Feb 12, 2026
NGB reports 550% surge in media reach for 2026 “Year of the” program

National Garden Bureau (NGB) announced it is kicking off the 2026 gardening season with record-breaking momentum. In January, the organization’s “Year of the” program achieved a 550% year-over-year increase in media mentions, signaling a high level of consumer anticipation for the upcoming growing season.

With a total reach of 423 million consumers in the first month of the year — up from 7.14 million in January 2025 — NGB’s featured crops are dominating the digital landscape.

The buzz has primarily been generated by:

Massive Media Footprint: A featured mention on MSN.com (94.4M reach), alongside high-profile coverage in Real Simple, Yahoo News, AOL and Substack.
Total Visibility: 184 program mentions in January, providing millions of North American gardeners with inspiration for their 2026 gardens.

This means that home gardeners throughout North America are hearing about, reading and being inspired by the crops featured in NGB’s 2026 “Year of the” program. In the months ahead, even more publicity will be generated through continuing efforts.

The spotlight is currently shining on these six diverse genera. If you aren’t featuring them yet, now is the time.

Year of the Crocus (Bulb)
Year of the Impatiens (Annual)
Year of the Hot Pepper (Edible)
Year of the Ficus (Houseplant)
Year of the Sedum (Perennial)
Year of the Azalea (Flowering Shrub)

Retailers and growers can still leverage this viral momentum. NGB’s dedicated ‘Year of’ marketing hub offers free, high-impact resources — including member-sourced variety photos, fact sheets, retail signage, and the popular “Did You Know?” social media graphics. These unbranded tools are designed to streamline your marketing efforts, driving consumer demand and boosting sales for these six key genera throughout the season.