge of plants."

2009

• Charles Baring, 2nd Baron Howick of Glendale

• Charles III – "for his passion for plants, sustainable gardening and the environment."

• John Humphris

• Lady Christine Skelmersdale

2010–present

2010

• Peter R. Dawson

• Michael Hickson

• Robert T. Hillier

• John Massey – "for his valuable contribution to plantbreeding "

• Dowager Marchioness Salisbury

2011

• Giles Coode-Adams

• Maurice C. Foster

• Richard Webb

2012

• Stephen Blackmore

• Alice Boyd, Viscountess of Merton

• David Clark

• John Parker

2013

• Nigel Colborn

• Brian Humphrey

2014

• Chris Sanders

• 2015 Not awarded

2016

• Mark Flanagan (posthumously)

• Johan Hermans

2017

• Nick Dunn

• Jekka McVicar – RH Vice-President

2018

• Peter Catt

• Carol Klein

• Charles Williams

2019

• Fergus Garrett

• Tony Kirkham

• Bill Simpson

2020

• Christopher Bailes

• Jim Gardiner

• Jim (James) McColl

2022

• Monty Don

• Brian Duncan

• Peter Thoday

2023

• Jim Marshall

• Paul Phillips

• Jon Wheatley

2024

• Jan Pennings

• Chris Lane

• Neil Lucas

2025

• Sarah Cook

• Martyn Rix

• Ron Scamp

2026

• Jennifer Trehane

• Philip McMillan Browse

• Linda Philip

• Chris Baines

• Matt Biggs

See also

• List of agriculture awards

References

External links