Landscape Design
7 Landscape Design Trends From the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show
This year’s event celebrates the unexpected, showcasing everything from pretty weeds to edible ornamental plants
The designs showcased at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 23 to 27) in London can inspire landscapes of all sizes, as designers embraced weeds, grew decorative edibles, recycled waste and created immersive sanctuaries. Keep reading to see these trends and others featured this year at the world’s most prestigious flower show.
2. Embracing “Weed Heroes”
We’ve become used to the fact that certain plants don’t belong in our yards, so using what some might consider weeds amid the beautifully curated designs at Chelsea is possibly controversial. But it’s also spirit-lifting. Massey says he likes to think of weeds as resilient plants, while the Royal Horticultural Society is eager to rebrand them as unsung heroes.
Several of the show gardens this year featured dandelions and brambles, including A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang; the Centrepoint Garden by Cleve West, seen here, and The Fauna & Flora Garden by Jilayne Rickards.
Some plants traditionally seen as weeds can increase biodiversity, offering a valuable food source for a range of insects, which in turn can attract more birds—so these plants are a worthwhile addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. And of course, along with being great for biodiversity, they’re good news for gardeners who are short on time or not excited for a weekend spent weeding.
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We’ve become used to the fact that certain plants don’t belong in our yards, so using what some might consider weeds amid the beautifully curated designs at Chelsea is possibly controversial. But it’s also spirit-lifting. Massey says he likes to think of weeds as resilient plants, while the Royal Horticultural Society is eager to rebrand them as unsung heroes.
Several of the show gardens this year featured dandelions and brambles, including A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang; the Centrepoint Garden by Cleve West, seen here, and The Fauna & Flora Garden by Jilayne Rickards.
Some plants traditionally seen as weeds can increase biodiversity, offering a valuable food source for a range of insects, which in turn can attract more birds—so these plants are a worthwhile addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. And of course, along with being great for biodiversity, they’re good news for gardeners who are short on time or not excited for a weekend spent weeding.
Find a local landscape designer
3. Weaving In Pretty Edibles
For those interested in growing food, there were plenty of examples of traditional edibles at this year’s show. And many designers mixed in edible plants that also are ornamental (“edimentals”). Scattered edimentals are great for small spaces and time-challenged gardeners, and beautiful to look at.
Inspired by medieval cookbooks, the modern potager garden Rustic Recipes Reimagined by Sparsholt College showcased a wonderful array of exciting and sometimes surprising edimentals, such as young hosta leaves (Hosta ‘Patriot’, zones 3 to 8), garden angelica and wood sorrel.
The School Food Matters Garden designed by Harry Holding, seen here, aimed to encourage children to explore and be inspired by the idea of foraging. Around 80% of the plants were edimentals, including asparagus, geraniums and ostrich ferns.
Before and After: 3 Beautiful Edible Gardens Rise From the Ground
For those interested in growing food, there were plenty of examples of traditional edibles at this year’s show. And many designers mixed in edible plants that also are ornamental (“edimentals”). Scattered edimentals are great for small spaces and time-challenged gardeners, and beautiful to look at.
Inspired by medieval cookbooks, the modern potager garden Rustic Recipes Reimagined by Sparsholt College showcased a wonderful array of exciting and sometimes surprising edimentals, such as young hosta leaves (Hosta ‘Patriot’, zones 3 to 8), garden angelica and wood sorrel.
The School Food Matters Garden designed by Harry Holding, seen here, aimed to encourage children to explore and be inspired by the idea of foraging. Around 80% of the plants were edimentals, including asparagus, geraniums and ostrich ferns.
Before and After: 3 Beautiful Edible Gardens Rise From the Ground
4. Making Room for Mushrooms
Taking the ornamental-edibles trend a step further, mushrooms were featured for the first time at Chelsea, both in a show garden and in the Great Pavilion. The displays aimed to encourage people to grow edible fungi at home, whether in the landscape, where they can improve soil quality, or indoors.
