2024 PLANT SHOWS

Plant Shows at the Garden offer dazzling displays and beautiful blooms. Coordinated in partnership with the region’s plant societies, these events demonstrate the fascinating variety that exists within plant families. Learn from expert growers through lectures and demonstrations, and even explore rare and unusual plants for sale. Whether you’re a budding plant enthusiast or a practiced grower, this year’s plant shows feature exciting opportunities you won’t want to miss! 

Plant Show attendees should note that the variety and number of plants on display at each event is subject to change due to weather, growing conditions, and other external factors. Overall turnout for each display is variable as plant and flower entries are received by the societies on the morning of each event. Plants for sale are available while supplies last, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Plant societies are organizations that bring horticultural enthusiasts of different levels and experiences together around a specific plant group to share knowledge about that plant’s culture, growing needs, and propagation. In the U.S., plant societies convene at the state, regional, or national level, and many trace roots to the early half of the 20th century. Each plant society is different, but annual shows and exhibitions like the ones that take place at the Garden are shared traditions that have grown and evolved over the decades. Some societies host competitions at their annual shows where flowers grown by society members are judged and awarded prizes. All shows include opportunities to learn from experts and celebrate the beauty of different plants!

African Violets in bloom

BAY STATE AFRICAN VIOLET SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Show & Sale: 10am–4pm (sale while supplies last)
Demonstration: “How to Grow African Violets”, 1–2pm

From fuzzy leaves to friendly flowers, there are many reasons why African violets are among America’s most popular houseplants. Come discover the appeal for yourself at the Bay State African Violet Society Show & Sale. Already an African violet admirer? Join us for an opportunity to connect with growers who have years of experience caring for these charming, vibrant plants.

This event includes horticultural and design exhibits of African violets grown by Bay State African Violet Society members, lectures, and demonstrations. Learn general care of African violets and basic requirements for soil, fertilizing, watering, and light. Discover tips on how and when to re-pot and how to propagate new plants from leaves. There will also be hundreds of gorgeous African violets for sale (while supplies last)!

Pink Rhododendron blooms in The Garden

MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RHODODENDRON SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Show: 12–5pm
Sale: 10am–5pm (while supplies last)
Guided Flower Show Tour: 12:30–1pm
Lecture: “New Rhododendron Hybrids for New England Gardens”, 2–3pm

Sunday, May 19, 2024
Show & Sale: 10am–4pm (sale while supplies last)
Guided Flower Show Tour: 1:30–2pm
Lecture: “Intro to the Rhododendron and Their Care”, 2–3pm

Rhododendron, lovingly known as “Rhodies,” are a genus of woody plants native to Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. They grow in temperate deciduous forests often along hillsides and mountain slopes. This spring, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society brings you a show that will immerse you in the world of rhodies!

The event includes fabulous rhododendron flower displays, educational lectures and workshops, and opportunities to purchase unusual and rare rhododendrons, azaleas, and other compatible plants grown by society members. As a portion of the event, rhododendron flowers grown by society members will be entered into competition, grouped, and judged by type. A guided informational tour of the show’s entries will help you learn what qualities to look for in your own flowers. Bring your questions! Expert growers will be on-hand to help you learn more about all things rhododendron.

Pink roses blooming on the stairs of the Secret Garden.

NEW ENGLAND ROSE SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Show: 12–3pm
Sale: 10am–3pm (while supplies last)
Lecture: “Easy Roses, Happy Gardens: A Stress-Free Introduction” | 10:30–11:15am
Lecture: “Friends & Foes of the Garden” | 11:30am–12:15pm
Award Ceremony: 2:30–3pm

Get ready to be dazzled by a room full of roses! At the annual New England Rose Society Show & Sale, appreciate the beauty of this iconic flower—the national flower of the United States—through an array of large, colorful cut roses. Roses entered into competition at the show will be awarded ribbons and certificates by horticultural judges from the American Rose Society. Participation is encouraged by members and non-members alike!

At this much-anticipated show, learn what makes a prize-winning bloom, as well as tips and tricks for easy rose growing and pruning care. Come with questions! The New England Rose Society is affiliated with the American Rose Society and has been educating people about roses for over 80 years.

A yellow and red daylily blooms in the garden.

