Every May, the world’s best growers and garden designers gather for the greatest garden event on planet Earth: RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The 20-acre site in London fills with nearly 400 horticultural exhibits and an unimaginable number of plants – it’s estimated that each show garden has over 3,000 plants apiece. And each year, common threads that appear in multiple exhibits become global garden design trends that affect gardeners all over the world. It’s impossible to over-estimate the influence RHS Chelsea Flower Show has on the gardening industry. Myriad new products and plant varieties are launched here, and buyers make decisions that define the selection offered to us ordinary gardeners. Celebrities in floral frocks congregate like wasps in a jam jar, their patronage steering what garden goodies we’ll covet most. Sir David Beckham even co-designed one of this year’s gardens, for goodness’ sake, and had a new rose named in his honor. Influencers swarm over the exhibits, too, sharing Chelsea highlights far and wide across social media. Hundreds of thousands of visitors (sipping an estimated 39,755 glasses of Pimm’s) and hours of TV coverage later, the show’s standout features have been endlessly discussed, deliberated over and decided. And while there’s all sorts of newsworthy chatter about oddball garden moments from outdoor saunas to snooker tables, what I’m really interested in are the strongest trends that translate to actual gardens. And here, dear reader, they are.
The Rise of Terracotta Tones
The most popular tone at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was a soft terracotta, matching the mood of the naturalistic planting to a tee. As well as sculpted clay walls in the Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden and burnt-orange planters of the Plant Heritage Missing Collector Garden, rusty Corten steel, aging copper and clay bricks brought warm, earthy colors across the board. And of course, there were lots of terracotta pots! All sorts of plant families popped up to show off petals in the terracotta spectrum from bronze to coral to just peachy, with nasturtiums, iris and geums aplenty. Tree bark got in on the act, too, and perhaps the prettiest was the peeling reddish-brown of Betula nana (dwarf birch) in Fettercairn: The Angels’ Share balcony garden.
This shift toward warm, earthy colors is a deliberate move away from the cool grays and stark whites that dominated garden design for the past decade. Designers are reaching for materials that feel grounded, ancient, and connected to the earth. Corten steel, which develops a protective rust-like patina over time, was used in at least seven different show gardens this year. It weathers beautifully and adds a sculptural, almost industrial warmth to planting schemes. Copper, too, appeared in water features and edging, its eventual verdigris finish offering a gentle green-blue counterpoint to terracotta blooms.
For home gardeners, this trend is surprisingly easy to adopt. You don’t need to replace your entire patio. Start with pots. Unglazed terracotta pots in warm shades instantly anchor a space. Group them in odd numbers — three or five — and fill them with plants that echo the color story. Think bronze carex grasses, coral-colored geums like ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’, and deep orange nasturtiums that will trail over the pot edges. If you have a garden wall, consider a clay render or limewash in a soft ochre tone. Even a single Corten steel planter can become the focal point of a small balcony or courtyard. The key is layering: mix textures of rust, clay, and bark with soft, billowing foliage for a look that feels both modern and ancient.
Enchanting Iris: The Flower of the Show
It would be quicker to list the show gardens without iris growing than to list those with them. In the Japanese courtyard of the Tokonoma Garden – Sanumaya no Niwa – irises were literally the only flowers among the beautiful moss balls and fern fronds. From the dramatic deep purples of Iris ‘Superstition’ and ‘Black Swan’ in The Boodles Garden to huge bronze-toned Iris ‘Red Pike’ in Trussell’s Together Garden, the opulent petals oozed aloof elegance. And iris will bring the same effortless style to any home border.
There were more bearded iris than any other, considered by many to be the archetypal Iris and loved for their caterpillar-y row of hairs (the beard!) on lower petals. These beauties deserve a spot in every garden and are mostly hardy in zones 3–9. If you’re yet to be convinced, take a look at bearded iris ‘Bernice’s Legacy’ and get ready to swoon. The Chelsea Flower Show trends this year made it crystal clear: the iris is having a moment, and it’s a moment that will last.
