Last updated: 29 September 2026. Looking for rare plants, unusual houseplants, tropical foliage, specialist nurseries or plants for a terrarium, paludarium or bioactive vivarium? This guide brings together some of the most useful UK rare plant fairs, tropical plant shows and houseplant events for 2026–2027.

These events can be particularly useful for houseplant collectors, terrarium builders, dart frog keepers and anyone looking for unusual foliage, ferns, orchids, begonias, aroids, carnivorous plants, epiphytes, aquatic plants or specialist growing advice.

This is maintained as a living UK plant event calendar. I add future events when organisers or venues confirm them rather than assuming an annual event will return on the same date.

Always check the official organiser page before travelling. Dates, opening times, venues, exhibitors and ticket arrangements can occasionally change.

Jump to:

• Confirmed 2027 plant events
• Rare Plant Fairs 2027
• 2027 dates awaiting confirmation
• Earlier 2026 events
• Which events are best for tropical and vivarium plants?
• Buying plants for terrariums and vivariums
• Useful Frogfather links

🌿 UK Rare, Tropical & Houseplant Events 2027 – Confirmed Dates

The 2027 UK plant-show calendar is already beginning to fill up. Rare Plant Fairs has announced most of its 2027 programme, the Festival of Houseplants is returning to RHS Malvern Spring Festival, and several other specialist plant events already have confirmed dates.

🌱 Rare Plant Fairs 2027

Rare Plant Fairs remains one of the most useful UK event programmes for anyone interested in unusual plants and genuine specialist nurseries.

The organiser has already announced a substantial 2027 programme running from March to September. Rather than being dominated by mass-market garden-centre plants, these events bring together independent growers specialising in interesting and unusual material.

For terrarium and vivarium keepers, the attraction isn’t necessarily a stall labelled “vivarium plants”. Look for small ferns, creeping plants, unusual foliage, miniature species, epiphytes, orchids and humidity-tolerant plants and, more importantly, talk to the people who actually grow them.

Two dates – Highnam Court on 7 August and Llanover House on 19 September – are currently marked as TBC by the organiser, so check before making travel arrangements.

Official calendar: Rare Plant Fairs 2027 dates.

🪴 Festival of Houseplants at RHS Malvern 2027

Dates: 6–9 May 2027
Venue: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW.

For people whose interests lean towards tropical houseplants rather than traditional garden plants, this is one of the most relevant larger events on the calendar.

The Festival of Houseplants forms part of RHS Malvern Spring Festival and includes specialist houseplant sellers, rare and exotic specimens, RHS-judged Indoor Plant Gardens, growing media, pots, lighting, feeds and other indoor-growing equipment.

For terrarium and paludarium keepers, it can also be useful for spotting trends in indoor lighting, planting techniques, display foliage and unusual tropical species.

Official information: Festival of Houseplants at RHS Malvern.

🌴 Broomfield Hall Rare Plant Fair & Open Gardens 2027

Date: Sunday 4 July 2027
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm
Venue: Broomfield Hall, Morley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6DN.
Entry: £5 per person; children free. Tickets available on the day.

This is a particularly interesting addition for Frogfather readers because the advertised plant sales specifically include tropical plants, carnivorous plants, cacti, succulents and alpines, alongside other specialist plants.

The event also provides access to Broomfield Hall’s developing gardens, with plant sellers, craft stalls and refreshments.

For anyone based in the East Midlands, this is one of the 2027 dates I would keep an eye on.

Official information: Broomfield Hall Rare Plant Fair & Open Gardens.

🌸 UK International Orchid Show 2027

Dates: 17–20 June 2027
Venue: Packington Estate, Meriden, Warwickshire.

Although this is covered in more detail in our dedicated UK orchid show calendar, it deserves a place here because orchids and other epiphytes are particularly relevant to tropical terrarium and vivarium planting.

For 2027, the UK International Orchid Show moves away from the NEC Birmingham along with BBC Gardeners’ World Live and will take place at Packington Estate near Meriden.

It is particularly useful for learning about mounted orchid culture, epiphytic roots, airflow and the difference between plants that enjoy atmospheric humidity and plants that tolerate permanently wet roots.

⏳ 2027 Plant Events Awaiting Dates

Plant Hunters’ Fairs 2027

Plant Hunters’ Fairs runs one of the largest regional programmes of independent nursery fairs in the Midlands and North West. Its 2026 season included 29 plant fairs from March to September.

The organiser currently states that 2027 dates are coming soon, so I have deliberately not copied the 2026 venues across and guessed their next dates.

Once the official 2027 calendar is published, I’ll add the relevant dates here.

Official organiser: Plant Hunters’ Fairs.

