Registration opens for the 2024 Perennial Plant Association National Symposium

Registration is now open for the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) 2024 National Symposium, which will be held in Asheville, North Carolina. PPA will also be celebrating its 40th anniversary as an association at the National Symposium.

The National Symposium will be hosted at the Embassy Suites and DoubleTree Downtown Asheville hotels July 29-Aug. 1, with tours exploring into the surrounding areas. This year, PPA has partnered with Speaking of Gardening to add an additional day of education on Aug. 2.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore botanical gardens, see work from leading companies and learn from top experts in the field. Comprised of education, tours, socials, dinners and a trade show, attendees can choose to participate in the weeklong experience with PPA hosting “add-on” bus tours on Monday, the Core Symposium (Tuesday-Thursday) and another “add-on” day of industry leading speakers hosted by Speaking of Gardening.

PPA will recognize those who have made a significant impact to the horticulture industry with the Special Recognition Awards, offer the opportunity to meet the Perennial Plant Foundation scholarship winners and announce the 2024 Landscape Design Awards and 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Speaker highlights include:

• Tom Ranney: Exploring Southern Appalachian Flora (JC Raulston Distinguished Professor of Horticultural Science at NC State University)
• Kelly Elsworth: From Test Tube to Garden Center (Founder and president of Next Stage Labs)
• Rashid Poulson: Cultivating Community and Ecological Stewardship (Director of horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation)
• Bobby Mottern: Gardening for Climate Resilience (Director of horticulture at Sarah P. Duke Gardens)

Tour attractions:

• Botanical Gardens at Asheville
• B.B. Barnes Garden Center
• Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Center
  
• Reems Creek Nursery
• New this year: Hiking Tour to the waterfalls in the Pisgah Forest

Evening visits and social events include a special dinner at Highland Brewing and a ticketed-only event at the North Carolina Governor’s Western Residence in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“What better way to celebrate the PPA’s 40th anniversary than meeting up with old friends and making new connections in beautiful Asheville," said Richard Hawke, PPA Board President. "Thanks to the PPA Southern Region Director and local planning committee for putting together a solid program with great talks and inspiring tours."

The early bird registration deadline is June 17, 2024, and the final registration deadline is July 15, 2024.

For more information and to register, visit perennialplant.org/page/NationalSymposium.