Spring and summertime wouldn’t quite be the same without garden beds and planters packed with blooms and greenery. We love them, and they’re important for our bee and butterfly friends as well! If you’re looking to learn more about horticulture or feast your eyes on elaborate gardens and floral displays a step above what you have in the backyard, you should check out some of the world’s best flower shows. So whether you’re looking for a bit of inspiration or just want something pretty to look at, why not discover what makes these 5 shows the best of the best flower shows in the USA.
San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, California
This flower and garden show has been running since 1985 and keeps getting better every year. Northern California is known to focus much of its attention on sustainable and green practices and this show is no different. Along with full-sized designer showcase gardens and hundreds of floral displays there is a full range of free seminars, exhibits, and demonstrations. In recent years there has been a big focus on recycling and organic practices and experts are always on hand to share tips and advice. This show also offers something for the kids – a special pollinator pavilion where kids can learn firsthand how to make a bee hotel, create gardens for butterflies, and read all about insects. This west coast show is truly one of the best flower shows in the USA, but be prepared to not leave empty-handed!
Southern Spring Home & Garden Show, North Carolina
If you’re looking for a flower show in America with a little bit of Southern charm, head to the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show in Charlotte – one of the most fun events to help people prepare for spring! Here you’ll find flower gardens based on the yearly theme (2020 was “Vintage South”) and front porch inspiration overflowing with blooms and greenery. The show generally runs for two weekends in February and March to give gardeners time to plan and prepare before Spring comes and it’s time to plant. Attendees also get the chance to hear celebrity and expert speakers on topics ranging from building the perfect outdoor environment to botanical gardening!
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Florida
This annual show caters to the whole family and offers more interaction for the little ones than any of the other flower festivals. Fanciful topiaries of Disney characters make up the bulk of the exhibits here at Epcot and both parents and kids will delight seeing their favorite character covered in flowers. Experts are on hand to teach parents more about design and send them home with tips and tricks for their own gardens. The themed flower and display gardens are beautiful to admire while the kids are busy in the interactive play areas. Nightly concerts are also a big part of this festival. If you’re planning on travelling to Epcot, it’s worth going when the annual International Flower and Garden show takes place.
Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia
Hailed as the world’s longest-running and largest indoor show in the country, the Philadelphia Flower Show does not disappoint. Visitors will find elaborate large-scale gardens, extreme floral arrangements, and sophisticated landscapes. Designers find inspiration from the official theme that changes every year and create stunning masterpieces in line with that same theme. Experts are on hand to lead gardening workshops and participate in seminars while culinary demonstrations and great live entertainment compliment the show’s schedule. Kids are more than welcome here and love to take part in the butterfly experience or hang out in the kid’s only zone. This flower show is also a shopper’s paradise and visitors will want to visit the official flower shop and marketplace.
The Portland Rose Festival, Oregon
Although this festival is more than just a flower show it holds the title of being the largest and longest-running rose show in the nation. Here, visitors can find over 4,000 rose blooms from participants across the Pacific Northwest. What makes this flower show unique from others is that entry is open to anyone and roses are the only flower allowed into the competition. All types of flowers are encouraged elsewhere in this festival though, including the Grand Floral Parade which features floats made entirely of blooms! This festival even crowns a queen! Other activities range from races to fireworks to concerts to rides, so it’s fun for the whole family even if you are the only member actually interested in flowers. It may be niche, but this is one of the best flower shows in the USA.