But why iris, and why now? Garden designers are gravitating toward plants with strong architecture and a long season of interest. Iris rhizomes are incredibly easy to divide and share with friends, making them a sustainable choice for community gardens and plant swaps. They also thrive in poor, well-drained soil, which means less fussing with fertilizers and amendments. For the home gardener, planting iris in late summer or early autumn gives them time to establish roots before winter. Space them about 12 to 24 inches apart, with the rhizome partially exposed to the sun. They dislike being mulched heavily, as this can cause rot. If you have a sunny, well-drained spot, you can create a mini Chelsea-style display with just three or four varieties. Try pairing deep purple ‘Superstition’ with a pale yellow like ‘Buttercup Bounty’ and a bronze-toned ‘Red Pike’ for a palette that shifts from dawn to dusk.
Informal Planting: The Naturalistic Revolution
Gone are the days of formal borders and the style of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show was almost universally a relaxed return to naturalistic planting. Nativars – cultivars bred from native plants – were widespread, and bumblebees showed their buzzing appreciation. Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ (cow parsley) danced its way through many of the show gardens, as did rockrose, foxgloves, and even nettle and weeds. Designers deliberately blurred the line between cultivated garden and wild meadow, creating scenes that felt as though they had grown there by accident.
This approach has deep roots in the work of Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, whose naturalistic planting schemes at the High Line in New York City and the Lurie Garden in Chicago have inspired a generation of designers. At Chelsea, the informal style was taken even further. One garden featured a “weed patch” as a deliberate design element, complete with nettles, thistles, and dandelions. The message was clear: biodiversity matters more than neatness. A garden that welcomes insects, birds, and small mammals is a garden that feels alive.
For the home gardener, adopting this trend means letting go of some control. Instead of planting in straight lines, try drifts. Instead of deadheading every spent flower, leave seed heads for the birds. Choose nativars like Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ or Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ that support local pollinators. Add a patch of wildflowers in a sunny corner, even if it’s just a few square feet. The key is to create a sense of abundance and flow. Use grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Molinia caerulea to weave through taller perennials, softening edges and creating movement. You can still have structure — a clipped box hedge or a gravel path — but let the planting spill over the edges. It’s a style that looks effortless but actually requires careful planning to achieve the right balance of chaos and control.
Solitary Sanctuaries: Gardens for One
As we all become more socially connected through screens, there is a growing hunger for physical solitude. The Chelsea Flower Show trends this year reflected this with several gardens featuring small, enclosed nooks designed for a single person. These solitary sanctuaries were intimate spaces with a single comfortable seat, surrounded by dense, sensory planting. One garden, designed by a mental health charity, had a wooden bench tucked behind a screen of bamboo and lavender. Another featured a hanging chair suspended from a Corten steel frame, with ferns and hostas creating a green cocoon.
The idea is to create a space where you can be alone with your thoughts, away from the noise of daily life. Sensory planting is key here. Choose plants that engage all five senses: the rustle of Miscanthus grass in the wind, the scent of rosemary or lavender when brushed against, the soft texture of lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), the visual calm of green and silver foliage, and even the taste of a fresh mint leaf. Add a water feature for gentle sound, and consider a small wind chime or a piece of reflective glass to catch the light.
For a small garden or balcony, you can create a solitary sanctuary in just a few square feet. Start with a comfortable seat — a wooden Adirondack chair, a cushioned bench, or even a sturdy floor cushion. Place it in a corner or against a wall to create a sense of enclosure. Then layer plants around it: tall grasses or bamboo for privacy, fragrant herbs at ground level, and a trailing plant like ivy or jasmine overhead. If you have the space, add a small table for a cup of tea or a book. The goal is to create a retreat that feels separate from the rest of the garden, a place where you can recharge. This trend is particularly powerful for anyone who feels overwhelmed by constant connectivity. A garden sanctuary offers a physical and mental break, a reminder that solitude is not loneliness — it is a choice.
Natural Swimming Ponds: Bringing the Wild into the Water
One of the more surprising Chelsea Flower Show trends this year was the emergence of natural swimming ponds. Unlike traditional chlorinated pools, these are self-contained ecosystems that use aquatic plants to filter and clean the water. At least three show gardens featured small natural ponds designed for swimming, with water lilies, irises, and reeds growing in the shallows. The water was crystal clear, thanks to a hidden filtration system that circulated it through a planted regeneration zone.
