Philadelphia Flower Show facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philadelphia Flower Show
2017 Philadelphia Flower Show entrance.
Frequency	Annual
Venue	Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park
Organized by	Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Website	http://theflowershow.com

The Philadelphia Flower Show is a super cool event that happens every year. It's put on by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). This amazing show usually takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in early March.

It's the oldest and biggest indoor flower show in the whole world! More than 250,000 people visit it every year. Many people call it "the country's oldest, largest, and most important celebration of flowers."

The show has huge gardens that are designed in amazing ways. You can see everything from fancy landscapes to single plants entered by individuals or clubs. Each year, the PHS picks a special theme for the show. All the exhibits are judged in different groups, and it's a very tough competition!

A really popular part of the show is the Garden Marketplace. Here, visitors can buy all sorts of things. You can find plants, seeds, cut flowers, and handmade crafts. There are also many other items related to flowers and gardening.

The show is full of beautiful flower and garden designs. You can also enjoy live entertainment and special food events. Experts give workshops and talks about gardening, teaching you how to grow your own plants.

In 2021 and 2022, the show was held outside. It took place in the summer at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. This change happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show returned to the Convention Center in March 2023. Its theme that year was "The Garden Electric."

Competing for the Best Flowers

The show has a special part for amateur gardeners. This is called the Competitive Classes. These classes often have a theme that matches the main show's theme. For example, in 2007, the show was about "Legends of Ireland." The pressed plant material category asked for designs that included a "Celtic Knot."

Sometimes, competitors only bring their pruning shears. They have to use materials provided at the show. Then, they create a design based on a theme in a short amount of time. This is called a Challenge class.

Seth Pearsoll, who helps design the Flower Show for PHS, shared what they look for. He said they want designers who love plants and gardening. But they also want people who think about how their designs connect to bigger ideas. He hopes visitors feel excited and changed by the gardens they see.

A Look at the Flower Show's History

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is a non-profit group. It started way back in 1827. The PHS says it uses horticulture (which is the art of growing plants) to help people in the Greater Philadelphia area. Their programs help create healthier places to live. They also help people get fresh food and find jobs. Plus, they help people connect with each other.

The very first Philadelphia Flower Show happened in 1829. It was held in a Freemason building. This first show lasted only one day. It showed off fruits, flowers, and plants. One special plant shown was the poinsettia. This plant was new to the area, brought from Mexico by Colonel Robert Carr. Many people say the Flower Show helped make poinsettias a popular Christmas tradition in America.

There were no shows during some war years. This includes 1917–18 and 1942–45.

In 1925, the PHS teamed up with the Florist Club. This was a group of local flower businesses. The 1925 show brought in 84,000 visitors! A special company, Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., was created in 1927. This company managed the show until the mid-1960s.

In 1964, Philadelphia Flower Show Inc. stopped putting on the show. It was hard to find a good place for it. But the show came back in 1966! It moved to the Philadelphia Civic Center, which is now gone. It stayed there until 1996. Then, it moved to its current home at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Today, the PHS helps the local economy. It also makes Philadelphia greener. Money from the Flower Show helps thousands of projects in communities. These projects make neighborhoods better places to live. Recently, a special group for young people was added to the pressed flower category. A 17-year-old student named Kendall Wolson won. She made a picture of two bears catching fish in a river.

The theme for the 2020 show was "Riviera Holiday." The 2021 and 2022 shows were held outdoors at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. This was the first time the show was held outside. The 2023 show returned to the Convention Center in March.

Past Themes and Dates

You can find old art and photos from the Flower Show's history. These are from 1829 until today. They are kept in the Digital Archives of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Images for kids

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  2009 Philadelphia Flower Show

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  2010 Philadelphia Flower Show

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  Carousel animal, 2011

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  Dolphin, Eiffel Tower, 2011

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  Flowers, 2011

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  Boat of flowers, 2011

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  Green Wall, 2011

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  Philadelphia Flower Show 2015

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  2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

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  2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

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  2017 Philadelphia Flower Show