San Diego World Rose
Symposium 2027:
World Federation of Rose Societies
Regional Convention &
American Rose Society
National Convention & Rose Show
Presented by the San Diego Rose Society
in Honor of Their 100th Year
April 30 to May 4, 2027
We look forward to welcoming you to San Diego to celebrate, refresh and renew your love of roses at the San Diego World Rose Symposium!!
Enjoy the company of other enthusiastic rosarians as we explore the wide range of rose growing choices. Exciting speakers will cover a variety of other topics as well, including hybridizing and garden design to ensure diverse rose culture, the health-giving properties of rose growing, and even some rose history. There will be opportunities to connect with exhibitors, rose conservationists and prominent rose mentors.
The 5-day Symposium will be both the 2027 WFRS Regional Convention and the 2027 ARS Convention, and it will include America’s 2027 National Rose Show. It will be the first WFRS Convention to be held in the United States in over 25 years. In addition to great presentations and the rose show, attendees will join in the Gala Dinner-Dance Celebration of the San Diego Rose Society’s 100th Anniversary! Optional one-day garden tours will be available to enhance your experience—the main tour is a full day of garden exploration including some of San Diego’s best private rose gardens and the WFRS Garden of Excellence in beautiful Balboa Park.
Pre-Symposium Tours will offer more opportunities to see public and private gardens in San Diego, along with historical and cultural sights. A once-in-a-lifetime Post-Symposium Tour, curated and led by Paul Zimmerman, will take attendees on a journey to other Central and Southern California gardens, nurseries and cultural attractions.
Join us as the love of roses is our universal language to help us transcend borders and preconceived notions for an amazing learning experience!
A Rose Paradise Awaits You in San Diego!
Whether you come for just the Symposium or incorporate the adjoining tours to enjoy more gardens and cultural highlights of California, we are confident the event will be a dynamic, not-to-be-missed experience!
San Diego Rose Society
The San Diego Rose Society was founded in 1927, and has grown into one of the largest and most active rose societies in the United States. The region is perfect weather for growing roses nearly year-round, and San Diego County is home to a large number of hobbyist rose growers.
World Renowned Speakers
The convention will feature talks from world-renowned botanists, hybridizers, authors, and growers. It’s a great place to catch up on the latest info about roses, and also to make connections with other top-tier rosarians.
Hotel
Our venue, an extension of the city’s relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, will be the world-renowned Bahia Resort Hotel, located on a sandy Mission Bay beach, three blocks from the Pacific Ocean.
Registration at the discounted Symposium hotel rate opens July 1, 2026.
Whether you are interested in local tours of private gardens or public parks, you won’t want to miss the chance to do one of the convention tours. You will sign up for these as part of your registration or as a later add-on. Space is limited.
Symposium Program
(Note that specific sessions and timing remain subject to change.)
Friday, April 30, A Learning Day
Morning and afternoon lectures cover rose history, soil and water, pests and diseases, Integrated Pest Management, heritage roses and the benefits of rose care for rose growers. Enjoy a Welcome Lunch with fellow attendees on the private Palm Terrace, included in Symposium Registration.
Saturday, May 1, A Rose Show Day
Dynamic learning sessions built around the mid-day opening of the National Rose Show will include Rose Judging, Showing Roses, Photography and Arrangement Tips, Tool Care, and Helping Others Grow Good Roses. Mingle with Judges, Exhibitors and other rosarians at a Hosted Lunch, included in the Symposium Registration.
Sunday, May 2, A Celebration Day
Hybridizers, including Tom Carruth and Ping Lim, and Rose Growers including Tyler Francis will talk about the past, present and future of our beloved flower. Other topics will include chemical safety as part the fundamental rose care curriculum. A longer lunch break will be featured to allow attendees to explore local dining options, and the evening’s 1927-themed SDRS Centennial Anniversary and ARS Awards Dinner Celebration promises to be magical.
