Garden Trends from Chelsea Flower Show 2023

No matter how large or small our homes' outdoor spaces are, they have always been an important facet when selling a property. At this year's Chelsea Flower Show in May, several garden trends were on show that could help attract potential buyers to your home.

Re-wildingRe-wilding

Among the 12 show gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, four showcased the presence of weeds like brambles and thistles, emphasising their benefits for wildlife. Many of the gardens in the Main Avenue were adorned with naturalistic planting designs, urging visitors to reconnect with the nature surrounding them. The show gardens prominently featured native plants, incorporating a palette of gentle meadow hues, wildflowers, and beloved meadow species such as cow parsley, poppies and buttercups. These accompanied delicate grasses, bringing light and movement to the space.

Several paradise gardens designed to support bees were present, featuring readily available plants from the RHS Plants for Pollinators list. Native wildflowers and vibrant plants that attract pollinators are in high demand, and your local garden centre will offer the perfect selection to invite bees and butterflies into your outdoor area. The presence of perennial beauties like foxgloves with their bell-shaped pink blossoms, majestic lupins with their spires and towering delphiniums in the mix - they also help to soften walls and fencing.

Grow Your Own

Edible gardening and kitchen gardens took centre stage at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Visitors and viewers were treated to gardens dedicated to a diverse array of fruits, herbs, and vegetables, showcasing the best use of space and providing inspiration for growing your own produce in urban settings.

In a groundbreaking addition, one of the show gardens featured a working kitchen, demonstrating an alfresco dining experience that embraces the concept of ‘plot-to-plate’. This unique garden was adorned with both ornamental and edible plants.

Coronation

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II and celebrate the ascension of King Charles III, this year's event featured ‘A Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration.’ Soft planting with light pink and white flowers paid tribute to the Queen, while shades of blues and purples represented the new King.

In the Floral Marquee, exhibitors launched plants with royal coronation-themed names, accompanied by immersive displays throughout the aisles that embraced the royal theme.

Gardening in Small Spaces

The Balcony and Container Gardens made a return at Chelsea this year. Five amateur garden designers each create da pocket-sized realistic garden within the footprint of an average-sized 2m x 5m balcony.

The Container Gardens showcased innovative ways to maximise planting in limited floor space. Demonstrating an array of container and planter styles, these 4m x 3m spaces exemplified how even the smallest areas can flourish when adorned with flowers and foliage.

Climate Consciousness

The Sanctuary Gardens at Chelsea provided ample inspiration, often on a more achievable scale.

The Biophilic Garden Otsu aimed to foster human connection with nature in built-up environments, featuring plantings of acers, pines, and mosses that can be easily incorporated into your urban garden or even grown in pots, making it ideal for small spaces.

The Boodles British Craft Garden presented a woodland planting scheme achievable with ferns, hostas, birch and hornbeam. Meanwhile, the Hamptons Mediterranean Garden showcased climate-conscious choices with a selection of biodiversity and drought-tolerant plants, including fig trees, pittosporum, oregano, thyme, rosemary and agave.

Houseplants

The Houseplant Studios made a comeback at the renowned flower show, shining a spotlight on indoor plants and their numerous benefits. Recognising that many people reside in flats or houses without gardens and that city dwellers spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, the Houseplant Studios offered a sensory experience that aligns with the wellness trend. These studios showcased how indoor plants not only enhance the aesthetic of our living spaces, but also purify the air by removing toxins and other harmful substances.

To inspire even novice gardeners, the Houseplant Studios demonstrated how houseplants and nature can combine to create captivating indoor displays.

So, there was something for everyone at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, whether your outdoor space is a small balcony, a large garden or your green spaces are indoors. We hope it helps to inspire you with your garden spaces.

CONTACT US...

You can contact us on 0121 550 5400 for the Halesowen Office, 01562 270270 for Hagley and 01384 442464 for Stourbridge

Our thanks to British Garden Centres for supplying the information for this blog - their closest Centres to our area are in Little Heath, Bromsgrove and Burford House, Tenbury Wells.
The Burford House Garden Centre is particularly worth a visit this Summer as it is situated in the walled garden of a Georgian mansion.