Sat, 02 Aug
|CTICC 1
Rays Retail Nursery presents: Cape Town Plant Expo & Market
Step into a collector’s paradise — a curated showcase of rare plants, expert growers, and passionate plant people. This is not your average garden show. Expect a vibrant marketplace filled with unique finds, insider knowledge, and everything you need to grow your collection.
Time & Location
02 Aug 2025, 10:00 – 16:00
CTICC 1, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
About the event
🌱 Cape Town Plant Expo 2025 – A Celebration of Green Excellence! 🌿
The Cape Town Plant Expo returns for another unforgettable edition – proudly hosted by Rays Retail Nursery. This is not your average garden show; it’s a curated event crafted for collectors, rare plant lovers, and passionate indoor plant enthusiasts. Taking place at CTICC 1 – Hall 1, this expo will bring together some of the best vendors and growers in the country for a one-day-only event dedicated to everything green, unique, and extraordinary.
🌸 What to Expect:
Over 40 plant-focused vendors: Discover a broad selection of rare and exotic plants, specialist growers, and plant-related products all under one roof, including:
Aroids
Hoya
Indoor plants
Cacti & succulents
Orchids
Terrariums
Seeds
Bulbs
Plant accessories
Botanical art & decor
And more to be confirmed!
Expert Grower Advice: Meet knowledgeable growers and industry experts ready to offer plant care tips, guidance on selecting the right plants for your space, and expert advice on growing success.
A Collector’s Marketplace: Whether you're hunting for rare varieties or dependable favorites, the expo is a one-stop-shop where seasoned collectors and new plant parents alike can indulge their plant passion.
Be part of Cape Town’s biggest plant market of the year — come shop, learn, and grow with us at the Cape Town Plant Expo 2025.
🎟️ Ticket Options:
🌟 VIP Ticket: The VIP ticket offers exclusive early access to the Plant Expo. With this ticket, you’ll be able to enter the venue one hour before the general public—starting at 9:00 AM. This gives you the chance to browse and shop in a more relaxed environment, ahead of the crowds. Access is limited to 400 VIP guests, ensuring a more personal and spacious experience for those who want first choice of rare and exclusive plants. Perfect for plant collectors and serious enthusiasts who want to make the most of their time at the event.
🌿 General Admission Ticket: General Admission tickets allow standard entry to the expo, starting at 10:00 AM, after VIP access has concluded. While there may be a short wait on arrival, we’ve streamlined the entry process this year to help reduce delays and improve your overall experience. This ticket gives you full access to the event, including all vendors and plant offerings throughout the day.
🌸 Late Bloomer Ticket: The Late Bloomer ticket is ideal for those who prefer a calmer visit to the expo. Entry begins at 1:00 PM, after all VIP and General Admission guests have entered. While some vendor stock may be limited by the afternoon, you’ll still have full access to the expo, time to browse and shop, and the opportunity to get expert advice from vendors without the earlier crowds.
🚗 Parking Information for Visitors. Parking: P1
Please note: Children under 15 enter for free.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What have you done to reduce line length?
To enhance your experience and minimize wait times, we’ve made several improvements this year:
Larger Venue & Walkways: We’ve upgraded to a bigger venue with more spacious walkways to allow for better flow and reduce bottlenecks, addressing concerns raised by safety officers at our August event.
VIP Entrance: With a dedicated VIP entrance, we anticipate reducing the general entry line by at least 20%, ensuring quicker access for all attendees.
What is a General Admission Ticket?
A General Admission Ticket provides access to the Plant Expo starting at 10:00 AM, after VIP ticket holders have entered. While there may be a short wait on arrival due to safety protocols and crowd management, we’ve streamlined the entry process to help reduce delays and ensure a smooth experience. This ticket gives you full access to all vendors and offerings throughout the day.
What does a VIP Ticket include?
A VIP Ticket grants you early access to the venue at 9:00 AM, giving you a full hour to shop before general admission begins at 10:00 AM. With only 400 VIP tickets available, this exclusive entry ensures a more relaxed, crowd-free experience designed for serious plant lovers and collectors.
Why are you not selling tickets on the day?
We’ve made the decision to not sell tickets on the day for several reasons:
Dedicated Staff & Planning: Our staff works hard to provide a smooth experience, and selling tickets on the day can slow down the entry process and create unnecessary confusion.
Uncertainty & Logistical Challenges: Day-of ticket sales often create uncertainty, making it harder for us to plan properly and ensure we’re fully prepared.
Better Experience for All: By moving ticket sales online, we can focus on creating a better, more organized event for everyone. On-the-day sales can cause delays, long queues, and logistical issues that just make things more complicated and frustrating for both staff and attendees.
To ensure everyone has the best experience, we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance!
What is the difference between VIP and General Admission Tickets?
VIP Tickets: VIP tickets grant early access to the event, starting at 09:00 AM, one hour before the general public. This allows you to browse and shop in a more relaxed environment, ahead of the crowds. VIP tickets offer a more exclusive, personal experience with limited access to just 400 guests.
General Admission Tickets: General Admission tickets provide entry at 10:00 AM after VIP guests have entered. While there may be a brief wait to enter, we've streamlined the process to reduce delays and ensure a smooth experience for all. This option gives you full access to the event and all it has to offer.
What is the purpose of the Cape Town Plant Expo?
The Cape Town Plant Expo, hosted by Rays Retail Nursery, brings together plant collectors, growers, and enthusiasts to celebrate the diversity of indoor plants, rare species, and unique botanical finds. This event offers a platform for customers to connect directly with expert growers, ask for tailored plant care advice, and source the best plants and products available. Whether you're looking for rare treasures or essential plant care items, this expo is the perfect place to enhance your collection and grow your plant knowledge.
Why is there an entry fee?
Hosting the event at a suitable venue that can accommodate both the large number of visitors and vendors comes with significant costs. Unlike other expos, we have a large number of small businesses attending, which means they cannot shoulder the full cost of the venue rental on their own. The entry fee helps cover these costs and ensures a high-quality experience for all attendees.
What sets this expo apart from other plant and garden shows?
Unlike traditional garden or specialty plant shows, this expo is designed to bring together vendors and enthusiasts from across the entire niche plant-collecting community. It’s not just for gardeners—it caters to a wide range of plant lovers, including those passionate about succulents, indoor plants, Clivia, Hoya, carnivorous plants, terrariums, and more. With a focus on the diversity of plant collecting, this event offers something for everyone, from casual plant lovers to serious collectors.
Will senior citizens be allowed to skip the queue?
We don’t offer a separate queue for seniors, but we understand that standing in line can be tiring. Fortunately, there’s a café right outside the entrance where senior guests are welcome to wait comfortably while a friend or family member holds their place in the queue. With our new, much larger venue, we’re not expecting any long waits — everything should move quickly! 🌿