Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction

Hosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden

Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13, 2025

The world of horticulture is always growing, with new plants, new techniques and new philosophies constantly reshaping the field. The 2025 Southeastern Plant Symposium is your exclusive opportunity to discover the latest plant innovations, meet industry leaders and deepen your knowledge of modern gardening practices. This two-day event is perfect for plant lovers, gardeners, horticulturists and anyone passionate about cultivating thriving landscapes.

Join us in Raleigh, North Carolina, or virtually via Zoom for an exciting exploration of the future of horticulture. Whether you’re looking to discover cutting-edge plants for your garden or stay ahead of the latest gardening trends, this symposium will cover everything from low-maintenance, high-impact performers to rare and unusual species. Presentations will cover a wide range of topics, from rethinking landscapes with beautiful, functional greenery to introducing native plants that support local ecosystems. You’ll gain valuable insights into the plants and techniques that are shaping the future of horticulture.

Network with nurserymen, garden designers and fellow plant enthusiasts as you explore groundbreaking horticultural techniques and gain fresh perspectives on the plant world. With expert-led sessions and thought-provoking presentations, you’ll leave the event inspired and equipped with the knowledge to transform your landscape.

Can’t make it to Raleigh? No problem! The 2025 Southeastern Plant Symposium will be live-streamed via Zoom, and recorded presentations will be available to all participants after the event. Don’t miss this chance to engage with the best and brightest in the plant world, no matter where you are!

2025 SEPS Speaker Line-up

• Denny Werner, Ph.D. – Professor and Director Emeritus, NC State University & JC Raulston Arboretum
• Koen Camelbeke – Executive Director, Arboretum Wespelaar (Belgium)
• Phil Douglas – Director of Horticulture and Center for Global Initiatives, Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, CO)
• Brie Arthur – Author and Horticulturist, Brie Grows (Fuquay-Varina, NC)
• Jim Putnam – HortTube (Raleigh, NC)
• Jared Barnes, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Horticulture, Stephen F. Austin State University
• Patrick Cullina – Owner, Patrick Cullina Design + Consulting (New York, NY)
• Min Deng, Ph.D. – Professor, Yunnan University (Kunming, China)
• Ethan Kauffman – Director, Stoneleigh: a natural garden (Villanova, PA)
• John Ruter, Ph.D. – Allan M. Armitage Professor & UGA Trial Gardens Director, University of Georgia
• Tim Boland – Executive Director, The Polly Hill Arboretum (West Tisbury, MA)
• Leonard Foltz, Michelle Loughran & Fred Weisensee – Dancing Oaks Nursery and Gardens (Monmouth, OR)

Registration fees for in-person, on-site attendance include Thursday and Friday presentations, networking breaks, lunch on Thursday and Friday, and access to presentation recordings post symposium. Online registration includes a live stream of Thursday’s and Friday’s presentations and access to recordings post symposium.

The Thursday evening dinner presentation is optional and requires an additional registration fee. To attend, select the dinner and presentation option during registration. Additional guests can be added for Thursday’s dinner presentation during registration.

Registration Costs

In-Person Attendance

• Early Registration (ends Sunday, May 11, 2025): $250.00.
• Regular Registration (Monday, May 12 through Sunday, June 8, 2025): $300.00.
• Late Registration (Monday, June 9 through Wednesday, June 11, 2025): $350.00.

• Optional Thursday Evening Dinner & Presentation: $100.00.

Online Attendance

• Symposium Registration: $200.00.

Registration for In-Person Attendance Registration for Online Attendance

Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellations must be requested before May 29, 2025. Refund requests received before May 29, 2025, will be processed minus a 15% cancellation fee. After May 29, 2025, there will be no refunds for cancellations, no-shows or unused registrations or dinner registrations.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the annual Southeastern Plant Symposium hosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. Interested or have questions? Contact Amy Beitzel at amy_beitzel@ncsu.edu or 919-515-1680.

Events like this innovative symposium are only possible through the support of our fellow horticulturists. We hope that you will consider sponsoring the symposium so that we can continue sharing the endlessly exciting discoveries in the world of plants. Proceeds support the mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment.

The host hotel for the Southeastern Plant Symposium is the Hilton Raleigh North Hills, located at 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.

All presentations on Thursday and Friday will take place at the hotel as well as the Thursday evening dinner and presentation.

Hotel Reservations

Book Your RoomTo make your reservation, please visit Hilton Raleigh North Hills Hotel's website. When making a reservation using the link above, our group name is already applied.

Attendees can also book their reservation by calling 1-800-HILTONS to reach a reservations agent. When calling to book a reservation, it is extremely important to reference the Group Code "25SEPS" and specify the dates to ensure the reservation is at the group rate.

Please note that our group rate expires on Monday, May 19, 2025.

We plan to apply for continuing education credits with the North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board (NCLCLB) and the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects. When approved, we will update this page with that information.

The accompanying Rare Plant Auction has already reached legend status in the industry, and this Rare Plant Auction is going to be our biggest and best auction to date. When the auction goes live, we'll have over a hundred plants ready for bidding. Plants will be added as we get them, including the days of the Southeastern Plant Symposium itself, so make plans to check the auction listings each day. Because when cool plant people get together, they share cool plants!

Auction proceeds benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Tony & Anita Avent Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment. Funds supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum are managed by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Tax ID 56-6049304.

Questions

Contact the JCRA Education Team at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu for more information about registration, presentations and other symposium information.