Brooke Lewis, of Scenic Root, laughs as she talks to a customer at PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Brooke Lewis, co-owner of The Scenic Root, was dressed from head to toe in a custom fairy costume Sunday afternoon at Plantcon Dallas, complete with an antler headband covered in moss, mushrooms and leaves and a staff made of white sunflowers.
The 32-year-old plant enthusiast, whose business is based about five hours south of Dallas in Johnson County, said she has dressed as something different for each of the three years she’s had a booth at the convention.
People browse through booths during PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
She does it as a way to stand out in a room full of plant vendors, Lewis said, and to bring more spirit to her customers.
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Lewis joined hundreds of others who find joy and community in all things green for the two-day event at Dallas’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which features interactive workshops, presentations and exhibitors selling plants, jewelry, pottery, tote bags, art and terrariums. Business owners paid a $495 fee to host a booth, according to the PlantCon website.
“I started with succulents, and then I snowballed, and now I’m a full-blown, crazy plant lady,” Lewis said as she talked about her three-year-old business. “And I made it my job.”
Orchids held onto sticks with colorful dragonfly clips, African violets spotlighted on white shelves and tropical plants nestled in moss, foregoing pots, were among the hundreds of vendor items.
African violet plants hang on a rack at PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Britt Parrish, 38, who teaches PlantCon’s classes on Japanese plant-growing technique Kokedama, said she’s been with the convention team – one of the original five visionaries – since its inception in Nov. 2020.
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“Nobody could’ve imagined that it would be like this,” she said, gesturing to the convention floor. “There didn’t used to be as many vendors or as much variety in attendees.
“It’s been beautiful to see, a journey for me. Every PlantCon I’ve seen their growth, and I’ve seen my growth as a content creator.”
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Parrish said she started as the convention’s ambassador coordinator, a role where she brought creators together to promote and “hype” PlantCon, before transitioning to a permanent special guest hosting workshops and presentations.
Irene Lo, left, sits with her daughter Peggy Nakazono at a workshop during PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
“I do a lot of house plants, tropicals, people associate me with Kokedama, but I really just like making plant care simple, approachable and relatable,” Parrish said. “That’s what it should be. That’s how you get people into this community, this hobby.”
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Many attendees were clothed in green, botanical prints and plant-themed accessories – jewelry, handbags, and props – as they wandered through the maze of booths.
Melanie Williams, PlantCon’s head of logistics, had green glitter spread across her cheekbones and various clips and pins on her hat and lanyard as she sat at PlantCon’s podcast setup.
Plant sprouts, a crocheted pink sunhat with a red flower, a rubber worm and PlantCon memorabilia – all of which Williams said she’s collected within the nearly five months she’s worked her “dream job.”
For Lewis, Williams and Parrish, a hobby blossomed into a lifestyle.
PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
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Williams has been passionate about plants for more than 15 years, she said. She used to live in New York City, which she described as a concrete jungle, and owning house plants helped her connect with nature there.
After she was laid off from her corporate job earlier this year, Williams said she felt scared and wasn’t sure what she’d do. Then, she found an opportunity with PlantCon.
“On my birthday, I saw the listing for this position, applied and now I’m here,” she said. “I really feel like I manifested this role.”
“Seeing the look on people’s faces when they come in or find their dream house plant and their jaw drops,” Williams added. “That’s one of the things that excites me the most.”
Marwin Romero, left and Chris Thompson, look at plants during PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Across the country for PlantCon
PlantCon didn’t just lure Dallasites. Bunny Hou, 31, and Doug Clair, 59, traveled from two different sides of the country just to experience the convention.
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Hou, who lives in Atlanta, works for a mental healthcare company, but she has also built a social media following based around plant education.
Her plant journey began with her grandmother, who died eight years ago and always had a garden filled with persimmon trees, chilis and Thai eggplants while Hou was growing up.
Bunny Hou listens in a workshop held during PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026. Hou traveled from Atlanta for the event.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
“I like to do things that keep her really close to me,” Hou said. “Then, I noticed there was a whole plant community and different types of plants… it just grew from there.”
Clair, owner of California-based The Drunk Cactus, collects vintage soda and beer cans.
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Related: Dallas Arboretum plant tester says these are the varieties that will thrive in North Texas
In 2019, he began planting cacti in them and selling them alongside his girlfriend’s handmade jewelry and purses at markets and craft fairs. Each plant can be dressed up in a variety of tiny hats, sunglasses and football fan gear – something Clair said has made the business boom.
“We used to bring maybe 25 plants to a show, but now I bring nearly 180,” Clair said. “Everyone here is great, and it’s a happy convention. That’s my favorite part.”
Small succulents and cactuses are on display at PlantCon Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
The consensus? The Dallas plant community is huge, thriving and welcoming – something all PlantCon attendees look forward to.
Hou has a flight back to Atlanta on Monday, she said, and was most excited to find plant-themed trinkets that would survive a plane ride. But, one thing was for certain, Hou said she wasn’t leaving without a new leafy friend.
“Right now, I have 131 plants,” Hou said. “But after today, there’s going to be more.”