The 2025 spring flower and garden show season will soon burst into bloom—and not a minute too soon. While winter still stretches into the near future in much of the Northern Hemisphere, we’ll soon see a tree bud here, a crocus there. But why wait? If you need a shot of greens and yellows and pinks now, a stroll through a flower show may lift your spirits until your own garden is in bloom.
Miles and miles of flowers
There are dozens of flower and garden shows to visit. Our list has something for everyone—the city dweller, the traveler, the adventurer. One is a childhood haunt of our editor. We looked primarily at the northern temperate zones, across continents, where hyacinths and narcissi and tulips fill fields with an abundance of color. The new life and beauty of spring brings us hope and renewal.
All dates are for 2025. Some dates were not set at the time of publication. We will update each event as dates and details become available.
1. The Philadelphia Flower Show: Gardens of Tomorrow
March 1 to 9, 2025. Philadelphia, PA
The 2025 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show invites visitors into a visionary world of horticultural artistry with its theme, Gardens of Tomorrow. This year’s exhibits explore the future of gardening through the lens of expert designers and plant enthusiasts, blending nature’s beauty with human innovation.
At the heart of the show is the breathtaking entrance, Futura Florentia, which symbolizes the future of floral design. Guests enter through a tunnel illuminated with custom lighting, emerging into a serene landscape shaped by water, light, and texture. A four-sided water feature shimmers with cascading streams, while a gentle rain bar creates a tranquil ambiance. Surrounding these elements, vibrant perennial beds ground the space in the present, bursting with life and color.
Beyond the entrance, visitors can explore the Know to Grow speaker series, where leading plant experts share insights into the future of gardening. The Hamilton Horticourt showcases a stunning collection of unique, meticulously cared-for plants vying for the coveted Blue Ribbon.
As the world’s largest and longest-running flower show, the Philadelphia Flower Show continues to inspire with its imaginative exhibits, world-class competitions, and commitment to horticultural excellence.
Gardens of Tomorrow, The Philadelphia Flower Show, March 1 to 9, 2025. Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA. The official website, theflowershow.com, has more information to help you plan your visit.
2. New York Botanical Garden: The Orchid Show
February 15 to April 27, The Bronx, NY
The New York Botanical Garden, located in New York City’s Bronx borough, is an iconic living museum, a major educational institution, and a renowned plant research and conservation organization. Founded in 1891, it is one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world and the largest in any city in the United States.
Each year the NYBG celebrates all things orchid. This year’s show spotlights the vibrant setting of Mexico for The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism. A fusion of tradition and contemporary artistry takes center stage amid awe-inspiring displays of orchids. Visitors can wander through lush landscapes brought into vivid relief with thousands of flowers that showcase diverse ecosystems. Bright arrangements of orchids are displayed in settings inspired by the bold, multicolored designs of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragán.
Whether you’re a seasoned orchid fanatic or an NYBG newcomer, this monumental exhibition promises a feast for the senses.
The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism, February 15 to April 27, 2025. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NY. All visitors need either mobile or printed tickets for entry to the Garden. Reserve your tickets on the ticketing page of the NYBG. For general information visit the NYBG website. A special section has more information about the Orchid Show.
3. Phipps Conservatory: Spring Flower Show: A Bloom for Every Room
March 21 – April 19, Pittsburgh, PA
Located in the middle of Pittsburgh’s vibrant Oakland neighborhood (home of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon, and the Carnegie museums), Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has created world-class garden experiences since 1893.
It was commissioned by steel and real-estate magnate Henry Phipps as a gift to the City of Pittsburgh. The conservatory encompasses 15 acres including a 14-room glasshouse and 23 distinct gardens. Elaborate gardens, stunning seasonal flower shows, exclusive commissioned exhibits, and a renowned orchid and bonsai collections attract nearly a half million visitors each year.
This year’s Spring Flower Show is themed A Bloom for Every Room.
Opening Saturday, March 22 and only lasting four weeks, this year’s eye-catching displays will highlight all the quintessential spring blooms you love to see during this time of year. In a unique twist this year, each room is dedicated to a different stunning seasonal bloom — from tulips to pansies, lilies, and more — allowing you to appreciate the beauty and unique details of each flower.
A Bloom for Every Room, Spring Flower Show, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA. Tickets can be purchased online in advance. More information about the Spring Flower Show. Learn more about Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
4. Keukenhof: The Magic of Flowers
March 20 to May 11, Lisse, Netherlands.
According to tulip lovers worldwide, Keukenhof is the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Located about 30 minutes from Amsterdam and The Hague, it is also the world’s largest flower park. (The word ‘Keukenhof’ can be translated to ‘kitchen garden’ in Dutch, referring to the herbs that used to be gathered in the area for the castle kitchen.)
