7 Trends from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023
Ahead of the curve as always, this year’s show celebrates the unexpected, from pretty weeds to ‘edimentals’
The world’s most prestigious flower show, RHS Chelsea Flower Show (23 to 27 May), is back and, as ever, there are plenty of designs to inspire any homeowner who has a patch of outside space, whether that’s a balcony, patio, urban haven or large garden. Take a look at these ideas, from embracing weeds and growing decorative edibles to recycling waste and creating an immersive sanctuary.
The Centrepoint Garden designed by Cleve West.
2. Embracing ‘weed heroes’
We’ve become used to the fact that certain plants don’t belong in our gardens, mostly for aesthetic reasons, so to see what some might consider weeds amid the beautifully curated designs at Chelsea is possibly controversial, but also spirit-lifting. Tom Massey says he likes to think of weeds as “resilient plants”, while the RHS are keen to rebrand them as “unsung heroes”.
Several of the show gardens this year feature plants such as red campion, dandelions, brambles and knapweed, including A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang; The Centrepoint Garden, seen here, and The Fauna & Flora Garden by Jilayne Rickards.
As the next step in making our gardens as wildlife-friendly as possible, weeds can increase biodiversity, offering a valuable source of food to a range of insects, which in turn can attract more birds. And of course, as well as being great for biodiversity, they’re good news for gardeners short on time or not keen on a weekend spent weeding.
Keen to bring in the skilled eye of a garden designer to make the most of your plot? Find one on Houzz today.
2. Embracing ‘weed heroes’
We’ve become used to the fact that certain plants don’t belong in our gardens, mostly for aesthetic reasons, so to see what some might consider weeds amid the beautifully curated designs at Chelsea is possibly controversial, but also spirit-lifting. Tom Massey says he likes to think of weeds as “resilient plants”, while the RHS are keen to rebrand them as “unsung heroes”.
Several of the show gardens this year feature plants such as red campion, dandelions, brambles and knapweed, including A Letter From a Million Years Past by Jihae Hwang; The Centrepoint Garden, seen here, and The Fauna & Flora Garden by Jilayne Rickards.
As the next step in making our gardens as wildlife-friendly as possible, weeds can increase biodiversity, offering a valuable source of food to a range of insects, which in turn can attract more birds. And of course, as well as being great for biodiversity, they’re good news for gardeners short on time or not keen on a weekend spent weeding.
Keen to bring in the skilled eye of a garden designer to make the most of your plot? Find one on Houzz today.
The School Food Matters Garden designed by Harry Holding.
3. Weaving in pretty edibles
In recent years, many more of us have become interested in growing food and there are plenty of examples of traditional edibles at this year’s show. However, many designers have chosen to feature edible plants that are also ornamental – or ‘edimentals’ – mixed in among the planting. Less work than an allotment or regimented rows of veg, scattered edimentals are great for small spaces and time-poor gardeners and beautiful to look at.
Inspired by medieval cookery books, Rustic Recipes Reimagined by Sparsholt College showcases a wonderful array of exciting and sometimes surprising edimentals in its modern potager garden, such as young Hosta ‘Patriot’ leaves, garden angelica and wood sorrel.
The School Food Matters Garden, seen here, aims to encourage children to explore and be inspired by the idea of foraging, and around 80% of the plants are edimentals, including asparagus, geraniums and ostrich ferns.
3. Weaving in pretty edibles
In recent years, many more of us have become interested in growing food and there are plenty of examples of traditional edibles at this year’s show. However, many designers have chosen to feature edible plants that are also ornamental – or ‘edimentals’ – mixed in among the planting. Less work than an allotment or regimented rows of veg, scattered edimentals are great for small spaces and time-poor gardeners and beautiful to look at.
Inspired by medieval cookery books, Rustic Recipes Reimagined by Sparsholt College showcases a wonderful array of exciting and sometimes surprising edimentals in its modern potager garden, such as young Hosta ‘Patriot’ leaves, garden angelica and wood sorrel.
The School Food Matters Garden, seen here, aims to encourage children to explore and be inspired by the idea of foraging, and around 80% of the plants are edimentals, including asparagus, geraniums and ostrich ferns.
Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden designed by Jon Davies and Steve Williams of Wild City Studio.
4. Making room for mushrooms
Taking the ornamental edibles trend a step further, mushrooms feature for the first time at Chelsea, both in a show garden and the Great Pavilion, aiming to encourage people to grow edible fungi at home, whether in the garden, where they can improve soil quality, or indoors.
If anyone needs to reset their relationship with mushrooms after fungal apocalypse drama The Last of Us, one look at the Caley Bros stand, The Mush Room, in the Great Pavilion will have you swooning. Beautiful sculptural forms sprouting from pots, bowls and even books show how easy it is to grow oyster mushrooms in particular.
Meanwhile, in the Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden by Wild City Studio, designers Jon Davies and Steve Williams have 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.
4. Making room for mushrooms
Taking the ornamental edibles trend a step further, mushrooms feature for the first time at Chelsea, both in a show garden and the Great Pavilion, aiming to encourage people to grow edible fungi at home, whether in the garden, where they can improve soil quality, or indoors.
If anyone needs to reset their relationship with mushrooms after fungal apocalypse drama The Last of Us, one look at the Caley Bros stand, The Mush Room, in the Great Pavilion will have you swooning. Beautiful sculptural forms sprouting from pots, bowls and even books show how easy it is to grow oyster mushrooms in particular.
Meanwhile, in the Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden by Wild City Studio, designers Jon Davies and Steve Williams have 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.
The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden designed by Katherine Holland.
