10 Inspiring Landscape Trends From the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show
See the standout ideas spotted at the London festival, including vibrant color palettes, innovative materials and more
The 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held in London from May 19 to 23, once again offered plenty of inspiration across 30 gardens and six houseplant studios. This year’s show delivered clever ideas for joyful color combinations, edible ornamentals, rainwater harvesting and interesting ways to bring nature into urban settings, among many others. Take a tour of some of the beautiful designs that were on display at the annual event.
Sarah Eberle’s Campaign to Protect Rural England “On the Edge” garden, seen here, won the RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year award. The design aimed to show how communities can revitalize the fringes of urban areas to give town and city dwellers access to uplifting green spaces.
The garden pushed the naturalistic idea to the limit. Some plants often considered weeds but loved by pollinators — such as meadow buttercups and common dog-violet, both considered invasive in the United States but not in the United Kingdom — appeared in the borders. They worked beautifully amid more traditional backyard plantings and corralled into flower beds.
A figure of Gaia, or Mother Nature, anchored the design as its centerpiece. Carved from a fallen tree, it symbolized the connection between nature and humanity.
The garden pushed the naturalistic idea to the limit. Some plants often considered weeds but loved by pollinators — such as meadow buttercups and common dog-violet, both considered invasive in the United States but not in the United Kingdom — appeared in the borders. They worked beautifully amid more traditional backyard plantings and corralled into flower beds.
A figure of Gaia, or Mother Nature, anchored the design as its centerpiece. Carved from a fallen tree, it symbolized the connection between nature and humanity.
2. Yards for Foraging
There’s something pleasingly wholesome about gathering plants from our own yards to use in the kitchen. The idea of weaving in less common edibles is gaining popularity, and several designers at this year’s show incorporated varieties that are safe to eat.
The Whittard of Chelsea garden, seen here, designed by Ollie Pike for the esteemed tea company, featured numerous plants with leaves, petals and hips perfect for infusions. These included river birch (Betula nigra, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), which has vitamin-rich leaves; ‘Our Beth’ rose (Rosa ‘Beacarol’, zones 6 to 9); and tea plant (Camellia sinensis, zones 7 to 9).
The Woodland Trust “Forgotten Forests” garden by Ashleigh Aylett contained plants with edible berries, flowers and leaves.
The Eden Project “Bring Me Sunshine” garden (see next photo) by Alex Michaelis and Harry Holding was inspired by a coastal town in northwestern England and wove edible plants that thrive in salty sea air, such as sea kale (Crambe maritima, zones 5 to 9), into soft plantings.
There’s something pleasingly wholesome about gathering plants from our own yards to use in the kitchen. The idea of weaving in less common edibles is gaining popularity, and several designers at this year’s show incorporated varieties that are safe to eat.
The Whittard of Chelsea garden, seen here, designed by Ollie Pike for the esteemed tea company, featured numerous plants with leaves, petals and hips perfect for infusions. These included river birch (Betula nigra, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), which has vitamin-rich leaves; ‘Our Beth’ rose (Rosa ‘Beacarol’, zones 6 to 9); and tea plant (Camellia sinensis, zones 7 to 9).
The Woodland Trust “Forgotten Forests” garden by Ashleigh Aylett contained plants with edible berries, flowers and leaves.
The Eden Project “Bring Me Sunshine” garden (see next photo) by Alex Michaelis and Harry Holding was inspired by a coastal town in northwestern England and wove edible plants that thrive in salty sea air, such as sea kale (Crambe maritima, zones 5 to 9), into soft plantings.
3. Inspiration for the Next Generation
A significant number of gardens this year were designed to engage young people, both to inspire them to learn about nature and perhaps choose horticulture as a career, and to give them a safe space to take time out and access support.
The “Bring Me Sunshine” garden (pictured), for instance, offered a central, solar-powered area for learning and space for young people to connect. It’s destined to become a community hub in the town of Morecambe, in northwestern England.
Meanwhile, the RHS and the King’s Foundation “Curious” garden by Frances Tophill (see the Joyful Color section, below), aimed to spark the interest of a new generation of growers. The central oak building, or Museum of Curiosities, showcased numerous potential uses for plants, including extracting dye and making pickles and balms.
A significant number of gardens this year were designed to engage young people, both to inspire them to learn about nature and perhaps choose horticulture as a career, and to give them a safe space to take time out and access support.
The “Bring Me Sunshine” garden (pictured), for instance, offered a central, solar-powered area for learning and space for young people to connect. It’s destined to become a community hub in the town of Morecambe, in northwestern England.
Meanwhile, the RHS and the King’s Foundation “Curious” garden by Frances Tophill (see the Joyful Color section, below), aimed to spark the interest of a new generation of growers. The central oak building, or Museum of Curiosities, showcased numerous potential uses for plants, including extracting dye and making pickles and balms.
In the Children’s Society garden, seen here, Patrick Clarke created an urban sanctuary for teenagers to feel seen and supported. A rill ran around the garden, creating a gentle boundary, while resilient plantings included native Indian physic (Gillenia trifoliata, zones 4 to 8), which symbolized the often-unseen beauty within everyone.