One look at the Caley Bros stand, The Mush Room, in the Great Pavilion could have had anyone swooning. Beautiful sculptural forms sprouting from pots, bowls and even books showed how easy it is to grow mushrooms — oyster mushrooms in particular.
Meanwhile, in the Centre for Mental Health’s Balance Garden by Wild City Studio, designers Jon Davies and Steve Williams included a repurposed shipping container filled with mushrooms, seen here, demonstrating a low-carbon way to grow a source of protein in a small urban setting.
Taking the ornamental-edibles trend a step further, mushrooms were featured for the first time at Chelsea, both in a show garden and in the Great Pavilion. The displays aimed to encourage people to grow edible fungi at home, whether in the landscape, where they can improve soil quality, or indoors.
One look at the Caley Bros stand, The Mush Room, in the Great Pavilion could have had anyone swooning. Beautiful sculptural forms sprouting from pots, bowls and even books showed how easy it is to grow mushrooms — oyster mushrooms in particular.
Meanwhile, in the Centre for Mental Health’s Balance Garden by Wild City Studio, designers Jon Davies and Steve Williams included a repurposed shipping container filled with mushrooms, seen here, demonstrating a low-carbon way to grow a source of protein in a small urban setting.
5. Creating Space for Reflection
Many of us don’t have easy access to lush green spaces, but even in small outdoor spots, it’s possible to create a retreat cocooned by foliage.
This year’s balcony gardens (6½ by 16½ feet) all featured the theme of relaxing amid nature. The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden by Katherine Holland, seen here, had a comfy chair surrounded by high planters filled with delicate magenta and purple flowers. It also featured another Chelsea favorite, the multistemmed tree, which offers a wide spread of greenery and welcome shade.
The Doorstep Library Garden: Words Take You Places by Gini Denison-Pender, Philippa Craddock and Anna Garner took immersion a step further, with an enclosed padded wooden seat backed by lush ferns. Surrounding books boosted the theme of relaxation.
The St. George “Alight Here” Balcony Garden by Emma Tipping suggested the idea of relaxing after work among pots filled with naturalistic plantings, while The Restorative Balcony Garden Sponsored by Viking by Christina Cobb was designed to attract wildlife.
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Many of us don’t have easy access to lush green spaces, but even in small outdoor spots, it’s possible to create a retreat cocooned by foliage.
This year’s balcony gardens (6½ by 16½ feet) all featured the theme of relaxing amid nature. The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden by Katherine Holland, seen here, had a comfy chair surrounded by high planters filled with delicate magenta and purple flowers. It also featured another Chelsea favorite, the multistemmed tree, which offers a wide spread of greenery and welcome shade.
The Doorstep Library Garden: Words Take You Places by Gini Denison-Pender, Philippa Craddock and Anna Garner took immersion a step further, with an enclosed padded wooden seat backed by lush ferns. Surrounding books boosted the theme of relaxation.
The St. George “Alight Here” Balcony Garden by Emma Tipping suggested the idea of relaxing after work among pots filled with naturalistic plantings, while The Restorative Balcony Garden Sponsored by Viking by Christina Cobb was designed to attract wildlife.
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Hamptons Mediterranean Garden, designed by Filippo Dester
6. Nurturing Peacefulness With a Green Palette
It’s notable how calm the palettes at this year’s show were. There were lots of greens dotted sparingly with color, rather than a riot of shades. The emphasis was on relaxation and a sense of sanctuary, with seating areas surrounded by leafy plants and trees.
Standouts included The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens by Camellia Taylor, Myeloma UK — A Life Worth Living Garden by Chris Beardshaw, A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang, Memoria & GreenAcres Transcendence Garden by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson, and The Biophilic Garden Otsu — Hanare by Kazuyuki Ishihara.
Even the container gardens felt very lush and green this year, including the Feels Like Home garden by Rosemary Coldstream.
