11th Annual Southern Symposium – Friday, 25th September to Sunday, 27th September 2026

A festival of friendship, food and fronds!

Whether you’re just setting out as a gardener or are an expert horticulturist, there is something new for everyone to discover at the Kells Bay House and Gardens Southern Symposium.
Now celebrating our 11th anniversary, this much loved event brings together expert speakers and passionate gardening for a weekend of fun, great food and conversations, covering everything from fronds to contemporary garden design.

About the Symposium

Held over three days in late September, the Southern Symposium is a highlight of the Irish horticultural calendar, with gardeners and speakers coming together to enjoy great talks, wonderful food and all in the stunning surrounds of Kells Bay House and Gardens.
Our horticultural gathering is limited to just 50 attendees, ensuring an intimate experience.

Meet the Speakers

Once again this year we’ve a wealth of Irish and international speakers. Here is the start of our lineup for this year’s Symposium to whet your appetite on those who’ll be bringing their passion and knowledge to Kells Bay:

Peter Zale Ph.D

Director of Conservation Horticulture and Collections, Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, USA

Talk Title:
“Botanical highlights from a decade of plant exploration for Longwood Gardens”

Peter Zale, Ph.D holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D in plant breeding and genetics (2009, 2014) from The Ohio State University and is currently Director, Conservation Horticulture and Collections, at Longwood Gardens.

Phakamani M’Afrika Xaba

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Title of the talk:

“More than a Garden: Kirstenbosch, the Living Legacy of South Africa’s Flora”

With over 20 years at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Phakamani M’Afrika Xaba has built a career at the intersection of horticulture and conservation biology. As a conservation research horticulturist, he curates one of Kirstenbosch’s oldest garden areas and manages several Living Plant Collections—including cycads, Strelitzias, ferns, and Clivias—as well as the Useful Plants Garden.

A central thread in his career has been cycad conservation. He holds an MSc in Conservation Biology (Cum laude) on the reproductive biology of cycads and is currently pursuing a PhD on cycad conservation. He led pioneering work on Encephalartos latifrons, overcoming long-standing reproductive barriers and contributing to the first successful experimental restoration of this critically endangered species. He also developed HortCoRe, the first horticultural conservation strategy (https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/9471), and played a leading role in setting up the structure of the Horticultural Enrichment Forum to strengthen skills and knowledge across the profession.

Beyond curation, Phakamani has spent more than a decade collecting, researching, and learning to grow indigenous useful plants. He led the establishment of Useful Plants Demonstration Gardens at the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, and Kirstenbosch. He has also worked with schools, NGOs, and youth in impoverished communities on the Cape Flats and in the Overberg district, helping pilot indigenous useful plant gardens and small nurseries as sustainable sources of income, linking conservation directly with livelihoods.

His passion for horticulture’s role in sustainable conservation extends internationally. He has collaborated with partners such as Kew on global cycad conservation efforts across Africa and Asia. He is a long-standing member of the IUCN Cycad Specialist Group and has published numerous peer-reviewed papers. He is also lead author of Traditionally Useful Plants of Africa – Their Cultivation and Use (Cambridge University Press).

Phakamani actively promotes mentorship and information sharing to enhance horticultural training. He has served on the committees of various conservation organisations and on the editorial committee of the Botanical Society of South Africa’s Veld & Flora Journal, where for four years he wrote a regular column on the growing and use of traditionally useful indigenous plants.

His current research explores cycad physiology, focusing on the environmental cues that trigger cone production and offset formation, key to improving conservation outcomes for threatened species.

Running Order 11th Southern Symposium – To be confirmed

Symposium Schedule

Friday 25th September – Gardens and Plant Centre open to delegates until dusk. Early evening guided tour of Gardens, visits to the Plant Centre and Symposium Buffet Supper followed by Guest Speaker.

Saturday 26th September – Delegates meet up for morning coffee, followed by a day of speakers, lunch from our authentic Thai restaurant, Q&A sessions and guided walks with speakers and guests.

Sunday 27th September – A morning filled with networking coffees, talks and Q&As with expert speakers and casual lunch, before formal sessions conclude and guests are free to wander the Gardens and Plant Centre.

Ticket Information

Full Weekend Ticket: €180.
(Includes all the talks, dinner on Friday night, light refreshments throughout the weekend and lunch on both Saturday and Sunday)

Full weekend ticket here