Perennial Plant Conference 2025

                                Friday, October 17, 2025                                                                                           
                                9:00am - 4:00pm 
                                Swarthmore College, Science Center                                                                                                          
                                500 College Ave 
                                Swarthmore, PA 19081                                                                                                                                        

The Perennial Plant Conference is co-sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Scott Arboretum and Gardens of Swarthmore College. In-person and Virtual Options available.

Attend in-depth presentations on commercial/retail issues, specific genera of perennial plants, how to use perennials in landscapes, as well as adding to the biodiversity in the garden. The conference welcomes horticultural professionals, gardening experts, and enthusiastic gardening amateurs. Presentations throughout the day are geared to all of these groups.  

In-person registration includes:

• Early Riser Tours of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens from 7:45 to 8:45 am
• Lunch and refreshments throughout the day
• Opportunity to participate in perennial plant raffle of unusual plants
• Link to the live webinar
• Opportunity to attend post-conference Reception with speakers ($20).

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SPEAKERS and PROGRAM:

Wildscaping: Plant-Driven Landscape Design

Tony Spencer is the Canadian writer, photographer, blogger and planting designer behind The New Perennialist. He is recognized and published internationally in the world of naturalistic garden design. In 2024, Tony won his second top Landscape Design Award of Excellence from the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) and was also named PPA Garden Media Promoter of the year. Day to day, Tony is a puckish ringleader for the naturalistic movement with over 90k followers on social media. He travels extensively to gardens and symposiums in his primary role as a communicator, documenter, and sharer of ideas for this movement. Tony is currently writing a book for Timber Press.

Vernonia and Solidago for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center where he evaluates native plant species, old and new cultivars, and hybrids in the Trial Garden. When Sam is not in the gardens, he can be found working as a liaison with the Mid-Atlantic horticultural and nursery community to help promote the use of beautiful and ecologically valuable plants from Mt. Cuba’s evaluations. Sam grew up in East Granby, Connecticut, where his passion for plants and the natural world grew and led him to the pursuit of his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at the University of Vermont.

Couture Clematis: The Fashionable Cultivation of Herbaceous Perennial Clematis

Linda Beutler grows a great variety of plants on a simple city lot in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Her passion for clematis led to the publication of her first book, Gardening with Clematis (2004) followed by two more Timber Press titles: Garden to Vase (2007), and 2016’s Plant Lovers Guide to Clematis. Linda also loves garden travel.

Linda serves as curator of the Rogerson Clematis Collection, North America’s only accredited clematis collection, and is a past-President of the International Clematis Society. She is still serving on their governing council and has received a Golden Clematis Award for her service to the Society and the genus Clematis. She was an adjunct instructor of horticulture at Clackamas Community College for nearly 30 years and lectures internationally on a variety of gardening topics. She is also a frequent presenter at Seattle’s Northwest Flower and Garden Festival. 

Meadows, Gardens, and Meadow Gardens: Managing Native Perennial Meadow Landscapes at Any Scale

Kristie Lane Anderson is a Research Specialist with the Land Stewardship and Ecology team at Longwood Gardens. Kristie engages in hands-on land stewardship, restoration planning and implementation, stewardship science, and development of GIS systems for data collection and land analysis. Kristie has a Master of Landscape Architecture and brings a focus on both the ecological and the aesthetic to her work. 

Practical Gardening: Staking Methods for Perennials

David Mattern is a Horticulturist at Chanticleer caring for the Teacup Courtyards and Vegetable Garden. He holds a degree in Landscape Contracting with an emphasis on design and a minor in Horticulture. David is also a graduate of the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens, where he is currently an instructor. His gardening experiences extend internationally including England and South Africa. David frequently writes, teaches, and lectures on gardening.

Enduring Beauty: The Role of Perennials in a Drier Mediterranean Climate

James Basson is an award-winning landscape designer and founder of Scape Design. Together with co-designer Helena Coates, they run a studio specializing in sustainable, dry-climate gardens. Based in the South of France, James is renowned for his ecologically sensitive approach, creating landscapes that harmonize with their natural surroundings. His work draws inspiration from Mediterranean ecosystems, using drought-resistant plants and local materials to craft gardens that are both resilient and aesthetically striking. With a deep respect for biodiversity and environmental sustainability, James has received numerous accolades, including gold medals at the Philadelphia and Chelsea Flower Shows. Through Scape Design, he continues to redefine the boundaries between nature and design.

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Registration:  https://www.perennialplantconference.org/registration/

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, September 19.
Regular Registration Deadline: Friday, October 10.
Early Bird registration (In-person and Virtual): $119
Regular registration (In-person and Virtual): $149
Growth and Access registration: $30
Virtual Watch Party registration: Early Bird: $250, Regular: $280

HPS/MAG Contact: Nora Sirbaugh at [email protected]