The RHS Chelsea Flower Show has opened its gates, showcasing a blend of horticultural artistry and innovation. This year's trends range from Japanese-inspired designs to the integration of artificial intelligence and wildlife-friendly gardening.
Japanese design is a significant theme, with four of the nine large show gardens drawing from these traditions. Kazuyuki Ishihara's Tokonoma Garden – Samumaya no Niwa is crafted for contemplation, while Angus Thompson's Asthma and Lung UK Breathing Space Garden balances classic Japanese planting with uncluttered areas. RHS chief horticulturist Guy Barter notes the appeal of delicate textures like Japanese maples for small spaces seeking Zen wellbeing.
Wildlife gardening has become a prerequisite for major show gardens by 2026. Helen Bostock, RHS senior wildlife specialist, says elements are 'sensitively wrapped into the design'. Over half of gardeners now adapt practices to support local fauna. Jamie Butterworth, RHS ambassador, observes a shift from pristine plants to celebrating wildlife, with caterpillar damage now accepted.
Roses are generating buzz, particularly the Sir David Beckham rose by David Austin Roses, featuring luminous white flowers with soft pink buds. A vibrant palette dominates, attributed to a warm spring, with lupins, delphiniums, geums, and ornamental grasses like Miscanthus and calamagrostis prominent. Multi-award-winning designer Sarah Eberle notes, 'There is more colour. Maybe people feel we all need cheering up.'
Naturalistic layouts are returning, with designers like Tom Stuart-Smith in the Tate Britain Garden using informal gravel and undefined plant edges. Andrew Duff, chairman of the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, highlights a 'much more natural approach to positioning the plants'. This moves beyond rewilding to domestic naturalism, with Matt Keightley adding, 'It’s brave to loosen it up.'
