This June, experience the first outdoor Flower Show in Philadelphia history.

The show will span 15 acres of FDR park — that’s more than 450,000 square feet (and a 45% increase in space from the previous location in the Philadelphia Convention Center)! The larger footprint will allow for safer social distancing practices and a layout that emphasizes the park’s natural beauty alongside the exhibits.

This year’s theme, “Habitat: Nature’s Masterpiece”, couldn’t be a better match for its location. “The theme being habitat gives us this great entrée into ecological aspects of gardening”, says Seth Pearsoll, the show’s Director of Design. FDR park, home to over 150 species of birds, has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Pennsylvania Audubon Society. “One of the designers is really looking at plants and gardens as they relate to the habitat of birds,” says Pearsoll. And since the event is taking place over the summer, many more native plants will be in season and ready to feature. “I know of a few folks who are really digging into expressions with native plants more so than normal because of the plant availability.”

Although the show hasn’t been built yet, here’s what you can expect to see this June.

Flower Show Attractions

As in the past, the Flower Show will be divided into three districts: the Design District, the Plant District, and the Garden District. Each district will feature a variety of exciting attractions, from stunning botanical displays by designers like Donald Pell and Wambui Ippolito to educational, interactive exhibits showcasing the versatility of horticulture.

Green Philly readers will love to visit the Gardener’s Green, where you can view inspirational sample gardens and receive personalized gardening advice from gardening experts. Many of the show’s garden displays will be built with sustainable practices in mind — the current lineup includes a rain garden, kitchen garden, and more.

In addition to the displays, this year’s lineup features some exciting events (additional fees may apply). You can take a walk through a room of native butterflies at Butterflies Live!, enjoy special evening hours with Evening at the Flower Show and Flowers After Hours, and bring your kids to Family Frolic for some kid-friendly fun.

Will the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show be sustainable?

Green Philly has critiqued the Flower Show in the past for its lack of sustainability efforts, wasteful, and surface-level treatment of environmental issues. But this year, organizers are working harder to create a more sustainable event.

While the show’s lineup is not fully complete, many of the confirmed designers will be incorporating creative sustainability messaging and design elements into their displays. “We’ve got a lot of new exhibitors, which allows us to focus on sustainability or ecological issues because we’re able to tap into some folks we haven’t had before. You see a lot of really interesting and different takes on what that means for designers and gardeners and garden lovers,” says Pearsoll.

The vast majority of displays — both plant materials and the structures holding them up — will either be reused or recycled. And since outdoor displays must be built with longevity in mind, many of the show’s designers are working to create attractions that can withstand the elements and be easily disassembled for reuse. Taking advantage of the summer sun, organizers plan to use solar energy wherever possible to power generators, charging stations, and lighting.

If you want to give back, consider volunteering for the Flower Show’s Green Team while spots are still available! The Green Team will be responsible for assisting with recycling efforts and educating visitors on recycling practices. Green team members will also locate donation recipients for reusable materials and leftover food from the show.

COVID safety

PHS has been working hard to plan a COVID-safe event. Tickets will be timed and dated (see below for more information on ticketing) in order to ensure a limited guest capacity. You’ll need to wear a mask to the event, and public areas will be regularly cleaned and sanitized.

Philadelphia Flower Show 2021 Ticketing information

You can purchase a ticket for the show online or from the show’s official ticket vendors, including ACME, Septa, and AAA. Tickets are priced as follows:

• Adults: $45
• Young Friend (18-29): $30
• Child (5-17): $20
• Child 4 years and under: Free
• You’ll also need to specify what time you wish to attend, as tickets must be reserved for morning or afternoon sessions and are only good for the reserved session. Session hours are as follows:

Saturday, June 5: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Morning Session: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Afternoon Session: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 6 – Sunday, June 13:?10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Morning Session: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Afternoon Session: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

NOTE: The last guest entry each day is 30 minutes prior to close.

PHS members may be eligible for discounted or free tickets.

While the event’s organizers have picked the driest week of the year, rain happens — and the event will go on, rain or shine. Have your rain boots on hand and get ready to embrace the outdoor show.

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Sophie Brous is an editorial intern at Green Philly. Born and raised in NYC, she now attends Haverford College, where she majors in linguistics. When she's not writing, she can be found exploring cities, making arts and crafts, and finding ways to live a greener lifestyle. View all posts by Sophie Brous