Kew Orchids Festival 2027

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has confirmed that its annual orchid festival will return in 2027, but the dates have not yet been announced.

Although primarily an orchid event rather than a plant fair, it remains extremely useful for tropical planting inspiration, epiphyte displays, glasshouse planting and photography.

I’ll add the confirmed dates once Kew publishes them.

📚 Earlier UK Rare, Tropical & Houseplant Events in 2026

The main 2026 specialist plant-fair season has now finished. These earlier events are retained for reference because many are annual and may return in future years.

• 7 February–8 March – Kew Orchids Festival – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
• 15 March – Rare Plant Fair – The Bishop’s Palace, Wells
• 15 March – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Thoresby Park, Newark
• 21 March – Rare Plant Fair – Evenley Wood Garden, Northamptonshire
• 22 March – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Arley Hall Gardens, Northwich
• 12 April – Rare Plant Fair – The Old Rectory, Quenington
• 7–10 May – Festival of Houseplants at RHS Malvern Spring Festival – Malvern
• 10 May – Rare Plant Fair – Salthrop House, near Swindon
• 17 May – Rare Plant Fair – American Museum & Gardens, near Bath
• 17 May – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
• 19–23 May – RHS Chelsea Flower Show – London
• 24 May – Rare Plant Fair – Kingston Bagpuize House, Oxfordshire
• 31 May – Rare Plant Fair – High Glanau Manor, Monmouthshire
• 7 June – Rare Plant Fair – Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire
• 14 June – Rare Plant Fair – Manor House Gardens, Bledlow
• 18–21 June – UK International Orchid Show – NEC Birmingham
• 28 June – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Whittington Castle, Oswestry
• 4 July – Rare Plant Fair – Fonthill House Garden, Tisbury
• 5 July – Rare & Specialist Plant Fairs UK – Secret Space, Birmingham
• 5 July – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Thoresby Park, Newark
• 5 July – Broomfield Hall Rare Plant Fair & Open Gardens – Derbyshire
• 12 July – Rare Plant Fair – Winterbourne House & Garden, Birmingham
• 19 July – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Chasewater Country Park
• 26 July – Plant Hunters’ Fair – 1620s House, Donington Le Heath
• 2 August – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
• 30–31 August – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Dorothy Clive Garden
• 6 September – Rare Plant Fair – Adwell House, Oxfordshire
• 13 September – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Weston Park, Shifnal
• 20 September – Rare Plant Fair – Llanover House, near Abergavenny
• 20 September – Plant Hunters’ Fair – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich

🔎 Which Plant Events Are Best for Tropical & Vivarium Plants?

Not every event on this page is equally useful if your main interest is tropical plants, terrariums or bioactive vivariums.

Best for rare houseplants and tropical foliage

The Festival of Houseplants at RHS Malvern is one of the strongest larger events because indoor plants are a central part of the event rather than an incidental addition. Expect specialist houseplant sellers, rare and exotic specimens, indoor displays and indoor-growing equipment.

Best for finding specialist growers

Rare Plant Fairs and Plant Hunters’ Fairs are particularly good for meeting independent nurseries. The plant you want may not necessarily be labelled as a terrarium plant, so talking directly to growers about mature size, humidity, temperature and growth habit is invaluable.

Best for orchids and epiphytes

The UK International Orchid Show and specialist orchid society shows are the obvious choices. Look particularly for miniature orchids and species that naturally grow epiphytically.

Best East Midlands option

The Broomfield Hall Rare Plant Fair & Open Gardens in Derbyshire is particularly interesting because tropical and carnivorous plants are specifically advertised alongside other specialist plants.

🐸 Buying Plants for a Terrarium, Paludarium or Vivarium

A beautiful plant on a show stand isn’t automatically a good vivarium plant. If you’re buying specifically for a planted enclosure, go in with a plan.

• Check mature size: many plants sold small will rapidly outgrow a compact enclosure.
• Ask about humidity tolerance: liking high humidity is not the same as tolerating permanently wet conditions.
• Ask about pesticides: find out how the plant has been grown and treated before placing it anywhere near amphibians or invertebrates.
• Consider airflow: orchids and other epiphytes may enjoy humid air while still requiring substantial airflow around their roots.
• Check light requirements: consider where the plant will sit within the enclosure and how much usable light reaches that position.
• Look at growth habit: creeping, climbing and shingling species can often make better use of vivarium space than large upright foliage plants.
• Quarantine new plants: plants can introduce pests, slugs, mites, fertiliser residues and other unwanted hitchhikers.
• Buy for the enclosure, not the photograph: think about what the plant will look like six or twelve months later.

🌱 Plant Types Worth Looking For

For bioactive vivariums and tropical terrariums, some of the most interesting finds are often small, adaptable plants rather than the biggest or most spectacular specimens on the stand.

