7 New Trends from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Discover the hottest garden trends from this year’s event
The Chelsea Flower Show is back for another year (20-24 May) and, as ever, it’s packed with creativity and inspiration. We were there to cover the emerging trends, from woodland gardens to dog-friendly spaces and even the use of AI in outdoor areas. Take a tour of the top themes on display.
2. Bird-friendly gardening
Wildlife gardening in general is an ongoing trend and, at this year’s show, there was an emphasis on creating safe and welcoming spaces for songbirds.
Designed for children, the SongBird Survival Garden (pictured) by Nicola Oakey provided a playful, immersive space for visitors to connect with songbirds and to highlight the creatures’ vulnerable status.
The design had bird-friendly planting, sheltered areas for nest-building, and fresh water for birds to drink, as well as pockets of safety and cover for them to weave between while foraging. There was also a den in the centre of the garden for birdwatching.
Wildlife gardening in general is an ongoing trend and, at this year’s show, there was an emphasis on creating safe and welcoming spaces for songbirds.
Designed for children, the SongBird Survival Garden (pictured) by Nicola Oakey provided a playful, immersive space for visitors to connect with songbirds and to highlight the creatures’ vulnerable status.
The design had bird-friendly planting, sheltered areas for nest-building, and fresh water for birds to drink, as well as pockets of safety and cover for them to weave between while foraging. There was also a den in the centre of the garden for birdwatching.
3. Woodland gardens
The importance of planting trees to combat a changing climate was another standout trend at the show. Several gardens showcased ways to create a wooded scheme in a residential garden, with an emphasis on planting trees in urban spaces.
The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden (pictured) by Zoe Claymore was inspired by the fragments of temperate rainforest that pepper the west of the UK and explored how a residential garden can evoke these wild, magical woodlands.
Elsewhere, the Avanade Intelligent Garden, mentioned earlier, examined how, when it comes to climate change, trees could be key allies – cooling the air and filtering pollution – and help us boost wellbeing in our cities.
Easily find and hire a local garden designer on Houzz.
The importance of planting trees to combat a changing climate was another standout trend at the show. Several gardens showcased ways to create a wooded scheme in a residential garden, with an emphasis on planting trees in urban spaces.
The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden (pictured) by Zoe Claymore was inspired by the fragments of temperate rainforest that pepper the west of the UK and explored how a residential garden can evoke these wild, magical woodlands.
Elsewhere, the Avanade Intelligent Garden, mentioned earlier, examined how, when it comes to climate change, trees could be key allies – cooling the air and filtering pollution – and help us boost wellbeing in our cities.
Easily find and hire a local garden designer on Houzz.
4. Wild urban spaces
Bringing some of the health benefits of the wilderness to busy urban lives was another trend seen across the show. The most striking example of this was the Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat balcony garden (pictured) by ssh scapes – Sonia Kamel, Sally Giles and Helier Bowling – and inspired by the wild landscape of the Scottish Cairngorms.
This small urban space was designed for a busy professional couple “who love the outdoors and, in particular, the Cairngorms in Scotland, and want to recreate the environment for daily health benefits on their high-rise city balcony”, according to the RHS.
At the heart of the space was a copper bath perfect for a cold-water dip, which was surrounded by wild planting reminiscent of the grassy heaths, rocky outcrops and mossy glens typical of the area.
Bringing some of the health benefits of the wilderness to busy urban lives was another trend seen across the show. The most striking example of this was the Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat balcony garden (pictured) by ssh scapes – Sonia Kamel, Sally Giles and Helier Bowling – and inspired by the wild landscape of the Scottish Cairngorms.
This small urban space was designed for a busy professional couple “who love the outdoors and, in particular, the Cairngorms in Scotland, and want to recreate the environment for daily health benefits on their high-rise city balcony”, according to the RHS.