On a slightly more kitsch note, garden gnomes made a special appearance to support young people this year. The RHS briefly lifted its ban on the ornaments, auctioning designs by celebrities such as Cate Blanchett to raise money for the charity’s Campaign for School Gardening.
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On a slightly more kitsch note, garden gnomes made a special appearance to support young people this year. The RHS briefly lifted its ban on the ornaments, auctioning designs by celebrities such as Cate Blanchett to raise money for the charity’s Campaign for School Gardening.
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4. Beautiful Rainwater Harvesting Ideas
Finding ways to gather rainwater has been part of the show for a number of years. But structures that aid this effort are becoming more of a beautiful design detail in themselves.
In the Sightsavers garden, seen here, Peter Karn, Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux slowed water elegantly with a Cor-Ten steel halo that gave focus to the space. The structure was designed to gather rain and release it via a chain into a pool for sound.
In the “Bring Me Sunshine” garden, the solar-powered pavilion channeled water down a chute in one of the legs and into a soothing surrounding pool.
In his “A Seed in Time” garden, designer Grainger used the Brutalist-inspired seating area roof — made from straw bales, harvested reeds and earth render — to collect rainwater and channel it into the wetland below.
12 Beautiful Ways to Manage Excess Water in Your Yard
Finding ways to gather rainwater has been part of the show for a number of years. But structures that aid this effort are becoming more of a beautiful design detail in themselves.
In the Sightsavers garden, seen here, Peter Karn, Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux slowed water elegantly with a Cor-Ten steel halo that gave focus to the space. The structure was designed to gather rain and release it via a chain into a pool for sound.
In the “Bring Me Sunshine” garden, the solar-powered pavilion channeled water down a chute in one of the legs and into a soothing surrounding pool.
In his “A Seed in Time” garden, designer Grainger used the Brutalist-inspired seating area roof — made from straw bales, harvested reeds and earth render — to collect rainwater and channel it into the wetland below.
12 Beautiful Ways to Manage Excess Water in Your Yard
5. Joyful Color
Breaking with the recent past’s restrained palettes, designers embraced color at this year’s show. In the “Curious” garden, for instance, designer Tophill planted an abundant mix of cottage garden flowers in pink, purple, yellow and white, which looked all the more beautiful set against the ochre walls of the central building.
Breaking with the recent past’s restrained palettes, designers embraced color at this year’s show. In the “Curious” garden, for instance, designer Tophill planted an abundant mix of cottage garden flowers in pink, purple, yellow and white, which looked all the more beautiful set against the ochre walls of the central building.
In Parkinson’s UK “A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey,” seen here, Arit Anderson introduced a clever raised rill to act as a handrail and combined a vibrant mix of red poppies, violet catmint, yellow spurge, pink peonies, purple allium and numerous tulips for an uplifting display.
6. Resilient, Drought-Tolerant Plants
The show offered plenty of ideas for areas prone to drought as numerous designers chose resilient plants. In the Tate Britain garden (pictured), Tom Stuart-Smith proved that it’s possible to pack borders with gorgeous plantings in drier regions. Varieties included yellow Sicily spurge (Euphorbia ceratocarpa, zones 8 to 10); white New Zealand iris (Libertia grandiflora, zones 8 to 11); and the striking Japanese sago palm (Cycas revoluta, zones 9 to 10) seen at the end of the lefthand bed.
The design, including a sculpture — Bicentric Form (1949) — by British artist Barbara Hepworth, previewed a new garden for the art gallery scheduled to open next year.
Note: Euphorbia’s milky white sap is irritating to skin and toxic if ingested. All parts of the sago palm are extremely toxic to pets if ingested.
8 Drought-Sensitive Ways to Start a Garden
The show offered plenty of ideas for areas prone to drought as numerous designers chose resilient plants. In the Tate Britain garden (pictured), Tom Stuart-Smith proved that it’s possible to pack borders with gorgeous plantings in drier regions. Varieties included yellow Sicily spurge (Euphorbia ceratocarpa, zones 8 to 10); white New Zealand iris (Libertia grandiflora, zones 8 to 11); and the striking Japanese sago palm (Cycas revoluta, zones 9 to 10) seen at the end of the lefthand bed.
The design, including a sculpture — Bicentric Form (1949) — by British artist Barbara Hepworth, previewed a new garden for the art gallery scheduled to open next year.
Note: Euphorbia’s milky white sap is irritating to skin and toxic if ingested. All parts of the sago palm are extremely toxic to pets if ingested.
8 Drought-Sensitive Ways to Start a Garden
7. Nature in an Urban Setting
Town and city dwellers often lack access to green space, prompting several designers at the show to explore ways to bring the countryside closer.
This year’s inventive, intricate balcony gardens showcased ambitious ideas. In “Hedgerow in the Sky — Tech Mahindra,” seen here, Sarah Mayfield and Monika Greenhough reimagined a city balcony with layered plantings more commonly seen in rural British hedgerows (dense shrub boundaries), such as hawthorn and hazel, alongside a gentle water feature to connect city dwellers with nature.
