The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has predicted global gardening trends, drawing insights from the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, themed 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening'.
These annual predictions serve as a significant bellwether for the horticultural industry. They influence landscape designers, nurseries, and home gardeners across the country. The trends highlighted by PHS often dictate plant availability and design aesthetics for the upcoming seasons. This forecast arrives as the U.S. nursery stock market continues its expansion, with sales reaching $5.34 billion, a 17% increase since 2019, according to a USDA NASS 2024 Horticulture Operations Report cited by Greenhouse Grower. The show's insights provide a roadmap for this growing market.
What We Know So Far
- The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society released its official forecast for gardening trends that will be showcased at the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show.
- The theme for the 2026 show is 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,' which inspired designers to focus on heritage and ecology, according to PHS.
- Key landscape design trends include "rewilded" natural spaces and accessible, tech-integrated gardens, as reported by Floral Daily.
- Predicted plant choices lean toward bold tropicals like Monstera deliciosa, unique carnivorous plants, and mass plantings of classic flowers like hydrangeas and roses.
- Floral arrangement trends are expected to emphasize sculptural installations, monochromatic color schemes, and a strong preference for locally sourced flowers.
- Seth Pearsoll, PHS Vice President and Creative Director, stated the show influences global gardening by highlighting immersive gardens that connect to heritage and plant care.
Emerging Gardening Themes from Philadelphia Flower Show 2026
The 2026 PHS forecast identifies two dominant themes in garden design: "rewilded" landscapes and accessible, customizable outdoor spaces. These predictions point toward a deeper, more intentional approach, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards ecological responsibility and personalization in home environments.
Rewilded landscapes depart from highly manicured, traditional gardens. PHS analysis indicates this trend creates spaces that appear untouched yet are carefully guided for ecological balance. The focus: native, pollinator-friendly plants building resilient, low-maintenance ecosystems for local wildlife. This approach celebrates natural processes, allowing plants to self-seed and evolve within a managed framework, fostering dynamic, living gardens.
A strong push for accessible, technologically enhanced gardens accompanies the naturalistic movement. PHS reports designs catering to all ages and abilities, integrating features for easier, more interactive gardening. Smart technology is key: solar lighting, color-changing bulbs, and app-controlled irrigation systems. These elements add convenience, customization, and extend garden usability into evening hours, transforming spaces into multi-functional outdoor rooms.
Designers are renewing focus on the ground plane, emphasizing soil as a visible design element, PHS notes. This trend moves beyond basic mulching, incorporating textured top dressings: varied gravels, colored sands, and decorative organic matter. The technique adds visual interest, aids moisture retention, and highlights healthy soil's foundational importance in a thriving garden.
Top Plant Choices Predicted for 2026 Gardens
The 2026 plant palette is characterized by bold statements, unique forms, and abundant blooms. Trends suggest a move from subtlety to high-impact plantings, creating immersive and memorable garden experiences. This shift is evident across houseplants, garden beds, and floral arrangements.
Bold tropical plants are expected to continue their dominance, both indoors and in seasonal outdoor displays. The PHS forecast specifically names large-leafed varieties like Monstera deliciosa, rubber plants, fiddle leaf figs, and weeping ficus. Other trending tropicals mentioned include Philodendron Birkin, Xanthosoma, and the silver-toned Scindapsus pictus. These plants provide dramatic structure and a lush, jungle-like atmosphere, serving as living sculptures within a home or garden.
An interest in the unusual is driving a trend toward carnivorous plants and small-scale plantings. Terrariums continue to be popular, but the plants within them are becoming more exotic. Carnivorous species like pitcher plants are gaining traction, valued for their unique biology and sculptural forms. These small-scale ecosystems offer a contained way to engage with the complexities of the natural world.
In the flower garden, the trend is "more is more." PHS predicts a return to massed blooms and classic, rounded forms that create a sense of abundance and romance. Gardeners are expected to favor large groupings of hydrangeas, delphiniums, roses, and sunflowers. This approach is mirrored in floral design, which is predicted to feature sculptural installations and monochromatic color blocking. The use of unexpected botanicals and a strong emphasis on locally grown flowers further underscore a desire for authentic, impactful floral displays.
Future of Garden Design: Key Takeaways from the Flower Show
The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show predictions signal a significant evolution in how we perceive and interact with outdoor spaces. The theme, 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,' encourages looking backward to inform a more sustainable, meaningful future. These trends reflect a deeper connection to place, ecology, and personal well-being, beyond mere aesthetics.
The emphasis on rewilding and native plants connects directly to growing environmental awareness. This trend moves gardening from a purely ornamental practice to an act of ecological restoration. By creating pollinator pathways and using plants adapted to the local climate, gardeners can contribute positively to biodiversity. This approach aligns with a broader consumer demand for sustainability in all aspects of life, positioning the garden as a key part of a household's environmental footprint.
As Seth Pearsoll of PHS noted, the 2026 trends highlight "bold, immersive gardens that connect to heritage, place, and plant care." This connection to heritage is a powerful driver. It encourages gardeners to explore plants native to their region and to understand the cultural history of their landscapes. This creates gardens that are not only beautiful but also deeply personal and contextually relevant.
What Happens Next
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society forecasts will immediately influence the market. Nursery growers and plant breeders will adjust production for anticipated demand in tropicals, native plants, and specific floral varieties. Landscape designers and architects will incorporate rewilding and tech-integrated accessibility into client proposals for upcoming seasons.
Home gardeners can expect to see these trends reflected on the shelves of local garden centers by spring 2026. Educational workshops and online content will likely emerge to help homeowners implement concepts like rewilding or install smart garden technology. The full expression of these ideas will be on display at the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, where leading designers will present their interpretations.
Several questions remain: how will the bold, large-scale ideas from a major flower show adapt to smaller, private gardens? The commercial viability of niche plants, such as carnivorous species, will also be tested. Ultimately, the success of these trends will be determined by their adoption by millions of gardeners cultivating personal green spaces.
