diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 49d755ae1954..1dc54194eaab 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -2364,8 +2364,10 @@ def stem(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         Call signatures::
 
-          stem(y, linefmt='b-', markerfmt='bo', basefmt='r-')
-          stem(x, y, linefmt='b-', markerfmt='bo', basefmt='r-')
+            stem(y, linefmt='b-', markerfmt='bo', basefmt='r-',
+                orientation={'vertical'|'horizontal'})
+            stem(x, y, linefmt='b-', markerfmt='bo', basefmt='r-',
+                orientation={'vertical'|'horizontal'})
 
         A stem plot plots vertical lines (using *linefmt*) at each *x*
         location from the baseline to *y*, and places a marker there
@@ -2419,24 +2421,37 @@ def stem(self, *args, **kwargs):
             basefmt = kwargs.pop('basefmt', args[2])
         except IndexError:
             basefmt = kwargs.pop('basefmt', 'r-')
+        try:
+            orientation = kwargs.pop('orientation', args[3])
+        except IndexError:
+            orientation = kwargs.pop('orientation', 'vertical')
 
         bottom = kwargs.pop('bottom', None)
         label = kwargs.pop('label', None)
-
-        markerline, = self.plot(x, y, markerfmt, label="_nolegend_")
+        if (orientation == "vertical"):
+            markerline, = self.plot(x, y, markerfmt, label="_nolegend_")
+        elif (orientation == "horizontal"):
+            markerline, = self.plot(y, x, markerfmt, label="_nolegend_")
 
         if bottom is None:
             bottom = 0
 
         stemlines = []
         for thisx, thisy in zip(x, y):
-            l, = self.plot([thisx, thisx], [bottom, thisy], linefmt,
+            if (orientation == "vertical"):
+                l, = self.plot([thisx, thisx], [bottom, thisy], linefmt,
+                           label="_nolegend_")
+            elif (orientation == "horizontal"):
+                l, = self.plot([bottom, thisy], [thisx, thisx], linefmt,
                            label="_nolegend_")
             stemlines.append(l)
 
-        baseline, = self.plot([np.amin(x), np.amax(x)], [bottom, bottom],
+        if (orientation == "vertical"):
+            baseline, = self.plot([np.amin(x), np.amax(x)], [bottom, bottom],
+                              basefmt, label="_nolegend_")
+        elif (orientation == "horizontal"):
+            baseline, = self.plot([bottom, bottom], [np.amin(x), np.amax(x)],
                               basefmt, label="_nolegend_")
-
         self.hold(remember_hold)
 
         stem_container = StemContainer((markerline, stemlines, baseline),