Monday, May 3, A Symposium Garden Tour Day with Sunset at the Bay
An optional tour for symposium attendees will feature local rosarians’ gardens and some beautiful water-wise gardens around tour of Balboa Park’s WFRS Garden of Excellence, the Inez Grant Parker Rose Garden. A morning snacks will be provided. The tour will include a Catered Lunch in the park and free-time to stroll in the park as well. Due to venue capacities, tour size will be limited. Whether you sign up for the tour or decide to explore San Diego on your own, plan to wrap up the day’s events at the hotel’s bay-front as we meet for a drink on the beach.
Tuesday, May 4, A Grand Finale Day
Morning lectures will cover chemical-free rose growing choices and the latest innovations in biological pest controls, along with presentation from noted garden designer Paul Zimmerman. Attendees will enjoy a Grand Finale Brunch included in the Symposium Registration, a rare rose auction, and the WFRS Closing Ceremony to close the celebration.
Registration for the Symposium and the Pre- and Post-Tours opens July 1, 2026.
Other Optional Garden Tours
Pre-Symposium Tours
Symposium attendees can add one, two or all three of the single-day Pre-Tours to their experience. The Pre-Tour buses depart from and return to the Bahia Resort Hotel and are all in the San Diego region. They include multiple stops with time to enjoy the tour activities. (The size of each tour is limited due to venue capacities, and itineraries remain subject to change.)
Tuesday, April 27, Sights of San Diego Bay and Coronado (Pre-Tour #1)
Visit the Cabrillo National Monument and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse with sweeping views of the city, the bay and the Pacific Ocean. A visit to the San Diego Maritime Museum is also included, along with a waterfront Hosted Lunch. Visits to the private gardens of two of San Diego’s best rosarians are also planned. In addition to lunch, morning and afternoon snacks will be provided.
Wednesday, April 28, San Diego Zoo Botanical Tour (Pre-Tour #2)
The “World Famous San Diego Zoo” is celebrated for both its fauna and flora. Our visit will include a 90-Minute Botanical Bus Tour as well as a Catered Lunch at the zoo and free time to enjoy more of the zoo on your own. Breakfast snacks will be provided, and before returning to the hotel you’ll visit yet another lovely home garden, where you can enjoy wine and cheese and admire the roses.
Thursday, April 29, San Diego Botanic Garden and Coastal Sights (Pre-Tour #3)
The San Diego Botanic Garden in San Diego’s Northern Coastal region displays more than 5,000 plant varieties and has 29 uniquely themed gardens that represent different areas of the world. The tour will include Hosted Lunch at a waterfront venue in nearby Del Mar and a scenic ride between those attractions and visits to two or more of our best rosarians’ home gardens. Breakfast snacks and afternoon snacks will be provided.
Post-Symposium Tour Package
We are fortunate to have renowned rose expert and tour planner Paul Zimmerman leading our comfortably-paced 8-day post tour. Throughout the tour he will share insights on rose growing, garden design and sustainable practices while guiding participants through some of Southern and Central California’s most beautiful and interesting gardens, nurseries and other unique destinations.
The Wednesday, May 5 through Wednesday, May 12 itinerary includes a garden tour with Hybridizer Ping Lim, a visit to the legendary Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, an excursion to Hollywood with a stop at the TCL (formerly Grauman’s) Chinese Theater, a tour of the Getty Villa Gardens, and a visit to the historic Virginia Robinson Gardens.
The Central Coast portion of the trip will include visits to Otto & Sons Nursery, Rose Story Farm, and Neuhaus Farms, all major producers of roses in the US, each with unique charms. Iconic Hearst Castle and Warner Brothers Studios will round out your adventure. Lodging at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, the Cambria Pines Lodge, and the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood will be included in the tour. Dining opportunities will be a combination of hosted and on-your-own meals with recommendations to guide you. The tour will leave from and return to the Bahia Resort Hotel, with a hosted farewell dinner with your fellow garden enthusiasts and a comfy room for the final night included in the tour.
The Post Tours will be offered exclusively to Symposium attendees until November 15, 2026, and it will be limited in size to ensure a quality experience. Also to ensure a quality experience, the itinerary remains subject to change; guests already registered will be notified of any changes.
