On January 14, 2026, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosted a press conference to unveil a preview of the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening. The event included a first look at exclusive artistic renderings of the Show, giving a sneak peek into what visitors will experience in 2026.
The event was held at the Union Trust building, commemorating the historic site of the first Philadelphia Flower Show in 1829. This location honors the city's role as the birthplace of America's first Flower Show as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. In the spirit of the 250th celebrations, this year's Flower Show honors the people, places, and traditions that have shaped gardening, from cherished family memories to time-honored practices that continue to inspire today.
"Rooted: Origins of American Gardening reflects the heart of PHS's mission connecting people and plants to transform lives and communities," said Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "Every plant and garden tells a story. The Flower Show celebrates those stories while serving as a fundraiser to support PHS's year-round work in the Philadelphia region to create green spaces, expand access to fresh food, and foster neighborhood resilience and community health. Just as gardens grow from strong roots, so does the impact we can have together in our community."
"The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show celebrates the rich stories, bold creativity, and enduring inspiration that gardens bring to our lives," said Seth Pearsoll, VP and Creative Director of the Philadelphia Flower Show. "Every element is designed to inspire so visitors will find themselves marveling at the creativity and discovering something new around every corner."
As the Pennsylvania Convention Center will host an additional event during the Flower Show's run, PHS has refreshed the Show's footprint to ensure a smooth, intuitive, and engaging experience for all visitors. Over the years, PHS has consistently heard that the Flower Show is more than a place to view beautiful exhibits; it is a hub for discovery, creativity, and shared experiences. To support this multi-dimensional experience, PHS will debut a reimagined layout supported by a new wayfinding framework that helps guests easily navigate the Show through five core experiences: See, Shop, Make, Learn, and Play.
PHS will continue to utilize its primary exhibition spaces for the Show's gardens, exhibits, and experiences. The beloved Marketplace shopping destination will move to a new street-level home directly below the main exhibition space, giving vendors a highly visible location enhanced with floral moments and seating areas that invite guests to linger and explore.
Bold floral and landscape creations and displays
The Flower Show brings together a range of floral, landscape, and botanical artistry, showcasing gardens and plants, innovative design, and world-class creative talent from across the globe. These exhibits invite visitors to experience the power of storytelling through plants, honoring history, culture, and imagination while pushing the boundaries of what gardening can be.
For a full list of exhibitors at this year's Show, click here.
Competitive classes. Long considered the heart of the Flower Show, these competitions celebrate the tradition of gardeners proudly presenting their most extraordinary and curious plants. Today, the Hamilton Horticourt, Design Gallery, and Artistic Gallery carry that legacy forward, inviting competitors to showcase exceptional plants, floral artistry, and botanical craftsmanship that reflect the depth, discipline, and creativity at the core of gardening.
Curated exhibitors: PHS selects dozens of floral and landscape designers whose creativity and expertise shape the Flower Show's visual experiences. Together, these designers bring Rooted: Origins of American Gardening to life through deeply personal interpretations of the theme, drawing from their own experiences, cultural heritage, and creative perspectives.
Local educational exhibitors are showing how the next generation of horticultural professionals is shaping the future of gardening. Designed and built by students, these exhibits combine traditional gardening practices with modern approaches to sustainability, plant science, and design. Visitors will see heirloom seeds and culturally significant plants celebrated, discover how historic gardens and planting methods continue to inspire new ideas, and experience creative floral designs that connect art and horticulture. Each exhibit demonstrates how students are learning, experimenting, and passing knowledge forward, offering a fresh perspective on the skills and creativity that will guide American gardening for years to come.
This year's Show is being put on with the support of the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, the City of Philadelphia 250th Fund and Michael Newmuis, and the Commonwealth of PA, including The Honorable Jordan A. Harris, Majority Chairman of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee and Senator Vincent Hughes.
Shop: Explore & discover unique finds
This year's refreshed layout has been designed to make shopping more visible, accessible, and engaging for all guests.
