Plant-O-Rama Banner 2025

Plant-O-Rama: General Information

Plant-O-Rama 2026

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.

TICKETS ON SALE IN DECEMBER!

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

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
The Green-Wood Cemetery
Joseph is the Vice President of Horticulture. Sara is Director of the Living Collections and Curator.

Death Shall Have No Dominion: Beyond the Tyranny of Lawn
Program description coming soon.

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: TBC
Panelists: Andrea Barker, Gowanus Canal Conservancy; Jennifer Beaugrand, The Bronx is Blooming; Lisa Bloodgood, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance; and Tonya Gayle, Green City Force.

2026 SCHEDULE COMING SOON

Plant-O-Rama: Schedule

2025 Schedule

Presented by Metro Hort Group

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Registration & Kick-off Coffee
9:00 am - 9:15 am

Welcome Remarks | AUDITORIUM
9:15 am - 10:15 am

All Together Now: Collective Action in the Face of Climate Change & Biodiversity Loss | AUDITORIUM 
FEATURED SPEAKER: Edwina von Gal, Perfect Earth Project
 
11 am – 12 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: Managing Naturalistic Gardens & Landscapes: Tactics & Techniques | AUDITORIUM 
Moderator: Rashid Poulson, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Panelists: Jessica Kaplan, Riverside Park Conservancy; Marni Majorelle, Alive Structures; Sarma Ozols, Trust for Governors Island; Pawel Pieluszynski, Brooklyn Bridge Park
     
12:30pm – 1:30 pm

Reimagining an Historic Landscape using Native Plants and Sustainable Horticulture | AUDITORIUM
FEATURED SPEAKER: Ethan Kauffman, Stoneleigh
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: Cultivating Creativity: A Conversation with Artists and Horticulturists | AUDITORIUM
Moderator: Stephanie Lucas, Madison Square Park Conservancy
Panelists: Patrick Costello, 2024 BBG Performing Artist in Residence; Jean Shin; Lily Kwong, Landscape Artist, Urban Edenist & Founder of STUDIO LILY KWONG & Freedom Gardens.
 

EVENTS

8:30 am – 2:00 pm

GARDEN BOOK SALE | ROTUNDA
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

HORTICULTURAL TRADE SHOW | PALM HOUSE
9:30 am - 3:00 pm

COFFEE BAR | VISITOR CENTER will be open to purchase salads, sandwiches, snacks, and beverages.
10:00 am –1:00 pm

CAREER FAIR | STEINHARDT CONSERVATORY LOWER LEVEL
10:30 am - 2:00 pm

YELLOW MAGNOLIA CAFÈ will be open to purchase salads, sandwiches, snacks, and beverages.
11:30 am - 1:00 pm

SEED SWAP | VISITOR CENTER ATRIUM
12:30 pm & 2:00 pm

BBG GARDENER WALKS | (30 - 45 minutes each)
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

HAPPY HOUR | PALM HOUSE
Beer & Wine

Plant-O-Rama: Exhibitors

PLANT-O-RAMA EXHIBITORS 2026

These nurseries, growers, tree care companies, and horticultural suppliers will have booths at the TRADE SHOW in the Palm House at Brooklyn Botanic Garden 

Trade Show Exhibitors
List in formation

(W) = Wholesale
(R) = Retail 

  1. ASI (W) - the best direct source of indoor & outdoor planters for architects, designers & interiorscapers in North America since the 1960s
  2. Atlantic Nurseries, Inc. (W) - distinctive plants & products for 50 years
  3. Capital Garden Products Ltd (W) - fibreglass garden planters, pots & water features
  4. City Tree Guards (W) (R) - New York City Based Manufacturers of Recycled HDPE Tree Guards
  5. Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs (W) - distinctive wholesale bulbs & color mixes
  6. Glover Perennials (W) - specialty ground covers & perennials
  7. Izel Native Plants (W) - user-friendly website/broker for native plants
  8. Kind Earth Growers (W) - native perennials for ecological restoration
  9. Linden Hill Nursery (W) - a family-owned wholesale nursery that provides specialized plant sourcing and brokerage services for landscapers, designers and architects.
  10. New Growth Designs (W) - artificial flowers, plants, and trees for the design trade
  11. North Creek Nurseries (W) - landscape plugs & liners focusing on eastern U.S. Natives
  12. Organic Mechanics Soil (W) - premier organic potting soils & amendments
  13. Pleasant Run Nursery (W) - new & unusual containerized woody ornamentals
  14. Pottery King (W) - largest inventory of wholesale commercial planters and garden pottery in the tri-state area.

These horticultural organizations, public gardens, parks, and design firms will have booths at the CAREER FAIR in the Steinhardt Conservatory at Brooklyn Botanic Garden 

Career Fair Exhibitors
List in formation

  1. Brooklyn Botanic Garden - an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.
  2. New York Restoration Project - works collaboratively with residents in communities across the five boroughs to renovate gardens, restore parks, plant trees, promote urban agriculture, and build partnerships that transform the city’s landscape.

Plant-O-Rama: Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers Needed!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! It takes a village of volunteers to run Plant-O-Rama. Join our team!
If you’re interested in volunteer, please reach out to the Plant-O-Rama Volunteer Coordinator, Serena Candiani Scandiani@centralparknyc.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 27: EVENT SET-UP
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, various locations
10:00am–2:00pm – 6 people needed.
Set up:

  • Trade Show in Palm House
  • Set up Career Fair in Conservatory
  • Check-In area in Rotunda (Tables for Will-Call/Check-in, MHG Info desk, Ticket Sales, etc.)
  • Visitor Center Atrium for Speaker Sessions

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28: EVENT DAY
Exhibitor Load-in and Set-up - BBG Loading Dock and Palm House

One Shift: 7:15am-8:45am - 2-3 people
Exhibitor load-in & set-up at BBG Loading Dock.
Help vendors unload and find their tables in the Palm House.

      Speaker Session Monitors -- BBG Visitor Center Atrium
      Assist speakers and AV crew before and during speaker sessions. Replenish water and other supplies for speakers and crew. Act as a runner if needed. Keep time for speakers.

      • 9:15am - 10:15am - 1 person
      • 11:00am - 12:00pm - 1 person
      • 12:30pm - 1:30pm - 1 person
      • 2:00pm - 3:00pm - 1 person

      Trade Show Monitors -- BBG Palm House
      Assist vendors as needed. Shift 1: Help vendors find their booths and set up, find name tags, access WiFi, etc. Answer questions about schedule, lunches, parking, etc. Help vendors find their lunches. Help vendors exit at the appropriate time.

      • 8:30am - 10:15am - 2 people
      • 10:15am - 11:45am - 1 person
      • 11:45am - 1:15pm - 1 person
      • 1:15pm - 2:45pm - 1 person
      • 2:45pm - 4:15pm - 1 person

      Career Fair Monitors -- BBG Steinhardt Conservatory
      Help exhibitors find their table and name tags and set up their booths. Assist exhibitors as needed during the event. Answer questions.

      • 9:15am - 10:45am - 1-2 people
      • 10:45am - 12:15pm - 1 person
      • 11:30am - 1:15pm - 1 perso

      Closing Party Assistants – BBG Palm House
       Help caterers and vendors with crowd control and directions. 1-2 people.

      • 2:45pm - 4:00pm

      Event Take-Down -- BBG Palm House
      Help break down tables and booths after the event. Fold tablecloths, stack poles and signs.

      • 4:10pm - 4:45pm - 4-5 people