As the new year begins, now is the perfect time to start planning your garden for a bountiful spring bloom and harvest. Experts at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) have shared their top 10 gardening trends for 2025, from fruit trees in the background to water-wise plant choices.
“From professionals to the beginner gardener, these trends offer inspiration and education that everyone can take something away from,” Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at PHS, says in a press release. Read on for their complete list of 2025 trends.
1. Tropical Foliage
In addition to an abundance of blooms, you can create drama in your garden with the impactful foliage of tropical plants, providing a long-lasting way to enhance your home garden, stoop garden, containers, or window boxes. Try elephant ears, coleus, caladium, and begonias. “With the introduction of new annual and tropical foliage plants, there are more options than ever to create a great accent in the summer garden, adding unique color and seasonal flair,” PHS says.
2. Influencer Inspiration
The rise of influencers sharing their ideas online to inspire and educate others is a surefire trend for gardening in 2025. Garden influencers from around the world are posting content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, offering demonstrations, how-tos, recommendations, and more to their followers. Following gardening influencers is a great way to see what others are doing and may spark inspiration for your own garden.
3. Native Plants
This trend embraces climate-friendly home gardening that anyone can implement in the new year. It encourages using native and pollinator plant species to restore your local ecosystems and adopting maintenance strategies that benefit your climate. “While many gardeners see winter as one of the dreariest times of year in the garden, this trend champions the importance of year-round gardening and positions winter as the ideal time for education and planning to ensure you’re set up for success come spring,” PHS says.
4. Gardens Under Glass
Creating gardens that thrive in everything from small glass terrariums to large-scale greenhouses is predicted to make a comeback this year. While many gardeners lack space for large greenhouses, small glass terrariums offer a unique and charming way to display plants. “Additionally, because of the enclosed nature of terrariums, they become a micro-ecosystem, allowing you to grow fascinating carnivorous plants and humidity-loving varieties on something as small as a windowsill,” PHS says.
5. Green Walls
Green walls are an excellent choice for outdoor and indoor vertical gardens. This trend adds an artistic aesthetic to indoor spaces. Green walls are also perfect for office buildings and public spaces, bringing a touch of greenery that creates a grounding environment in urban settings.
6. Urban Gardens
Gone are the days when gardening was exclusively for rural or suburban areas. Urban gardening is on the rise with city planners and residents incorporating gardens into small spaces like courtyards, stoops, window boxes, and containers. In some cities, community gardens are growing to provide spaces for fresh food, blooms, and shared enjoyment.
7. Horticulture as Therapy
As a powerful wellness tool, gardening has proven its benefits for mental and overall health. “As awareness of mental health grows, hospitals and healthcare systems are increasingly using horticulture for healing,” PHS says.
8. Water-Wise Gardening
Water-wise gardening addresses the impacts of droughts and climate change in gardens worldwide. This approach incorporates drought-tolerant plants and the designs of full gravel and crevice gardens to create more resilient gardens and reduce maintenance. Try incorporating more cacti, succulents, and ornamental grasses that don’t need as much water as their flowering counterparts.
9. The Houseplant Phenomenon
Houseplants continue to be the most accessible gardening option. They add beauty and a touch of nature to any space, whether at your office or home. With a plethora of houseplants to choose from based on size, color, maintenance level, and sunlight requirements, they offer the perfect way to ease into being a plant parent in the new year.
10. Backyard Fruit
In addition to growing vegetables, an interest in growing fruit is on the rise this year. Suitable for both professionals and amateur hobbyists, fruit trees offer delicious harvests along with an abundance of beauty.
