Few cities do history and tradition quite like Philadelphia. Surprisingly, one of our longest running events has nothing to do with revolution or independence. Instead, it’s all about natural beauty. At nearly 200 years old, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show is packed with creativity every year.
As the fingertips of winter loosen their grasp, the Pennsylvania Convention Center fills with creations by local floral designers, growers, and community groups all showcasing the year’s theme. There are also juried competitions, art, workshops, a market, and much more.
We’ve been four of the last five years and have learned a few things on our visits. Here’s what you need to know before going to the Philadelphia Flower Show.
The Flower Show runs from March 1-9, 2025, at the Convention Center located at 11th and Arch in Center City.
The theme changes yearly
Every year, the Flower Show brings something new to inspire the designers’ focus. This year’s theme is Gardens of Tomorrow! It includes numerous displays involving neon and addressing Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and other futuristic and technological elements. Don’t worry: despite the ultra-modern theme, there are still more blooming flowers and plants than you’ll find anywhere else in early March.
Displays are incredible and unexpected
The creations go far and above stunning bouquets and flower arrangements. There are often walk-through displays and pieces with moving parts. Sometimes plants are sculpted into animals, cascading chandeliers, or overflowing cornucopias. You never really know what you’re going to find as the pieces come to life.
Water features are also a favorite of the designers. Whether it’s dry ice making smoke above a reflecting pool or a fountain raining down through petals, there are always several displays involving water.
The plants and displays are judged
The center of the Flower Show floor is dominated by the PHS Hamilton Horticourt, an area that features the best orchids, daffodils, and almost every other variety of plant you can imagine both alone and in arrangements and art. Judges select the year’s best, which are displayed alongside their accolades. If you visit during the Member Preview Day, you may even see the judges at work (they wear bright vests, so you know where they are on the floor).
The Makers Market is worth a stop
Just inside the entrance, dozens of local craftspeople and artisan vendors add to the offerings. Many—but certainly not all—of the artworks, pottery, and crafts are floral or nature-themed. You’ll also find candles, planters, photography, and t-shirts among the wide assortment.
Two of our favorite vendors are right next to each other. Art by Alicia (who features in our Philly gift guide) is well-known for her drawings of iconic buildings around the city, and her sister Fern in the Forest is a painter and printmaker who incorporates lots of animals and plants in her work. They each sell everything from notecards to puzzles featuring their work.
Come to learn or craft
There’s much more to do than simply walk among the flowers. There is a lineup of daily speakers covering topics like foraging and sustainability plus container gardening workshops for people looking to start their own garden.
Check out all the craft opportunities on Artisan Row for even more hands-on fun. You can make a candle or a scent diffuser or put together a succulent terrarium. My personal favorite craft is making a floral crown—I was stopped by at least five people on the street while wearing mine. That’s not a normal thing that happens to me and was definitely flower-inspired.
There are kid-friendly activities
In addition to the crafts, other areas of the Flower Show are designed just for kids. The main space is Creation Station at Kids Cocoon, an area for play and reading plus learning about animal habitats and gardening and even planting seeds. The butterfly kiosk is also a huge draw. Take your sugar stick and try to entice a butterfly to land on it, or learn about their homes and migration from an expert.
There are plenty of concessions
Stations throughout the show floor ensure that you can enjoy the blooms with a drink in-hand. There are even themed gin cocktails just for the event. Of course, there are also plenty of non-alcoholic options to keep you hydrated as you browse.
Food choices range from soft pretzels to a variety of salads, sandwiches, and snacks. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s more than enough to keep you from being famished while enjoying the flowers.
For something more substantial near the Convention Center, visit any of the great vendors at Reading Terminal Market or take the opportunity to enjoy Chinatown. EMei, Vietnam Restaurant, and Sang Kee are some of our favorites.
Specialty tours are available
To see the displays in a completely different way (and without the crowds!), consider taking a tour. Scheduled before the show opens each day, there are two tour options—one that includes behind-the-scenes stories and another customized just for photographers.
It gets really crowded
There’s no way around it: the Flower Show is a huge draw. People come from all over the metro area and beyond to enjoy the blooms. That means it is often quite crowded. If you can’t stand the idea of waiting in line or pausing to wait for people to move from where you want to take a photo, a visit here may be a challenging experience.
There are ways to avoid some of the worst crowds. First, don’t go on a weekend. Secondly, pay extra for an early morning tour. Otherwise, wait until later in the day (and take advantage of the reduced ticket price) to visit after 4pm.
For 2025, the layout is a vast improvement over some previous years when it comes to traffic flow. Displays are spread out, and there is almost nowhere that you really need to wait in line. The frustration level among all the visitors was substantially less, especially compared to what we experienced in 2023 when lines seemed like they might not ever end.