Plant-O-Rama 2026

Plant-O-Rama

Sponsored By: Metro Hort Group

PLANT-O-RAMA is Metro Hort Group’s annual Symposium, Trade Show & Career Fair for Horticulture Professionals. It is our largest program of the year attracting nearly 1,000 gardeners, designers, arborists, and educators working in public parks, botanical gardens, & private gardens and landscapes in the New York City Tri-State region.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Symposium, Trade Show & Career Fair
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
At Brooklyn Botanic Garden

TICKETS ON SALE HERE

If you are interested in participating in the Plant-O-Rama Trade Show you can find more information, and the reservation form, HERE
If you are interested in participating in the Plant-O-Rama Career Fair you can find more information, and the reservation form, HERE

FEATURED SPEAKERS

James Hitchmough
Horticulturalist, Author, and Emeritus Professor of Horticultural Ecology at the University of Sheffield.

Evaluating the Complexity and Diversity of Designed Herbaceous Plantings
Over the past 30 years there has been much progress in imagining and creating plantings that are spatially, temporally, and taxonomically complex; and in some parts of the world these plantings have become the zeitgeist. Though exemplary for supporting biodiversity and delivering high levels of aesthetic appeal, they can also be more demanding to design, implement, and successfully manage into perpetuity. James will explore where we are with these planting genres and how we can maximise the benefits and minimise the potential negatives.

Joseph Charap and Sara Evans
Joseph is the Vice President of Horticulture. Sara is Director of the Living Collections and Curator.

The Graveyard Shift: Choosing Curiosity over Control
For generations, Green-Wood maintained the lawn-dominated landscape most Americans recognize - neat, controlled, unchanging. But it came at a cost. This presentation examines how Green-Wood has begun choosing curiosity over control: disentangling our historic character from harmful 20th-century landscape practices. Through memorial meadows, reforestation, and reconsidering invasive plant management, we're discovering that honoring the dead means protecting the living world they left behind.

PANEL DISCUSSION
Gardens: Nurturing Plants, Communities, and People
How can we ensure that urban green spaces remain community focused, accessible to all, and provide pathways to meaningful employment in the green industry? These challenges are daunting, but New York City nonprofits are tackling the issue and developing strategies for success. Join us for a lively conversation where our panelists will reflect on the challenges and successes they have had in cultivating community, the environment, and the next generation of horticultural professionals.

Moderator: Andrew Sliwa, Vice President of Horticulture, Southern Land Company
Panelists: Andrea Parker, Gowanus Canal Conservancy; Jennifer Beaugrand, The Bronx is Blooming; Lisa Bloodgood, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance; and Tonya Gayle, Green City Force.

More Information HERE