Our pick of the top trends from RHS Chelsea Flower Show
1 of 23Secluded seating Our need for privacy is high right now: take heed and surround your fave garden armchair with sheltering plants.
2 of 23Star jasmine The air was thick with the scent of these ditsy little blooms, planted as backdrops to seating zones and wrapped around pergola beams. Ahhh!
3 of 23Caveman cooking Quick and easy be damned, it looks like we want to get back to cooking with fire!
4 of 23Luxe living walls Vertical planting took on a swish edge with wild and relaxed planting paired with crisp clean edges.
5 of 23Reclaiming rust The poor man’s Corten steel, plain old rusty stuff stood out among Chelsea’s opulence, like this imaginative chain support for ivy.
6 of 23Yew mounds Box balls you say? How very last year! 2023 is all about loosely clipped yew mounds.
7 of 23Radiant rock gardens This staple of the 70s is about to have another moment, mark our words…
8 of 23Succulent bowls With climate change an every-day headline, it was no surprise to see lots of these no-water sweeties but we loved how these humble plants were elevated in oh-so-elegant dishes.
9 of 23Relaxed and random There was barely a hint of symmetry in landscaping or planting: this year’s vibe was actively relaxed.
10 of 23Mini greenhouses Not just for sheltering seedlings but an essential bit of garden décor, these small-size glasshouses are getting seriously stylish.
11 of 23Moss Wholesome little green mounds of moss were everywhere and so many Chelsea-goers couldn’t resist a stroke.
12 of 23One-up-on-you water features From big-enough-to-swim-in bowls to intricate waterfalls like this attention grabber, this is all getting a bit competitive…
13 of 23Linear cobble setts Forget oversized porcelain paving slabs, the right-now look is a tonal tapestry of small cobble setts.
14 of 23Reading Little nooks to enjoy a book were abundant, and there was even an outdoor bookcase!
15 of 23Mini moongates We saw lots of metal hoops, some placed as simple sculptures in borders and others used as elegant supports for climbers. Love, love, love!
16 of 23Beaded iris Beardies have long been a Chelsea fave but we’ve never seen more than this before. Love them or loathe them, they’re here to stay!
17 of 23Handsome wildlife homes Welcoming nature into your outside space is a lot more stylish than last year, as these Corten steel dry hedges, filled with sticks for critters to crawl under, prove.
18 of 23Stone From mini drystone walls to piles of pebbles and boulder benches, this natural resource was a strong story this year.
19 of 23From plant to plate Lots of gardens put edibles centre-stage and we couldn’t move for herby borders and thyme-edged paths.
20 of 23Statement sculptures Art in the garden is big – and it’s getting bigger!
21 of 23Crushed stone Same-size gravel chips are out and the more random grades of crushed stone are in for a more relaxed, gentle-on-the-eye finish.
22 of 23Peachy spires Apricot hues were everywhere this year, and it was the spires of foxgloves and verbascum that stole the show.
23 of 23Terracotta tones This was a big trend last year but it’s huge in 2023, this time with a hint of pinky blush.
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