By Marta Rusek 

Imaginative florals and green innovation took center stage during PHS’s recent press conference offering a sneak peek at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show. As we approach the 196th year of the Flower Show, we’re looking to the future for this year’s theme, Gardens of Tomorrow. We couldn’t think of a more spectacular venue for the press conference than the Franklin Institute, Philly’s hub for innovation and imagination. 

Our recent press event featured never-before-seen artistic interpretations of Show spaces and exhibits, including the 2025 Entrance Garden, “Futura Florentia” (created by PHS!), as well as a shortlist of new and returning exhibitors.  

“The 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show is a celebration of innovation, resilience, and creativity in gardening,” explained Seth Pearsoll, VP and Creative Director of the Flower Show. “Our remarkable lineup of world-class exhibitors will explore what this future holds for gardens and landscapes. From sustainable designs and adaptive reuse to breathtaking artistic expressions, this Show will inspire and captivate every visitor.” 

As we count down to opening day March, get to know the designers behind some of the exquisite exhibits that await you when the Flower Show comes to the Pennsylvania Convention Center March 1 to 9, 2025. 

Floral Arrangements from Future Flowers 

The Flower Show is excited to welcome several new designers to create works of art for its “Future Flowers” design challenge.  Famed floral designers Lily Beelen, Mike Boerma, Berit Laursen, and Ahti Lyra will unveil their interpretation of a “future flower” that represents hope, resilience, and the excitement and promise of the future. These unique representations will capture the potential for beauty and life in the most unexpected places, creating a breathtaking bouquet of innovation.   

Collaborations Centering Green Innovation

An exhibit from OLIN and Remark Glass, Don't Call it Dirt, Don’t Call it Trash, showcases how glass jars, food waste, and woody debris can be repurposed into soil-essential materials like biochar, glass sand, and compost. This sustainable, closed-loop approach from two companies committed to zero waste encourages viewers to rethink traditional landscaping practices.  

Another highly anticipated collaboration brings together Japanese garden designer Kazuyuki Ishihara and Iftikhar Ahmed from Treeline Designz. Their innovative two-tiered garden, Tomorrow’s Eden - Gardens for a Changing World, takes visitors on a journey through a lush, futuristic landscape that celebrates the adaptability of plants and emphasizes humanity’s responsibility to preserve the delicate balance of our planet.

From Black Girl Florists to Innovative Voices 

 Last year, the Black Girl Florists collective made history as the first all-Black women team to install an exhibit at the Flower Show. This year, two former members are returning to offer their visions of the future: 

Nia Mozee of New York-based Simply Nia Design will bring to life her vision of Gardens of Tomorrow with an inspiring focus on faith, perseverance, and collective goodness. Her creation reflects a journey of walking through life guided by faith. Drawing inspiration from the heavens, she envisions ethereal spaces filled with pastel hues and breathtaking florals.  

Philadelphia florist Rashawn Scarbo of Bloom Bold & Co. will explore time through an exhibit built around a deconstructed clock, to show how our collective future, as well as the floral industry, is determined by the time and effort we invest into the next generation of designers, growers, and environmental stewards. 

Highly Anticipated Returns 

This year’s Flower Show welcomes back fan-favorite exhibitors to delight fans and newcomers alike: 

• Robertson’s Flowers & Events: With their interpretation of the proverb, “One generation plants the trees, and the other gets the shade”, this exhibit symbolizes global interconnectedness and our collective responsibility to future generations.  
• Apiary Studio: Last year’s “Best in Show – Landscape” winner returns with a dreamy, life-journey-inspired exhibit. From childhood meadows to the peaceful maturity of the Mountain Grotto, this display highlights key moments of human growth.  
• Jennifer Designs: Welcoming Wildlife Home showcases how intention can create breathtaking, biodiverse gardens that thrive alongside human habitats. 

Horticultural Experts of Tomorrow 

Educational exhibits take a prime spot at this year’s Flower Show, showcasing the ingenuity of young horticulturalists and college programs shaping the future of sustainable gardening: 

• Lankenau High School imagines classrooms adorned with greenery as a space for learning and growth.  
• Mercer County Community College focuses on urban green infrastructure, highlighting benefits like proper street tree plantings and stormwater management.  
• The Lakeside School creates a futuristic biodiversity dome featuring hydroponics and tropical plants.  
• Temple University explores the connection between reforestation and mental health in a reflective installation.

These displays demonstrate the importance of investing in the next generation of horticulturalists, to ensure that gardening remains innovative, inclusive, and accessible. 

Your Ticket to the Future 

The 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show embodies the innovation, creativity, and resilience that gardening brings to tomorrow’s challenges. Whether you’re enthralled by breathtaking floral artistry, eager to explore sustainable landscaping, or looking to connect with a vibrant, forward-thinking community, the Flower Show delivers it all. Get tickets today!