Discover the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening

Uncover the Inspiration Behind
Rooted: Origins of American Gardening

The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show, America’s largest gardening event, returns February 28 – March 8, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This year’s theme, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening, celebrates the traditions, memories, and cultural stories that shape how we plant, grow, and gather today.  

Every seed carries a story – what’s yours?   

Gardens aren’t just made; they’re passed down through generations, carried across oceans, lifetimes, and lands. The 2026 Flower Show brings these legacies to life through breathtaking floral artistry, immersive exhibits, and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. From family gardening traditions to cultural planting practices, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening invites everyone to explore the roots of American horticulture. 

A Theme Years in the Making 

2026 marks the final chapter in a three-year trilogy of Flower Show themes. In 2024, United by Flowers celebrated the current connections and community that grow through shared gardening experiences. In 2025, Gardens of Tomorrow sparked imaginations with visions of what the next generation of gardens could bring. Now, in 2026, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening turns to the past to honor the cultures, traditions, and stories that have planted the seeds of today’s gardens. 

“This year’s Flower Show feels especially personal because every plant or garden carries a story behind it,” says Seth Pearsoll, Vice President and Creative Director of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. For Pearsoll, the aim is to create an experience that feels intimate yet universal. 

“Gardening is tied to memory, culture, and place,” he explains. “Little by little, we started talking about where practices come from, where things come from, where does your garden knowledge or your garden familiarity come from. This theme stemmed from that thinking and we’re inviting visitors to reflect on their own traditions while also being inspired by the ways other people and cultures garden around the world.” 

The result is a Flower Show experience that is timeless, deeply personal, and profoundly memorable. 

A Magical Forest Awaits: The 2026 Entrance Garden

From the moment visitors step through the doors, the 2026 Flower Show entrance garden sets the tone. Expect a landscape that feels timeless, elemental, and powerful. 

Stone, moss, wood, and bark will create a grounding backdrop, while dramatic plantings bring bursts of color like deep jewel tones of fuchsia, blue, yellow, and pink. Overhead, sweeping root-like structures woven from jute and twine will draw visitors into an otherworldly, “magical forest” setting. 

Orchids, bonsai, and sculptural plantings will highlight the beauty of resilience and longevity, with each element nodding to traditions that span centuries. “We wanted a design that feels permanent,” Pearsoll says. “It’s a reminder that gardens and gardening are part of something bigger than ourselves.” 

Exhibits That Tell the Stories of American Gardening

The theme of Rooted: Origins of American Gardening gives exhibitors the chance to reflect on memory, culture, and place in creative ways. 

• America's 250th Anniversary Gardens: Celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, this four-garden installation honors the evolution of American gardening, made possible by Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. 
• International Floral Showcase: Designers from around the world bring cultural traditions to life through floral artistry. 
• Competitive Classes: Thousands of entries from both amateur and expert horticulturists compete for blue ribbons, showcasing the deep roots of plant heritage. 

“Every designer and exhibitor will take the theme in their own direction,” Seth says. “Some are going back to childhood memories, others are looking at history, like the role of nurseries or even the railroads that once carried plants across the country."

 

A Flower Show Rooted in Mission 

Now in its 197th year, the Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event, and PHS’s main fundraiser supporting year-round greening work across Philadelphia. 

“Rooted: Origins of American Gardening reflects PHS’s mission to use horticulture as a force for good by connecting people, places, and communities through the power of plants,” says Matt Rader, PHS President. “As Philadelphia marks America’s 250th anniversary, this theme honors the deep roots of gardening history and culture that nourish our city and its neighborhoods.” 

Plan Your Visit to the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show

Walk through the doors of the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show and prepare to be amazed. “The first emotion we want to elicit is this jaw-dropping notion of ‘I didn’t expect all of this to be on the other side of these doors.’ Then we want guests to connect with the stories, the people, and the plants themselves,” Seth says.  

From gorgeous gardens to immersive exhibits, every corner of the Flower Show invites you to explore, learn, and be inspired. Whether it’s discovering family gardening traditions, marveling at international floral artistry, or connecting with your own memories, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening is a celebration of the people, plants, and stories that make gardening so personal and profound. 

Tickets for the 2026 Flower Show are on sale now. Choose from flexible ticketing options, including weekday, weekend, twilight admission, or specialty passes like the Floral Fanatic Pass and Any-Day Flex Pass. Group discounts are also available.