NEW ENGLAND DAYLILY SOCIETY & SALE
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Show: 1–3:30pm
Sale: 11am–3:30pm (cash or check only)
Lecture: “Daylilies from Seed to Flower” | 11am–12pm
Demonstration & Raffle: “Dividing a Daylily” | 12:30–1pm

Daylilies, true to their name, are known for explosive, short-lived displays. While they add pops of color to New England gardens around mid-July, each individual bloom only lasts for about 24 hours. That’s one thing that makes The New England Daylily Society Show & Sale so exciting. Up until the morning of the show, society members don’t know which flowers they’ll be bringing! Every year, hybridizers introduce the latest and greatest of new cultivars, adding to the more than 88,000 already registered varieties. That means no matter what blooms in the morning, Garden visitors can count on finding an extraordinary array of daylilies that highlight a wide variety of size, forms, colors, and patterns.

Come see the show and vote for your favorite flowers! Sales tables will be open (cash or check only) and expert growers will be there to answer your questions.

Pink Lilies bloom in the Garden with sunlight shining on them.

NEW ENGLAND LILY SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, July 20, 2024
Sunday, July 21, 2024

The New England Lily Society’s annual show exhibits a wide variety of lilies grown in New England as well as beautiful flower arrangements featuring lilies.

Since 1960, the Society has presented an annual show to the community. Don’t miss this year’s colorful, showstopping blooms and opportunities to talk with lily enthusiasts who have a wealth of knowledge about growing and propagating these beautiful plants!

Pink Begonias in the garden

BUXTON BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN BEGONIA SOCIETY AND THE NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER OF THE GESNERIAD SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Sunday, September 22, 2024

Begonias are known primarily for their colorful foliage, while gesneriads are known for their brightly colored flowers. At this exciting event, enjoy a fantastic display of begonias and gesneriads presented by the Buxton Branch of the American Begonia Society and the New England Chapter of the Gesneriad Society. Discover the amazing variety and beauty of begonias and gesneriads in this diverse show and learn tips from expert growers for caring for these well-loved houseplants. “Pop-up” demonstrations on begonia propagation methods, as well as a hands-on workshop where children can create their own magical garden to bring home (ages 5+, children must be accompanied by an adult), make this event perfect for plant lovers of all ages. Many unusual and rare begonias and gesneriads will also be available for sale.

Have a begonia or gesneriad you’re proud of? Members of the public are encouraged to enter their own plants into the exhibition. Plant society members will be available to help with plant entry and identification. If interested in participating, please contact the Begonia Society.

A bright orange dahlia blooms in the Winter Garden.

NEW ENGLAND DAHLIA SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Sunday, September 29, 2024

The charismatic dahlia, a dazzling plant with flowers that bloom in a vast array of colors, forms, and sizes, takes center stage at one of the most highly anticipated plant shows of the year. From dime-sized minion blooms to honeycomb-shaped balls and even giant dinnerplate dahlias, the spectacular variety in this flower family is sure to amaze visitors of all ages.

This annual two-day event is coordinated by the New England Dahlia Society, a group of over 100 dahlia enthusiasts devoted to the study, growth, exhibition, and enjoyment of dahlias. For your viewing pleasure, Society growers from across New England will showcase artistic displays of their most unique and beautiful blooms. So, join us for a weekend of oohing and ahhing!

Pitcher plant, a carnivorous plant.

NEW ENGLAND CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOCIETY SHOW & SALE
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Sunday, October 6, 2024

The award-winning New England Carnivorous Plant Society (NECPS) returns to showcase a fascinating group of plants sure to captivate and amaze. Featured plants include pitcher plants from Malaysia with traps the size of softballs that are capable of eating lizards and mice. There will also be sundews from Australia ranging from the size of a dime to 12+ inches high and the ever-popular Venus Fly trap. For all native plant lovers, NECPS will also display carnivorous plants that grow locally in Massachusetts and throughout New England.

Over 300 plants are scheduled to be on display and seminars will be offered on growing and feeding carnivorous plants. Visit the Venus Fly Trap feeding station where you can observe up close how these plants devour insects. Plants and growing accessories will be available for purchase for both novice and experienced growers from carnivorous plant vendors and the NECPS. Society members will be present both days to explain how the plants feed, what they eat, where they live, and how they can be grown and enjoyed at home.

Garden club federation plant show piece.

GARDEN CLUB FEDERATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SHOW
Friday, November 1, 2024
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Sunday, November 3, 2024

The Central North and Central South Districts of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts will be hosting a National Garden Club Standard Flower Show at the Garden this fall. The show offers members of Garden Clubs in the New England Region and beyond an opportunity to exhibit floral designs, horticultural specimens, and educational exhibits with the intent to educate club members and the viewing public and stimulate interest in horticulture and floral design. The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts offers many opportunities for education in the gardening world, and the show provides insight into just some of the interests and talents nurtured by the state and individual clubs.