The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) announced the return of the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show, taking place February 28 through March 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
In its 197th edition, the largest and oldest horticultural event in the country will feature gardens, floral exhibits, workshops, and special activities. This year, it celebrates the roots of gardening in the United States as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The 2026 Flower Show will offer a redesigned experience organized into five main areas: See, Shop, Create, Learn, and Enjoy. Featured attractions include exhibits dedicated to First Ladies and their orchids, showcases by emerging florists, hands-on workshops, free educational sessions, and special events such as Family Frolic, Fido Friday, and Flowers After Hours for guests 21 and older.
The Flower Show is also PHS’s main fundraising event. The nonprofit organization works in more than 250 neighborhoods to promote healthier and greener communities across the Philadelphia region.
Latino culture blossoms at the Philadelphia Flower Show
The Pennsylvania Convention Center was filled with color, tradition, and cultural pride thanks to strong Latino participation, highlighted by an educational project from Taller Puertorriqueño that integrated science, art, and cultural heritage, involving nearly 50 city students.
The initiative was led by Jean Ruiz, a Latino educator who works in an after-school program teaching science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). His exhibit, “Celebrating the Culture in Horticulture,” combined academic learning with an exploration of his students’ cultural roots.
“For this year, we decided to speak more about our culture, express more about our heritage, and find ways to feel empowered in city spaces,” he said. “I thought it would be a wonderful idea to bring the kids to the Flower Show, teach them different ways to grow and arrange plants, and give them the opportunity to be in a space they had never been in before.”
A project that unites science, culture, and community
Although this was the group’s second participation in the Flower Show, for many students it was their first experience. “We learned so much in our first participation, so this time we had to raise the bar,” the educator shared.
The project was developed in collaboration with students from the Norris Square Neighborhood Project and youth from the Photography Without Borders program. In total, about 50 students participated in different aspects of the installation, which included window box planters, hanging arrangements, and a photography exhibit.
The centerpiece was inspired by Puerto Rican culture and other subtropical regions of the world. “We tried to select plants from subtropical areas like Puerto Rico, Africa, and the Asian continent, and combine them with cultural symbolism,” he explained. The design included Taíno symbols, frogs, and bird’s representative of the Caribbean, as well as artistic references evoking the students’ cultural roots.
However, the process was not easy. “The process is very difficult,” he acknowledged. “We started by organizing ideas on worksheets. Students researched in books, online, and in their own neighborhoods. They asked what plants they had at home or their grandparents had, and which ones were culturally connected to us.”
Latino representation in traditional spaces
“As a Latino, it’s a difficult space,” he expressed. “Sometimes I feel pressure, like I must prove that we are Latino enough. Not just me, but my students also feel that we must prove to the world that we matter, that we belong here, that this is our culture.”
His goal goes beyond the exhibit. “I want my students to know they can do anything when they set their minds to it. No matter our race or the limits of our neighborhood, we can always find a way to show what we are passionate about.”
He also hopes visitors take away a clear message: “I want the world to know that we are capable, that we deserve these opportunities, and that we should be welcomed in these spaces. Children want to feel appreciated, empowered, and included.”
The project involved students from kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as high school youth, demonstrating that interest in horticulture, art, and culture can be planted at an early age.
At the end of the interview, the educator shared a message with the community: “Always put your heart into what you do. You are always enough. We can move forward together by collaborating with our community. Our students have the power, and what they do with their ideas can change their story and their lives.”
For more information visit phsonline.org/the-flower-show, or email https://phsonline.org/contact-us. Tickets are now available, including discounted admission for students.