Thousands of people are visiting the month-long National Tree Fair 2026 at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Agargaon, Dhaka, where growing interest in rooftop and balcony gardening is driving demand for fruit trees, indoor plants and ornamental greenery.
Held under the theme, "Let's decorate the country through tree plantation; Bangladesh first," the fair features around 120 stalls displaying local and imported fruit, forest, medicinal and ornamental plants. Visitors continue to arrive throughout the day with family members to buy plants and seek advice on gardening.
The fair has evolved beyond a marketplace for plants, attracting urban residents looking to introduce more greenery into their homes through rooftop, balcony and indoor gardens.
Demand this year is largely centered on grafted fruit trees, indoor plants, bonsai, orchids and decorative foliage suited to limited urban spaces.
Mohammad Lokman Hossain traveled from Narayanganj with his family after visiting relatives in Shemoli. He bought a G-9 banana sapling for Tk150 and said he plans to grow it on his rooftop.
Mohammadpur resident Towsif, a gardening enthusiast, said his rooftop garden already includes guava, pomegranate, pomelo, lemon, Burmese grape, leafy vegetables, neem and basil. He visited the fair to add more varieties to his collection.
He said: "For many, gardening has also become a source of emotional well-being."
Nafisa Islam, a student at a private university, bought a medium-sized guava tree for Tk600 and a lemon tree for Tk700. She said she spends much of her free time tending to her rooftop garden.
She said: "When I feel stressed or mentally exhausted, I take care of my plants. It helps me stay calm and refreshed."
Mirpur resident Abu Bakar Siddik, 53, bought nearly Tk15,000 worth of plants while visiting the fair with his daughter. Having recently started building a rooftop garden, he said a home without greenery feels incomplete.
He said: "Greening our home is not just a hobby. It's also a way to help our children grow closer to nature."
Ahana Tabassum, who came from Uttara with her husband, said her balcony garden includes dragon fruit, bougainvillea and Madagascar periwinkle, along with pet birds.
She said: "In this concrete city, even a small garden can teach children to appreciate nature."
Not all visitors make purchases. Arifur Rahman from Motijheel brought his two children to introduce them to different plant species but decided not to buy any plants.
He said: "The prices are comparatively high here. We came mainly to explore the fair."
Nurseries are showcasing a wide range of local and imported fruit, forest, medicinal and ornamental plants from Thailand, Malaysia, China, India, Pakistan and the United States.
Among the attractions are mango varieties including Chiang Mai, Miyazaki, King Ab Chakapat and American Red Palmer, as well as Brunei King mangoes weighing up to 5 kilograms.
The fair also features Vietnamese seedless jackfruit, rambutan, avocado, persimmon, dragon fruit, Egyptian fig, starfruit, sapodilla, velvet apple (bilati gab), custard apple, citrus varieties and flowering plants such as orchids, roses, bougainvillea and frangipani.
Indoor plants including Aglaonema, Monstera, Anthurium and exotic orchids remain popular among apartment residents.
Abu Taher of Mahananda Nursery said grafted fruit trees continue to account for the highest sales, with mango saplings leading demand.
He said: "Demand for imported fruits such as rambutan, avocado, persimmon and Vietnamese jackfruit has increased significantly this year."
The fair also highlights conservation initiatives. Quantum Bamburian is exhibiting around 500 plant species, including 120 forest species and nearly 60 varieties of bamboo, alongside rare native trees such as Bailam.
In addition to plants, visitors can buy pots, organic fertilizers, coco peat, vermicompost, gardening tools and decorative planters. Experts are also providing free advice on plant care and gardening techniques.
Open daily from 9am to 8pm with free admission, the National Tree Fair reflects the growing interest among urban residents in incorporating greenery into their homes through rooftop and balcony gardening.