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This trend speaks to a broader desire for sustainability in the garden. Natural swimming ponds use no chemicals, support wildlife, and provide a habitat for frogs, dragonflies, and birds. They are also visually stunning, blending seamlessly into the landscape rather than standing out as a blue rectangle. For the home gardener, a natural pond doesn’t have to be large. A small plunge pool, just 6 feet by 10 feet, can be enough for a cooling dip on a hot day. The key is to separate the swimming area from the regeneration zone, which should be about half the total surface area. Plant the regeneration zone with oxygenating plants like hornwort and water crowfoot, along with marginal plants like yellow flag iris and marsh marigold.
Maintenance is lower than you might think. A natural pond needs a pump to circulate water through the regeneration zone, but no chemicals are required. You will need to remove fallen leaves in autumn and thin out plants occasionally, but the ecosystem does most of the work. The result is a swimming experience that feels more like a wild swim than a dip in a pool — invigorating, natural, and deeply connected to the garden around it.
Edible Ornamentals: Beauty That Feeds
Another strong trend from this year’s show was the integration of edible plants into ornamental borders. Gone are the days when vegetables were banished to a separate plot behind the shed. At Chelsea, artichokes, kale, and chard were planted alongside roses and delphiniums, their sculptural leaves and vibrant stems adding texture and color. One garden featured a bed of Tuscan kale with deep purple stems, planted next to orange geums and blue salvias. The effect was stunning, and entirely edible.
This trend is driven by a growing interest in home food production, but also by a shift in aesthetics. Many edible plants are genuinely beautiful. Rainbow chard has stems in shades of red, yellow, and pink. Artichokes produce huge, silvery thistle-like flowers. Fennel has feathery, anise-scented foliage. By mixing these with traditional ornamentals, you create a garden that is both productive and beautiful. For the home gardener, start by adding a few edible plants to existing borders. Try purple kale among your roses, or plant a row of rainbow chard along the edge of a flower bed. Add herbs like thyme, sage, and oregano for fragrance and texture. You can even use edible flowers like nasturtiums, borage, and calendula to add pops of color and attract pollinators.
The key to success is to choose edible plants that have strong visual appeal. Avoid planting things that look messy or that need constant harvesting to stay tidy. Instead, choose varieties that are bred for both beauty and yield. ‘Bright Lights’ chard, ‘Redbor’ kale, and ‘Purple Majesty’ potatoes are all excellent choices. Plant them in groups of three or five for the best visual impact. And don’t forget the practical benefits: you’ll save money on groceries, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the freshest possible produce, all while creating a stunning garden.
Vertical Gardens and Green Walls: Going Up
With urban spaces getting smaller, the Chelsea Flower Show trends this year highlighted the growing importance of vertical gardens. Several show gardens featured stunning green walls, from simple trellises covered in climbing roses to complex modular systems planted with ferns, succulents, and grasses. One garden had a living wall made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, planted with herbs and strawberries. Another used a steel frame with felt pockets, creating a lush tapestry of textures and colors.
Vertical gardens are not just for balconies and small courtyards. They can transform a blank wall into a living artwork, improve air quality, and provide insulation. For the home gardener, the easiest way to start is with a simple trellis or obelisk. Plant a climbing rose, a jasmine, or a clematis at the base and let it grow. For a more ambitious project, consider a modular green wall system. These are available in kits that include a frame, irrigation system, and planting pockets. You can plant them with a mix of perennials, annuals, and herbs to create a dynamic, ever-changing display.
Maintenance is key. A green wall needs regular watering, especially in hot weather. Drip irrigation systems make this easier, but you can also water by hand with a watering can. Fertilize monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid feed. And be prepared to replace plants that don’t thrive — some spots on a green wall get more sun or shade than others. The payoff is a garden that defies gravity, turning unused vertical space into a lush, living tapestry.
These seven Chelsea Flower Show trends offer a roadmap for creating a garden that is beautiful, sustainable, and deeply personal. Whether you’re drawn to the warm embrace of terracotta tones, the architectural elegance of iris, or the wild freedom of naturalistic planting, there is something here for every gardener. The key is to take inspiration from the show and adapt it to your own space, your own climate, and your own sense of style. After all, the best garden is the one that brings you joy.
