PlantCon Heads West
Celebrating the Diverse Roots of the Nation’s Plant Community at their West Coast Debut
LOS ANGELES (November 7, 2025) — From the sun-drenched Santa Monica pier to the lush nurseries of Pasadena, Los Angeles is a city that thrives on growth, creativity, and diversity, making it the perfect home for PlantCon’s first-ever event on the West Coast.
PlantCon Los Angeles 2026 takes place on February 21-22, 2026 at the Magic Box, the dynamic event space known for its unique gatherings, from small meetings to large conventions. Make no mistake though – PlantCon is anything but a small meeting. PlantCon is now the largest plant hobbyist convention in the world, expanding its communal and diverse roots beyond the East and Gulf Coasts to the cultural heart of California.
PlantCon’s beginnings are rooted in humble parking lots throughout Houston, Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. PlantCon Founder and President, Kenny Nguyen, began organizing events in November 2020 for plant enthusiasts in Houston to sell plants, exchange plant care tips, and safely connect with the local community.
Kenny Nguyen at a parking lot meet-up.
“PlantCon has been such a labor of love,” says Kenny. “Building it up block by block over the years within our community, I'm so thankful that so many people have found profound value in what we're doing, and that the reception has been overwhelming no matter where we've been.”
This movement grew to become the Houston Plant Market in 2022, helping local plant sellers sustain their businesses year-round and cultivate community. The Houston Plant Market has hosted more than 100 events since its inception.
Local vendors at PlantCon Houston 2024.
The spirit of the Texan plant community then rooted across the country and eventually helped launch PlantCon in 2023. More than 2,000 people and only three staff members from all walks of life showed up at the very first PlantCon. Now, PlantCon features tens of thousands of attendees, hundreds of vendors, and hundreds of staff members and volunteers at events. From PlantCon’s founding to now, one thing remains the same: PlantCon champions people from all backgrounds under one leafy canopy.
Attendees and exhibitors at PlantCon Dallas 2025.
After growing from grassroots meet-ups into conventions in major cities across the U.S., such as Houston, New York, and Orlando, Los Angeles offers the perfect climate for PlantCon’s next chapter. Los Angeles boasts nearly 300 sunny days a year and is home to a population from 140 countries who speak 224 different languages. Founded and led by AAPI, BIPOC, and queer innovators, PlantCon reflects the vibrant diversity of Los Angeles itself, a city built by all kinds of plants and people.
PlantCon comes to Los Angeles with an immersive weekend full of plant lovers across the globe to meet and get to know one another. Expect a vast marketplace showcasing hundreds of artisans, educational workshops, and learning opportunities from field experts and the plant’s world leading brands – all under a roof where every person, plant, and story has a place to call home.
About With Heart Collective
With Heart Collective is a non-profit event and production team focused on creating inclusive spaces and opportunities for small, minority-owned businesses and their customers. Their mission is to provide educational resources and support in areas such as tax compliance, branding, marketing and more, while fostering connections and promoting diversity within the community. Under With Heart Collective, the nonprofit organization includes Houston Plant Market, PlantCon International, Heart of Hou, The Vendor Alliance, and The Little Plant Library. As a proud AAPI, BIPOC, and Queer-led organization, With Heart Collective is dedicated to empowering underrepresented voices and promoting equity in entrepreneurship.