5. Creating space for reflection
A surprising number of us don’t have easy access to lush green spaces, but even in the smallest of outdoor spots, it’s possible to create a place to step away from the hubbub to sit and contemplate cocooned by foliage.
This year’s balcony gardens (2m x 5m) all feature the theme of relaxing amid nature. The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden, seen here, has a comfy chair surrounded by high planters filled with delicate flowers in magenta and purple, plus another Chelsea favourite, the multi-stemmed tree, offering a wide spread of greenery and welcome shade.
The Doorstep Library Garden by Gini Denison-Pender, Philippa Craddock and Anna Garner takes immersion a step further, with an enclosed padded wooden seat backed by lush ferns, the surrounding books boosting the theme of relaxation.
The St George ‘Alight Here’ Balcony Garden by Emma Tipping suggests relaxing after work amid pots filled with naturalistic planting, while The Restorative Balcony Garden Sponsored by Viking by Christina Cobb is designed to attract wildlife.
5. Creating space for reflection
A surprising number of us don’t have easy access to lush green spaces, but even in the smallest of outdoor spots, it’s possible to create a place to step away from the hubbub to sit and contemplate cocooned by foliage.
This year’s balcony gardens (2m x 5m) all feature the theme of relaxing amid nature. The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden, seen here, has a comfy chair surrounded by high planters filled with delicate flowers in magenta and purple, plus another Chelsea favourite, the multi-stemmed tree, offering a wide spread of greenery and welcome shade.
The Doorstep Library Garden by Gini Denison-Pender, Philippa Craddock and Anna Garner takes immersion a step further, with an enclosed padded wooden seat backed by lush ferns, the surrounding books boosting the theme of relaxation.
The St George ‘Alight Here’ Balcony Garden by Emma Tipping suggests relaxing after work amid pots filled with naturalistic planting, while The Restorative Balcony Garden Sponsored by Viking by Christina Cobb is designed to attract wildlife.
Hamptons Mediterranean Garden. Designed by Filippo Dester.
6. Finding peace in a green palette
It’s notable walking round the show how calm the palettes are this year. There are lots of greens dotted sparingly with colour, rather than a riot of shades. The emphasis is on relaxation and a sense of sanctuary, with seating areas surrounded by leafy plants and trees.
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 all stand out.
Even the container gardens feel very lush and green this year, including the Feels Like Home garden by Rosemary Coldstream.
More: How Much Would it Cost to Redesign My Garden?
6. Finding peace in a green palette
It’s notable walking round the show how calm the palettes are this year. There are lots of greens dotted sparingly with colour, rather than a riot of shades. The emphasis is on relaxation and a sense of sanctuary, with seating areas surrounded by leafy plants and trees.
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 all stand out.
Even the container gardens feel very lush and green this year, including the Feels Like Home garden by Rosemary Coldstream.
More: How Much Would it Cost to Redesign My Garden?
The Nurture Landscapes Garden by Sarah Price.
7. Using natural and recycled materials for hard landscaping
As in interiors, using recycled and natural materials is becoming more prevalent in gardens.
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, are made from stacked bags of earth. Rammed earth forms the walls in The School Food Matters Garden by Harry Holding, and the floor in The Royal Entomological Society Garden by Tom Massey.
Elsewhere, in Horatio’s Garden by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, a cement-free path has minimal environmental impact, while the shelter is insulated with sheep’s wool. Sarah Price, who aimed to have the lowest carbon footprint in the show, used straw bale walls in her Nurture Landscapes Garden.
As well as natural materials, recycled concrete and bricks, which might typically be thrown in a skip, have been used to create pathways. Tom Massey, for instance, has used crushed construction waste in his Royal Entomological Society Garden. And in The Savills Garden, Mark Gregory has used reclaimed brick pantiles 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 will be off to new homes once the show is over.
Tell us…
Have you been inspired by any of the garden ideas at Chelsea this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
7. Using natural and recycled materials for hard landscaping
As in interiors, using recycled and natural materials is becoming more prevalent in gardens.
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, are made from stacked bags of earth. Rammed earth forms the walls in The School Food Matters Garden by Harry Holding, and the floor in The Royal Entomological Society Garden by Tom Massey.
Elsewhere, in Horatio’s Garden by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, a cement-free path has minimal environmental impact, while the shelter is insulated with sheep’s wool. Sarah Price, who aimed to have the lowest carbon footprint in the show, used straw bale walls in her Nurture Landscapes Garden.
As well as natural materials, recycled concrete and bricks, which might typically be thrown in a skip, have been used to create pathways. Tom Massey, for instance, has used crushed construction waste in his Royal Entomological Society Garden. And in The Savills Garden, Mark Gregory has used reclaimed brick pantiles 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 will be off to new homes once the show is over.
Tell us…
Have you been inspired by any of the garden ideas at Chelsea this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
1. Gardening for climate change
For anyone who lost treasured plants to last year’s heat, the idea that drought-tolerant varieties can be just as lush and lovely as a traditional British border will be heartening. This year, numerous designers across the show have 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 gardens include dainty Erigeron Karvinskianus (London Square Community Garden by James Smith), delicate-looking but secretly tough Briza media grass (The RSPCA Garden by Martyn Wilson), and fluffy Foeniculum vulgare (Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden by Wild City Studio).
Along with resilient planting, Dester has also shown how the problem of saving rainwater can be tackled in an elegant way, building a stone water feature that collects rain from a roof and gently channels it into a reservoir below ground.
Tom Massey’s The Royal Entomological Society Garden, meanwhile, features a pond that acts as a swale, collecting rainwater to keep the garden moist and attract wildlife.