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New blooms, big brackets: Stem Wars launched this February

Ball SB, Details Flowers Software and the Society of American Florists launched Stem Wars, the newest installment in their annual design contest series. The March Madness-style competition invites florists to showcase their creativity using new Ageratum and Didiscus varieties from Ball SB.

Building on the success of previous contests, including Sunflower Madness in 2022 and Duel of the Delphiniums in 2025, Stem Wars was created to give florists another opportunity to highlight their design skills, connect with peers across the floral community and compete for prizes. Participating designers will be among the first to work with the newly introduced Ball SB varieties, offering a chance to experiment with new products before they reach the broader market.

About the contest

Participants will submit designs featuring Ageratum and Didiscus varieties from Ball SB. The creations will compete in a bracket format, with public voting deciding which design advances each week. The competition culminates in a final faceoff, and the winner will be crowned the Stem Wars champion on April 10, 2026.

Grand Prize

The winner will receive:

  • A $500 credit to Ball SB.
  • A one-year subscription to Details Flowers Software.
  • One complimentary registration to the 2026 Society of American Florists annual conference in Amelia Island, Florida, and a one-year subscription to Floral Management Magazine.

How to enter

  • Submit an entry form: Florists interested in participating can fill out an entry form explaining why they should be selected to compete. 
  • The deadline for entries is March 3, 2026.

Top 16 chosen: From the pool of entries, 16 participants will be chosen to compete. Selected designers will each receive a box containing 100 stems of Ageratum and Didiscus varieties. The top 16 participants will be announced March 4, 2026.
Create and submit your design: Designers will have until March 16 to craft their creations and submit a high-quality photo.
Head-to-head public voting: The first voting bracket will be announced March 17. Submitted designs will be paired in public voting rounds. Designs will compete to advance each week until a champion is crowned. The winner will be announced April 10, 2026.

Why participate?

The contest celebrates creativity and innovation in floral design while building connections across the floral community. Participants will gain exposure, engage with fellow designers and share their work with a global audience. It also offers a chance for Ball SB to see the new varieties used by professional florists, while giving designers early access to new products.

Get started today

Visit the official website to learn more about contest rules, submission guidelines and how to participate.

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