In her “On the Edge” garden, designer Eberle passionately championed making the most of the often-forgotten land on the fringes of our towns and cities.
Meanwhile, in the Addleshaw Goddard “Flourish in the City” garden (see below), Joe and Laura Carey invited visitors to celebrate the many pocket oases in London, the world’s first National Park City. Their design featured resilient plantings such as ‘London Pride’ saxifrage (Saxifraga x urbium ‘London Pride’, zones 5 to 8), known to thrive in poor conditions.
Town and city dwellers often lack access to green space, prompting several designers at the show to explore ways to bring the countryside closer.
This year’s inventive, intricate balcony gardens showcased ambitious ideas. In “Hedgerow in the Sky — Tech Mahindra,” seen here, Sarah Mayfield and Monika Greenhough reimagined a city balcony with layered plantings more commonly seen in rural British hedgerows (dense shrub boundaries), such as hawthorn and hazel, alongside a gentle water feature to connect city dwellers with nature.
In her “On the Edge” garden, designer Eberle passionately championed making the most of the often-forgotten land on the fringes of our towns and cities.
Meanwhile, in the Addleshaw Goddard “Flourish in the City” garden (see below), Joe and Laura Carey invited visitors to celebrate the many pocket oases in London, the world’s first National Park City. Their design featured resilient plantings such as ‘London Pride’ saxifrage (Saxifraga x urbium ‘London Pride’, zones 5 to 8), known to thrive in poor conditions.
8. Concrete Alternatives
Over the past few shows, designers have steadily shifted away from traditional concrete toward more environmentally friendly alternatives, resulting this year in the debut of two innovative materials made largely from shells.
The wall pictured here in the “Flourish in the City” garden features oystercrete, a material that repurposes waste oyster shells from the restaurant industry.
Similarly, in the “Bring Me Sunshine” garden, the walls, paving and legs of the pavilion are made from clamcrete. This low-carbon, cement-free concrete alternative blends recycled waste cockle, clam and mussel shells from the fishing industry.
Over the past few shows, designers have steadily shifted away from traditional concrete toward more environmentally friendly alternatives, resulting this year in the debut of two innovative materials made largely from shells.
The wall pictured here in the “Flourish in the City” garden features oystercrete, a material that repurposes waste oyster shells from the restaurant industry.
Similarly, in the “Bring Me Sunshine” garden, the walls, paving and legs of the pavilion are made from clamcrete. This low-carbon, cement-free concrete alternative blends recycled waste cockle, clam and mussel shells from the fishing industry.
9. Beauty That Benefits Nature
The continued push for biodiversity placed pollinator plants front and center at this year’s show, and almost every designer included plants that attract bees or butterflies.
In her Fettercairn “The Angels’ Share” balcony garden (pictured), May Starey surrounded the seating area with plantings that attract endangered native pollinators, including orange and yellow geums and blue geraniums.
As insomnia is a key symptom of Parkinson’s disease, the Parkinson’s UK garden included an area filled with white plants such as foxgloves that give interest in low light and attract nighttime pollinators.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
The continued push for biodiversity placed pollinator plants front and center at this year’s show, and almost every designer included plants that attract bees or butterflies.
In her Fettercairn “The Angels’ Share” balcony garden (pictured), May Starey surrounded the seating area with plantings that attract endangered native pollinators, including orange and yellow geums and blue geraniums.
As insomnia is a key symptom of Parkinson’s disease, the Parkinson’s UK garden included an area filled with white plants such as foxgloves that give interest in low light and attract nighttime pollinators.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
10. Jungly Houseplants
Since debuting in 2021, the houseplant studios have become a permanent fixture at Chelsea, in line with the rising popularity of indoor plants. The mood this year felt big and bold, showcasing plenty of jungle-esque plants.
Several of the installations, including Martha Krempel’s “The Composer’s Cabin” (pictured), showcased an abundance of plants with big, glossy leaves that need to grow indoors in the UK, such as philodendrons, wild banana and the Osaka bird’s nest fern.
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Since debuting in 2021, the houseplant studios have become a permanent fixture at Chelsea, in line with the rising popularity of indoor plants. The mood this year felt big and bold, showcasing plenty of jungle-esque plants.
Several of the installations, including Martha Krempel’s “The Composer’s Cabin” (pictured), showcased an abundance of plants with big, glossy leaves that need to grow indoors in the UK, such as philodendrons, wild banana and the Osaka bird’s nest fern.
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Get landscape design ideas
Find a landscape designer or architect
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The naturescapes of previous years, which evoked wild landscapes, retreated somewhat this year as many designers embraced a relaxed, naturalistic style tailored specifically for a domestic yard.
Designer Baz Grainger, for instance, found a beautiful balance between a natural, wildlife-friendly aesthetic and a usable, sociable space with his grassland-inspired Killik & Co “A Seed in Time” garden, seen here.
Closely grouped, multilayered plants spilled over the pathways and into the stream as they would in nature. Tall trees, including a central mulberry, anchored the space above mid-height grasses and flowers such as white yarrow and lush ground cover. A crushed shell pathway and stepping stones led to a shady seating area.
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