19 Things You’ll Love at EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival [2025]

The sights and scents of spring and summer that fill the park during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival make it one of my favorites.

The landscaping at EPCOT levels up during this festival — which runs until June 2 — with incredible topiaries, themed gardens, and interactive nature displays. These gardens are fascinating, intricate, and often educational — a true delight for the senses.

Though not an exhaustive list, these are some of our favorite gardens, topiaries, and nature experiences at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

1. Moana, Maui, Hei Hei, and Pua Topiary

You can’t miss the Moana topiary garden as you walk in EPCOT’s front entrance, and it’s certainly worth a look even if you arrive in the park via the International Gateway. It’s the 30th year of the festival, and you’ll see clever “30 years and growing” garden markers at this topiary spot.

The Moana topiaries are a photo hot spot for guests who want to grab a picture with Moana characters and the famous EPCOT ball — Spaceship Earth — just behind it. I was fascinated by how the topiary used vegetation for Maui and Moana’s hair and the detail in Maui’s tattoos and Moana’s grass-fringed skirt.

2. Community Garden

In addition to character topiaries, there are several themed gardens throughout EPCOT, each celebrating various garden types with an educational sign worth reading. One of the first gardens you can spot from the main entrance is the Community Garden — with a bonus Donald Duck topiary behind it and Groot nearby, too.

This cute garden pays homage to collaborative community gardens. It features flowers and ornamental cabbage. I thought the white picket fence was a clever addition. Bonus: A Donald Duck topiary tends to the garden.

3. Groot Topiary

One of my favorite finds at the festival, the Groot topiary is adorable and well-themed. Considering Groot is an anthropomorphic plant, he’s a perfect addition to the festival collection, and EPCOT nailed it with this happy adolescent Groot. He has a highly detailed wooden texture and looks like he’s dancing with a “Green-House Mix Vol. 1” cassette tape in his hands — a nod to the “Guardians of the Galaxy” mix tapes.

Groot is close to the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride, so he’s a fun visit whether you’re hyped on your way to the ride or catching your breath after blasting through space and time.

Hot Tip:

Stick around long enough, and you’ll hear the Groot topiary play songs from the mix tape, which are all featured in “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, shows, or rides. Songs play every 15 minutes and include “Come and Get Your Love,” “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” “I Want You Back,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” and “Disco Inferno.”

4. Figment in the Flowers

EPCOT’s dragon of imagination is in a prime spot in the World Celebration Gardens with Spaceship Earth behind it. Figment’s topiary was near the Journey into Imagination pavilion and less detailed in previous years but moved to this more prominent position with upgrades last year.

Look closely, and you’ll see the Figment topiary is primarily made of various shades of succulents, including plenty of purple and pink to match his hue. He’s in the central planter, surrounded by huge pink topiary flowers and a flower garden.

We liked watching this topiary at night when the lights surrounding it sync up with the Spaceship Earth light shows.

5. Spike the Bee and Horticulture Gallery

I didn’t see this listed in the festival guide but spotted it when I headed into CommuniCore Hall to visit EPCOT Farmer’s Feast. The hall has numerous topiaries, including produce-shaped ones such as apples and berries, and is filled with flower towers and planters. You can also check out festival almanac displays that explain the festival’s history and some of the work that goes into developing the topiaries and gardens.

At the center of it all is Spike the Bee, one of the main mascots of the garden festival. He’s tending the orchid garden with a watering can.

This is the only indoor garden we saw, and there was plenty of seating for relaxing or dining — perfect for taking a break from the sun and heat to grab a bite and stop to smell the flowers!

6. Butterfly Landing

Butterfly Landing is a walk-through covered garden full of butterfly-friendly plants and flowers, such as milkweed. It has multiple chrysalis boxes and live butterflies throughout. Watch the chrysalis boxes; you might see movement or a butterfly hatch.

We weren’t lucky enough to have a butterfly land on us, but we saw butterflies landing on other guests. Butterfly species in the garden include monarch, zebra longwing, and white peacock.

This is a nice spot to take your time, enjoy a bit of shade, and read the various signs identifying the plants and educating visitors about the butterfly lifecycle.

Hot Tip:

Wear bright clothes and move slowly if you’d like to attract butterflies to land on you. Butterfly Landing is only open until dusk, so visit this spot early in the day.

There are various butterfly topiaries throughout EPCOT, including a topiary next to Butterfly Landing.

7. Pride Rock: Simba, Rafiki, Mufasa, and Sarabi

The “Lion King” display captures the iconic moment when Rafiki presents an anointed Simba to the kingdom’s animals from Pride Rock, surrounded by proud parents Mufasa and Sarabi. The group is set in a bed of daisies in a raised planter. I loved the details here, especially the detail on Mufasa’s mane.

During the day, a Photo Pass photographer is usually stationed here, so it’s a great spot for a professional photo. I’m practicing my lifts to do the Simba pose with my youngest when we visit together! But it can get crowded, especially with the bright midday sun directly overhead. I found it easier to enjoy the topiary’s details after sunset when the lighting is softer and the crowds thin out.

Hot Tip:

Visit this spot for a Photo Pass professional photo in front of the topiaries. There’s another Photo Pass spot at the Mickey and friends topiaries along the World Showcase bridge.

8. Blossoms of Fragrance

This garden, presented by Scentsy, is along the main bridge to the World Showcase. It’s great for exploring the sights and smells of flowers. The garden is full of planters with fragrant flowers and herbs. I enjoyed visiting the Scentsy fragrance stations to catch whiffs of honeysuckle, hydrangea, succulents, gardenia, citrus, and hibiscus.