At the heart of the space was a copper bath perfect for a cold-water dip, which was surrounded by wild planting reminiscent of the grassy heaths, rocky outcrops and mossy glens typical of the area.
5. Resilience
In a changing climate, resilient planting is becoming an essential part of a garden scheme, and this was reflected across the show.
The King’s Trust Garden: Seeding Success (pictured) by Joe Perkins was full of tips for creating a beautiful scheme in challenging surroundings, such as the poor, rubbly soil often found alongside new houses. Sturdy grasses were combined with perennials and low-growing shrubs chosen for their ability to survive in poor soil conditions.
The design takes inspiration from ‘pioneer plants’, which are the first plants to colonise a new or disturbed area, and their seeds, which represent the potential for new life and hope for the future.
In a changing climate, resilient planting is becoming an essential part of a garden scheme, and this was reflected across the show.
The King’s Trust Garden: Seeding Success (pictured) by Joe Perkins was full of tips for creating a beautiful scheme in challenging surroundings, such as the poor, rubbly soil often found alongside new houses. Sturdy grasses were combined with perennials and low-growing shrubs chosen for their ability to survive in poor soil conditions.
The design takes inspiration from ‘pioneer plants’, which are the first plants to colonise a new or disturbed area, and their seeds, which represent the potential for new life and hope for the future.
6. Dog-friendly gardens
Creating a space that works well for all the family was taken one step further this year with the inclusion of the first dog-friendly garden. The space was designed to be loved by dogs and their owners alike.
The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden (pictured) by Monty Don featured a hardwearing lawn, clipped short for dogs to roll about and play on, while large trees provided essential shade for hot days. A shallow stream (just seen on the left) also gave pets a chance to wallow and cool off.
Borders were planted with colourful spring flowers, and a sectioned-off area highlighted the fact that certain plants are toxic to dogs and other pets, and should be avoided or used with care.
Creating a space that works well for all the family was taken one step further this year with the inclusion of the first dog-friendly garden. The space was designed to be loved by dogs and their owners alike.
The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden (pictured) by Monty Don featured a hardwearing lawn, clipped short for dogs to roll about and play on, while large trees provided essential shade for hot days. A shallow stream (just seen on the left) also gave pets a chance to wallow and cool off.
Borders were planted with colourful spring flowers, and a sectioned-off area highlighted the fact that certain plants are toxic to dogs and other pets, and should be avoided or used with care.
7. Carbon storage
Using garden spaces to store carbon is something that’s filtering through into design practices, as cleverly demonstrated at the show.
The C6 garden (pictured) by Joshua Fenton showcased three ways to sequester carbon in a garden, whatever its size or location. From the use of bio char and charred oak to smart planting ideas, such as choosing fast-growing trees and herbaceous perennials, the small space was all about carbon storage.
In addition, there were water recycling and wildlife-friendly design tips throughout, including a rill running across the garden.
Tell us…
Which of these trends appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Using garden spaces to store carbon is something that’s filtering through into design practices, as cleverly demonstrated at the show.
The C6 garden (pictured) by Joshua Fenton showcased three ways to sequester carbon in a garden, whatever its size or location. From the use of bio char and charred oak to smart planting ideas, such as choosing fast-growing trees and herbaceous perennials, the small space was all about carbon storage.
In addition, there were water recycling and wildlife-friendly design tips throughout, including a rill running across the garden.
Tell us…
Which of these trends appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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This year’s show explored ways green technology and AI could potentially support and protect our outdoor spaces in the future.
The Avanade Intelligent Garden (pictured) by Tom Massey and Je Ahn was an urban forest garden designed, according to the RHS, to act as “a testing ground for researchers to pilot an innovative AI tool that supports urban trees”. The garden was equipped with discreet sensors to track different aspects of tree health, such as growth, sap flow, soil conditions, air quality, and weather patterns.
AI could then be used to analyse this data in order to predict future conditions or alert gardeners to potential issues such as over- or under-watering.