'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening' – Official Theme of the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has recently revealed the theme of the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show: Rooted: Origins of American Gardening. The 197th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will be held from February 28th to March 8th, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This event is without a doubt one of the most popular and renowned in the flower industry and is a must if you're going to be there in March.

What to Expect From the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2026

Gardens aren’t just made; they’re passed down through generations, carried across oceans, lifetimes, and lands. Every seed carries a story – what's yours? The 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show celebrates the stories that ground us in gardening, whether it’s the nostalgia of a grandparent’s garden, a beloved family recipe that begins with the bright scent of freshly picked herbs and vegetables, or the heritage traditions that shape how we plant, grow, and gather.

Through immersive garden exhibits and stunning floral displays, Rooted: Origins of American Gardening brings to life the personal stories, cultural traditions, and horticultural inspiration that connect us to plants, each other, and shape how we garden today.

Globally renowned for its stunning floral displays, garden landscapes, and premier plant and botanical art competitions, this year’s exhibits invite you to explore the future through the eyes of visionary designers, expert gardeners, and passionate green enthusiasts as they merge nature’s brilliance with human ingenuity. Guests will experience imaginative designs, innovative ideas, and boundless inspiration on how to cultivate the possibilities of tomorrow through gardening.

As Philadelphia celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence, the 2026 Flower Show offers a chance to reflect on the gardening legacies we’ve inherited and the ones we’re growing for the future, shaped by people and plants from around the world. This year’s Show will combine legacy and belonging with breathtaking artistry and larger-than-life creations that will take guests on a journey through a vivid world full of memory and magnificence.

Spring Is Coming, and With It Comes This Wonderful Event

This annual event brings together hundreds of people from the region, the East Coast, and around the world for a week to celebrate gardening's transformative power. In this fragmented world of constantly changing landscapes, everyone who participates, from exhibitors and competitors to artisans and guests, brings their passion and enthusiasm to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to help co-create this one-of-a-kind event that proudly displays this fun, flowery, and colorful collective.

Seth Pearsoll, Vice President and Creative Director of PHS, shares:

"This year’s Flower Show feels especially personal because every plant or garden carries a story behind it. We all have memories tied to plants, and Rooted: Origins of American Gardening is about sharing those diverse experiences and the ways they connect us. It will be a show filled with memory, meaning, and incredible creativity."

Philly in Full Bloom – The Must-See Magic at This Year’s Flower Show

Are you ready to visit one of the world's most famous flower shows? This year's highlights will include:

• An immersive, show-stopping entrance garden that will blend historical influences with bold, modern design for a one-of-a-kind welcome.
• Explore America’s influence on gardening in a special exhibition celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, made possible by Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. This sweeping four-garden installation created by visionary designers from across the country tells the evolving story of American gardening, honoring its roots, resilience, and reinvention.
• The world’s largest houseplant and indoor plant competition with thousands of entries from a community of hundreds of expert and amateur horticulturists. Participants blend science and artistry to compete for blue ribbons, with entries evaluated by expert judges from across the country and internationally. Open to all plant lovers, this competition offers a unique opportunity to showcase the deep roots of our shared plant heritage. Interested competitors can learn more and participate here.

• Join leading gardening experts at the free Know to Grow speaker series, included with your admission. Learn directly from gardening’s leading voices as they share the wisdom, traditions, and techniques passed down through time, alongside fresh ideas that continue to grow our gardening story today.
• Enjoy perennial fan favorites, including botanical-themed crafting experiences and a marketplace of unique plants and handcrafted goods. Marvel at fluttering butterflies and master new skills in immersive, hands-on workshops, all celebrating the wonder of our connection to plants.
• Visit the Kids Cocoon for family fun, where little ones can dig into hands-on activities and daily programs designed to spark curiosity about the natural world, planting the seeds for a lifelong love of gardening. 

A Really Special Edition

The 2026 Flower Show marks the final chapter in a three-year trilogy of themes exploring the past, present, and future of gardening. 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 looks to the past to honor the cultures, traditions, and stories that have planted the seeds of today’s gardens.

Together, these three themes tell a powerful story of the imagination, legacy, and cultural roots of gardening, setting the stage for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s landmark 200th anniversary in 2027.

PHS President, Matt Rader, shared:

“This edition reflects PHS’s mission to use horticulture as a force for good by connecting people, places, and communities through the power of plants. 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. At PHS, we’re proud to carry forward this legacy by creating green spaces that foster resilience, equity, and well-being for all.

If you’ve ever stopped and smelled the roses, or admired any other flower for that matter, the team behind PHS invites you to join this growing community as they usher into this year's spring season, from February 28th to March 8th, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Get your tickets now and mark your calendars! To purchase tickets, please visit PHS's website.