• Miniature orchids and mounted epiphytes
• Small and creeping ferns
• Compact begonias
• Peperomia species
• Marcgravia and other shingling or creeping plants
• Small aroids
• Trailing tropical foliage
• Bromeliads and miniature Neoregelia
• Aquatic and marginal plants for paludariums
• Carnivorous plants for suitable dedicated displays
• Mosses and moss-like companion plants where legally and responsibly sourced

⚠️ Plants to Be Careful With in Vivariums

Not everything sold at a rare plant fair belongs in a frog enclosure. Be particularly careful with:

• Plants recently treated with pesticides or systemic chemicals
• Plants treated with leaf-shine products
• Large aroids that will quickly dominate a smaller enclosure
• Succulents and cacti in warm, constantly humid tropical tanks
• Delicate miniature orchids where airflow and watering cannot be controlled properly
• Plants supplied in unknown or heavily fertilised growing media
• Wild-collected moss or plants with unclear provenance

When in doubt, quarantine the plant, inspect it carefully and clean, repot or mount it appropriately before introducing it to frogs, microfauna or an established bioactive enclosure.

🧭 Tips for Visiting a Rare or Tropical Plant Show

1. Check the official event page before leaving. Dates, venues and trader lists can change.
2. Arrive reasonably early if you’re looking for something unusual or particularly sought-after.
3. Take measurements. Know the available space in your terrarium or vivarium before buying.
4. Photograph labels. Correct identification makes researching the plant much easier afterwards.
5. Ask questions. Specialist growers are often the most valuable part of attending a plant fair.
6. Protect purchases on the journey home. Tropical plants can suffer quickly in a hot or cold vehicle.
7. Quarantine everything. Don’t introduce a show purchase directly into an established vivarium or valuable plant collection.

🔗 Useful Frogfather Links for Plant & Vivarium Keepers

• Vivarium plants
• Bioactive vivarium plant bundle
• Paint-on tropical moss starter
• Bioactive vivariums
• How to grow tropical moss in a vivarium
• Why bromeliads fail in vivariums
• Automated paludarium systems
• UK orchid shows 2026–2027
• UK invertebrate shows 2026–2027
• UK reptile & exotic shows

❓ UK Rare & Tropical Plant Shows 2026–2027 – FAQ

What are the best UK events for rare houseplants and tropical plants?

The Festival of Houseplants at RHS Malvern is particularly relevant to modern houseplant and tropical-plant collectors. Rare Plant Fairs, specialist plant fairs and orchid shows can also be excellent places to find unusual plants and talk directly to experienced growers.

When do UK rare plant fairs start in 2027?

The first currently confirmed Rare Plant Fair of 2027 is at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells on Sunday 14 March, followed by Evenley Wood Garden on Saturday 20 March.

When will Plant Hunters’ Fairs announce its 2027 dates?

The organiser currently states that its 2027 dates are coming soon. I will add the new programme here once the dates have been officially published rather than estimating them from the 2026 calendar.

Are rare plant fairs useful for terrarium and vivarium plants?

Yes, provided you choose carefully. They can be excellent places to find small ferns, miniature orchids, begonias, creeping plants, epiphytes and unusual foliage, but not every rare plant will tolerate the conditions inside a warm, humid vivarium.

Can I put plants bought at a show straight into a frog vivarium?

No. New plants should be quarantined, checked carefully for pests and appropriately cleaned, repotted or mounted before being introduced to a frog vivarium. This reduces the risk from pesticides, fertilisers, slugs, mites and other unwanted hitchhikers.

Which plants should I look for at a plant fair for a bioactive vivarium?

Useful choices can include compact ferns, bromeliads, creeping and shingling plants, small Peperomia, miniature orchids and appropriately sized tropical foliage plants. Always consider mature size, light, humidity, airflow and the animals living in the enclosure.

Are orchid shows useful for vivarium keepers?

Yes. Many orchids are epiphytes and some miniature species can work beautifully in humid planted enclosures. Orchid shows are also useful for learning about mounting, airflow, root health and watering directly from experienced growers.

How often is this plant-event calendar updated?

I update this guide as new dates are confirmed by organisers and venues. Future events are not added simply because they took place on a similar weekend in a previous year.

📣 Know a Plant Event I’ve Missed?

If you organise or know about a credible UK rare plant fair, tropical plant show, houseplant event, specialist nursery fair, terrarium plant event or similar plant-focused event, please get in touch.

If possible, send the event name, confirmed date, venue, postcode and an official organiser or ticket link. I’ll check the details and add suitable events to the calendar.

Bookmark this page and check back periodically – more 2027 UK plant-show dates will be added as organisers announce them.