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 IN EARLY DECEMBER

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.

More Information HERE