The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the annual barometer of garden design excellence and trend. Having attended this year's show, here are our key takeaways and the ideas we are most excited to incorporate into our work.
Naturalistic Planting Continues to Dominate
The influence of Dutch New Wave planting — championed by designers including Piet Oudolf — shows no signs of abating. Showgardens were filled with naturalistic drifts of perennials and ornamental grasses, designed to look as if they had self-seeded naturally while actually being carefully curated.
Key plants from the show: Echinacea, Veronicastrum, Deschampsia, Stipa, Molinia, Sanguisorba and Thalictrum featured prominently.
Sustainability at the Forefront
Sustainable design practices were front and centre at this year's show, including:
Warmth and Colour
After several years of muted, naturalistic palettes, there was a renewed confidence in bold colour this year. Rich terracotta, burnt orange, deep burgundy and electric blue plantings provided vivid excitement.
The Kitchen Garden Renaissance
Kitchen gardens featured prominently, elevated far beyond the traditional utilitarian vegetable patch. Formal potager designs with beautiful raised beds, espalier fruit trees, cutting flowers and productive growing spaces demonstrated that growing food and beauty are not mutually exclusive.
Innovative Use of Water
Water continued to be a key element in showgardens, from sleek linear rills to naturalistic ponds designed as genuine wildlife habitats. The sound and movement of water remains as compelling as ever.
Our Response
At Lifestyle Gardens, the Chelsea Flower Show informs and inspires our design work each year. If any of these ideas resonate with you, we would love to discuss how to incorporate them into your garden project. Contact us to arrange a design consultation.
Written by the Lifestyle Gardens team · October 2025