In addition to its stunning tulip displays, this year Keukenhof will not have a single overarching theme, but instead, each flower show will feature its own unique concept for a more diverse and exciting experience.
The pavilions will host spectacular floral exhibitions, each with its own atmosphere and artistic style. Be inspired by romantic rose and orchid displays, vibrant tulip and hyacinth arrangements, and stunning creations featuring calla lilies, gerberas, and other cut flowers.
Throughout the season, Keukenhof will also host a variety of special events, including the world-famous Flower Parade on Saturday, 12 April 2025. This spectacular floral procession travels from Noordwijk to Haarlem, drawing thousands of visitors.
More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths fill over 32 hectares with color and fragrance. The spring garden also offers 30 alternating flower and plant shows, seven inspirational gardens, 15 kilometers of footpaths and 32 hectares of gardens, where millions of bulbs are planted each year.
The roads surrounding the park can get quite busy during this spring period. A delightful alternative to driving from the capital is to stay in a nearby town, rent a bike, and then cycle to the park. This is a great way to enjoy the unique Dutch landscape around Lisse.
For others, there are luxury coaches—called Keukenhof Express—that go to the garden directly from Schiphol Airport and Leiden Centraal station.
Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands, March 20 to May 11. Tickets can be purchased online. Combination tickets that include transport from the airport, train station, and Dam Square in Amsterdam are available. For more information visit the Keukenhof website..
5. Longwood Gardens: Spring Blooms
March 28 to May 4, 2025, Kennett Square, PA
Longwood Gardens’ Spring Blooms event, running from March 28 to May 4, 2025, offers the perfect excuse to gather your friends and plan a rejuvenating day trip.
Think of it as nature’s grand fashion show. Early bloomers like snowdrops and crocuses break through the last whispers of winter, followed by a parade of tulips painting the landscape in jewel-toned sweeps. This year’s special highlight includes fresh displays in the Bonsai Courtyard, where ancient artistry meets springtime renewal.
For those of us who may struggle with mobility, Longwood offers paved paths and plenty of benches for resting. Consider visiting on a weekday morning when crowds are thinner, and you can take your time absorbing the beauty around you.
Spring Blooms, March 28 to May 4, 2025, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA. Timed tickets are required and are available on Longwood Gardens website.
6. RHS Chelsea Flower Show
May 20 to 24, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show shines a spotlight on the world of gardens, plants, and flowers for five glorious days every May. Held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, it is the most famous flower and landscape gardens show in the United Kingdom, and possibly the world, attracting more than 150,000 visitors each year over five days.
Show Gardens and Feature Gardens: the future of gardening, technology
Show Gardens at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show explore how gardens can work towards a better future as well as providing a sanctuary. Among them are:
The Avanade Intelligent Garden is RHS Chelsea’s first Show Garden with embedded AI showcasing cutting-edge technology for urban garden management. AI continuously monitors factors like soil moisture, pH, temperature, air quality, wind, and rainfall through a network of sensors. This data reveals trends, tracks changes, and predicts future conditions, enabling proactive, resource-efficient care.
The Killik & Co Futureproof Garden is a modern family garden designed to withstand a changing climate. As temperatures rise, plants traditionally found in the South of France may thrive in southern English gardens. The garden showcases resilient ‘future trees’ like Zelkova serrata and Pinus mugo ‘Mughus’, which can endure drought, flooding, and rising temperatures.
The Addleshaw Goddard: Freedom to Flourish Garden takes its design cue from the saltmarshes and cliff tops of Norfolk’s coast. Cliff faces are replicated and the sandy tones of tree bark and flowering grasses set the background planting palette.
One of this year’s feature (unjudged) gardens–The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden–is being designed by BBC garden presenter Monty Don. There’s a neatly mown lawn at the center of the garden, perfect for dogs to chase balls, roll around and flop out in the sunshine. A large tree provides shade, surrounded by ‘balls’ of alliums and topiary.
Monty’s dog, Ned, is a consultant on the design process. After the show, Monty’s ground-breaking garden will find its forever home at the Battersea Dogs Home.
As a bonus for residents and visitors, London’s streets are filled with blossoms and blooms around the time of the show.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, May 20 to 24, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London. For tickets visit the RHS website.
Some of these shows require travel…
…but others may be just a road trip away. If the cold, gray days of winter have wearied you and you need a few days immersed in the beauty and resilience of nature, a flower show may be just what your soul is craving.
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.“ – Luther Burbank, American environmentalist, 1849-1926
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