9. Flower Quilt and Floating Flowers

The flower quilt is the largest flower display at the festival and is a striking explosion of color. Brightly colored flowers planted in Mickey, flower, and butterfly shapes blanket the lagoon’s slopes on both sides of the bridge to the World Showcase. Flower planters float along the lagoon. This is one of my favorite flower features at the festival because it feels like you’re surrounded by color.

It’s easy to spot this display from many angles, whether at Playalong Bay near the Yacht Grub and Beach Grub food booths, walking along the World Showcase bridge, visiting the Odyssey, or riding the monorail through the park.

10. Winnie the Pooh and Friends

You can spot Winnie the Pooh and his friends Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger in the United Kingdom pavilion. Pooh is wearing a red shirt and holding a red balloon — of course, there’s a “hunny” pot next to him.

Winnie the Pooh makes regular character appearances at this spot. A cast member told me he gets progressively plumper as the festival goes on and he consumes more honey!

11. Tinkerbell and the Fairy Garden

The Tinkerbell topiary is a centerpiece in the fairy garden surrounded by blooming flowers, silvery foliage, and fairy houses. She’s on a mossy rock and looks poised and ready to take off. I liked looking at the details of the fairy houses in the garden made of bits of wood, bark, pebbles, and moss, each a whimsical display to explore.

Across from Tinkerbell and the fairy garden is the English tea garden, where you can see varieties of tea leaves growing in huge teacups.

Hot Tip:

Sign up for daily tea garden tours held at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5 p.m.

12. Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Haute Nature

You can find the classic Beauty and the Beast topiary in France, but we were most interested in the Cogsworth and Lumiere topiaries near the walkway to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. These had light and movement for an engaging display. Cogsworth’s pendulum ticks along while Lumiere’s flames flicker.

Bonus: There’s a short hedge maze and bouquet garden behind this topiary pair.

Keep going toward Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to see Haute Nature, a collection of dress forms topped with bows and wearing skirts made of grass and leaves.

13. Spice Garden

Though one of the smallest gardens in the festival, the spice garden is one of the most interesting because it offers insight into Moroccan cuisine. Surrounded by marigolds and other colorful blooms, the spice garden in the Morocco pavilion features herbs and spice plants, including mint, cumin, saffron, and ginger in oversized planters.

I liked testing my spice knowledge with the educational sign, identifying specific plants used in Moroccan cooking.

14. Dragon Topiary and Bonsai Gardens

One of the largest topiary displays at the festival, the dragon topiary commands attention with vibrant colors, intricate details, and an impressive scale. It’s covered in living succulents with greens, reds, and purples, but I especially enjoyed the dramatic scales and claws.

In past years, the dragon topiary was in front of the torii gate at the World Showcase lagoon but is now perched in front of the Mitsukoshi shop and Takumi-Tei restaurant behind a bonsai garden. The dragon looks at home among bamboo and manicured trees.

Steps from the dramatic dragon topiary is a bonsai garden, one of a few bonsai gardens in the Japan pavilion featuring the cultivated miniature trees. Each tree is displayed within a raked gravel Zen garden with informational signs identifying the species and age — some specimens are 20, 30, or 50 years old.

Where to find it: The Japan pavilion in front of the Mitsukoshi shop and Takumi-Tei restaurant

15. Princess Tiana

Princess Tiana is in front of the Magnolia Terrace festival food booth, which features Southern specialties. Tiana looks radiant in a flowing gown made of layers of greenery and golden foliage, surrounded by bayou blooms.

A magnolia flower on her bodice nods to Tiana’s New Orleans heritage, as the southern magnolia is Louisiana’s state flower. The garden lights twinkling behind her look like illuminated fireflies, like Tiana’s friend Ray in “The Princess and the Frog.” Dining tables are next to this display, so we enjoyed oysters and bread pudding with Tiana.

16. Pandas

A trio of playful panda topiaries is set against the striking replica of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. They’re among a garden walk and surrounded by lush bamboo and tall grasses. These topiaries capture real-life pandas’ curiosity as they munch on bamboo, and one of them rolls on its back.

This display is a fun spot at the pavilion’s edge and easy to see, even if you’re just passing through.

17. Anna and Elsa

This pair of topiaries captures the “Frozen” sisters along the Norway pavilion walkway. Elsa looks cool in a bright blue netted cape while in the middle of casting a spell, and Anna has a warm look and welcoming pose. Snowflake-themed garden decorations surround the sisters just steps away from the Frozen Ever After ride.

These topiaries are interesting at any time of day but become more intriguing at night. Blue light casts color on Elsa, lighting up her cape with a gentle sparkle.

18. Tropical Rainforest Garden Walk

There’s a lush tropical rainforest walk next to the pyramid in the Mexico pavilion. It’s one of the few nature experiences you can walk through at the festival, and it feels like a hidden gem.

Follow the path through vibrant greenery and view a collection of more than 50 varieties of orchids, slowing down to read signage to learn about the rainforest flora, take photos among the lush vegetation, or just enjoy a quiet moment in a shady oasis.

19. More Topiaries and Gardens

This isn’t an exhaustive list — just a selection of our favorites from spring break! Nearly 100 topiaries and more than 25 gardens are on display at the festival.

Pick up a free festival passport at the main entrance or International Gateway entrance to find a list and locations of all the topiaries and gardens, food booths, entertainment, and more.

Final Thoughts

If you’re headed to Walt Disney World this spring, taking the time to enjoy the gardens and topiaries can be just as rewarding as visiting the food booths.

The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is a sensory delight with an overwhelming array of topiaries, gardens, and nature exploration features. There’s something beautiful or educational around every corner, with displays that tell stories and celebrate nature.