6. Nurturing Peacefulness With a Green Palette
It’s notable how calm the palettes at this year’s show were. There were lots of greens dotted sparingly with color, rather than a riot of shades. The emphasis was on relaxation and a sense of sanctuary, with seating areas surrounded by leafy plants and trees.
Standouts included The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens by Camellia Taylor, Myeloma UK — A Life Worth Living Garden by Chris Beardshaw, A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang, Memoria & GreenAcres Transcendence Garden by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson, and The Biophilic Garden Otsu — Hanare by Kazuyuki Ishihara.
Even the container gardens felt very lush and green this year, including the Feels Like Home garden by Rosemary Coldstream.
7. Using Natural and Recycled Materials for Hardscaping
As in interiors, using recycled and natural materials is becoming more prevalent in landscapes.
Many of the designers at this year’s show used earth as a building material. The boundary walls in The Choose Love Garden by Jane Porter, for instance, were made from stacked bags of earth. Rammed earth formed the walls in The School Food Matters Garden by Harry Holding and the floor in The Royal Entomological Society Garden by Tom Massey.
In Horatio’s Garden by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, a cement-free path had minimal environmental impact, while the shelter was insulated with sheep’s wool. Sarah Price, who aimed to have the lowest carbon footprint in the show, used straw bale walls in The Nurture Landscapes Garden.
In addition to natural materials, recycled concrete and bricks were used to create pathways. Tom Massey, for instance, used crushed construction waste in The Royal Entomological Society Garden. And in The Savills Garden, Mark Gregory used reclaimed brick roof tiles and shelves made from upcycled trays, as well as fly ash rather than cement.
And in the spirit of recycling, all of the 36 show gardens are heading off to new homes now that the show has ended.
Tell us: What do you think of the designs? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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As in interiors, using recycled and natural materials is becoming more prevalent in landscapes.
Many of the designers at this year’s show used earth as a building material. The boundary walls in The Choose Love Garden by Jane Porter, for instance, were made from stacked bags of earth. Rammed earth formed the walls in The School Food Matters Garden by Harry Holding and the floor in The Royal Entomological Society Garden by Tom Massey.
In Horatio’s Garden by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, a cement-free path had minimal environmental impact, while the shelter was insulated with sheep’s wool. Sarah Price, who aimed to have the lowest carbon footprint in the show, used straw bale walls in The Nurture Landscapes Garden.
In addition to natural materials, recycled concrete and bricks were used to create pathways. Tom Massey, for instance, used crushed construction waste in The Royal Entomological Society Garden. And in The Savills Garden, Mark Gregory used reclaimed brick roof tiles and shelves made from upcycled trays, as well as fly ash rather than cement.
And in the spirit of recycling, all of the 36 show gardens are heading off to new homes now that the show has ended.
Tell us: What do you think of the designs? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read gardening guides
Find a landscape contractor to help with your project
Shop for outdoor furniture
Numerous designers this year included species that are resilient in the face of hot, dry weather, with around half the plants across the show gardens falling into this category. Filippo Dester’s Hamptons Mediterranean Garden is a case in point, featuring pretty irises and wild roses, seen here, as well as lavender, alliums, salvias and more.
Drought-tolerant plants in other designs included dainty Latin American fleabane (Erigeron Karvinskianus, USDA zones 6 to 9; find your zone) in the London Square Community Garden by James Smith, and delicate-looking but secretly tough quaking grass (Briza media, zones 4 to 8) in The RSPCA Garden by Martyn Wilson.
Along with using resilient plantings, Dester also showed how saving rainwater can be tackled in an elegant way, with a stone water feature that collects rain from a roof and gently channels it into a reservoir below ground. Tom Massey’s Royal Entomological Society Garden, meanwhile, featured a pond that acted as a swale, collecting rainwater to keep the soil moist and attract wildlife.
8 Drought-Sensitive Ways to Start a Garden