This year, the Flower Show's Marketplace moves to street-level below the main exhibit halls, creating a dedicated shopping area where visitors can easily browse and discover unique finds. Guests will explore a curated selection of vendors featuring live plants, florals, garden tools, decorative wares, jewelry, and home accents, all designed for an engaging and seamless shopping experience.
© Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
The Makers Market, featuring 39 talented regional artisans selling handmade jewelry, décor, apparel, and artwork will be located next to Artisan's Row, the crafting hub for the Flower Show.
Don't miss the PHS Shop for Flower Show memorabilia located in the main exhibition space. This year, merchandise options include apparel, mugs, totes, and other keepsakes to treasure long after the Show ends.
Bloom Bar gives visitors a chance to adorn themselves with fresh floral crowns right on the Show floor. Each crown is a wearable piece of floral artistry, perfect for capturing stunning photos or simply enjoying the beauty of flowers up close.
Make: Create and craft with hands-on workshops
The Flower Show offers hands-on workshops, botanical crafts, and expert-led demonstrations.
Artisan Row is the Flower Show's experiential hub where guests can create an elevated floral or gardening-inspired craft working side-by-side with artisans. Now expanded due to popular demand, Artisan Row will expand to an additional footprint and add three new creative experiences to the Convention Center's concourse level. This year's lineup will feature 7 artisans teaching guests how to create fresh floral crowns, floral candles, custom scents, fresh and dried bouquets, terrariums, hand-painted vases, floral handbags, custom hats, tote bags and more.
© Becca Mathias
Dive into the art of container gardening with Potting Parties, interactive workshops led by designer Tu Bloom, the Official Botanical Artist of the Grammy Awards. These sessions are fun for all skill levels, giving participants hands-on experience and ending with a personalized creation to take home. New this year, select Potting Party sessions will be offered as a special floral arrangement class, introducing guests to the fundamentals of floral design using seasonal botanicals and natural elements.
Learn: Expert tips, garden insights & tours
Visitors looking to deepen their gardening knowledge will find expert insight throughout the Flower Show. From engaging lectures and one-on-one advice to behind-the-scenes tours, these learning experiences offer inspiration and practical takeaways for gardeners at every level.
The Know to Grow speaker series returns this year, featuring horticultural experts sharing insights, traditions, and practical advice to help attendees cultivate their own gardens and deepen their connection to the natural world. This year's Know to Grow lineup explores topics including heirloom and early American gardens, native bees and pollinator habitats, resilient ecological design, orchid cultivation, intensive vegetable gardening, and the cultural histories that have shaped American gardening traditions. All lectures are included with admission.
Plant People Place is the destination for gardening advice and expert insight. This interactive area connects visitors with passionate plant society members, expert gardeners, and industry specialists, including experts in cacti, bonsai, begonias, and violets, as well as seed specialists from Burpee and tree experts from Bartlett Tree Experts. Whether you're troubleshooting a plant problem, exploring something new, or looking to deepen your gardening knowledge, these experts are on hand to answer questions, share practical tips, and help you grow with confidence.
Early Morning Tours offer an exclusive way to experience the Flower Show before public hours. Led by knowledgeable guides, guests enjoy behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitors, garden design, the Hamilton Horticourt, and signature floral displays. PHS also offers Early Morning Photography Tours, giving guests the opportunity to photograph the Flower Show alongside a professional photographer before public hours. Tour tickets include full-day admission to the Show. Tours run daily from February 28 to March 8, from 8 to 10 am.
Play: Special events and activities
The Flower Show's special events and activities invite guests to connect with flowers in fun, unexpected, and memorable ways. From immersive attractions and family-friendly programming to signature parties and after-hours events, this lineup brings added energy, interaction, and celebration to the Flower Show's stunning exhibits.
Butterflies Live! gives attendees the opportunity to encounter hundreds of native and exotic butterflies with spectacular color in a serene setting. This is an all-ages activity, perfect for both kids and kids at heart!
Families are invited to hang out at the Kids Cocoon, where young visitors can dig into interactive activities, explore the wonders of plant life, and spark a lifelong curiosity for gardening.
