As we enter 2025, garden trends are clearly evolving beyond aesthetics to embrace more natural, sustainable, and meaningful spaces. At the heart of the 2025 Garden Trends is Nature’s Renaissance—a powerful shift toward reclaiming nature in urban environments, rewilding landscapes, and creating green spaces that serve ecological and emotional needs.

In the coming year, trends that once focused on perfection and pristine landscapes will give way to more organic, diverse, and inclusive garden styles. We’re seeing a revitalization of urban spaces, as malls and other commercial areas are being reimagined as community hubs that integrate green spaces. Many cities are tearing up concrete to make room for green spaces, with initiatives like PHS’s LandCare in Philadelphia and AnnaMaria Leon and Jeff Epping in Chicago’s leading the charge. As we step away from perfectly manicured lawns, this year’s trends focus on integrating natural elements into our urban lives. The goal is to create environments that are beautiful and functional, allowing both people and wildlife to thrive.

In 2025, gardeners will embrace this shift with more native plantings, living fences, and rewilded gardens, prioritizing biodiversity and sustainability. Gone are the days of sterile, manicured lawns—this year, it’s all about embracing the chaos of nature's chaos

Here’s a look at the eight trends that will shape the future of gardening and what we’re leaving behind.

1. Social Retreats

In a world dominated by digital connections, there’s a growing need to return to authentic, face-to-face interaction. Social retreats are an antidote to this digital burnout. People are seeking green spaces for relaxation, connection, and nourishment—both emotional and social. Whether through small niche online communities such as Greg, or IRL community garden meetups, gardens are becoming places where we can disconnect from the noise of social media and reconnect with nature and each other.

2. Music & Sensory Gardens

2025 will see a shift towards gardens that engage all our senses, especially hearing. People are turning to music as part of their everyday routines, so why not incorporate this into all your gardening activities, too? In fact, 81% of gardeners say they enjoy listening to music while tending to their plants. Whether through Spotify playlists for plants or live music events in public gardens, music reduces stress and improves mood, making it an ideal addition to outdoor spaces. Incorporating music into your garden center will enhance the atmosphere, so whether it’s a concert or a casual “bring your own vinyl” night, this trend continues to gain momentum.

3. The Unreal

AI and virtual design are changing how we look at gardens. This year, “unreal” gardens will become more popular as we use technology to create dreamlike spaces. From AI-generated garden designs to plant cultivars in surreal pastel colors, gardeners are tapping into a new kind of creativity that pushes the boundaries of reality. These gardens will not only look beautiful but offer a sense of escapism, allowing people to create their own perfect outdoor spaces, regardless of the limitations of their physical environment. Expect to see a rise in fantasy-inspired gardens that evoke an emotional connection to nature, even if they don’t exist in the traditional sense.

4. Lived-In Gardens

Perfectly manicured gardens are so last year. Instead, gardens in 2025 will focus on creating natural, welcoming, and comfortable environments. Think wildflower meadows, native plants, and spaces that embrace imperfection. Gardens that reflect real life—where plants can mature, bloom freely, and show age marks—are becoming more popular. Lived-in gardens give off the feeling that they’ve been carefully cultivated over time, full of history and character. Expect to see overgrown vines, heirloom roses, bulb lawns, and plants with interesting textures. This trend moves away from rigid, high-maintenance designs, opting for more accessible, less pristine spaces. It also taps into the growing desire for authenticity in all aspects of life—people want their gardens to reflect real life, with all its imperfections.

5. Living Fences

Living fences are a fresh take on traditional boundaries, providing privacy while blending seamlessly with nature. These living, green barriers are crafted from plants like vines, shrubs, trees, and native plants, creating a natural alternative to traditional wooden or metal fences. Not only do living fences provide privacy, but they also help to reduce soil erosion, increase biodiversity, and offer wildlife habitats. In 2025, gardeners will embrace living fences to soften the lines between the garden and the world beyond, making their spaces feel more open, natural, and connected to the environment. They’re also cost-effective—offering a budget-friendly option compared to traditional fencing materials.

6. Foraging and Sustainability

As interest in sustainable living grows, so does the trend of foraging for flowers. Many people are taking up foraging in their own backyards, using new kits from Oasis Forage Products and harvesting flowers, herbs, foliage, branches, trees, and even edibles to create their bouquets and arrangements. This trend is fueled by a desire to engage more intimately with nature while reducing reliance on mass-produced, imported flowers. In 2025, expect more gardens designed with foraging in mind, offering spaces to cultivate edible plants, medicinal herbs, and flowers for cutting. This movement embraces a more sustainable and local approach to gardening.

7. Holy Moly Houseplants

Houseplants are no longer just a trend; they’ve become a lifestyle. The “Holy Moly” trend reflects a shift in how we view indoor plants—they’re no longer simply decorative but essential to daily living. Gen Z views houseplants as vital to home decor, similar to how we would view lighting or furniture. With the rise of fenestrated plants like Monstera Esqueleto and Philodendron Tortum from Costa Farms, plants with dramatic, cut-out leaves are particularly in demand. These plants are visually striking and help create layers and depth in indoor spaces. The trend underscores a growing desire for houseplants that act as statement pieces, just as bold as furniture or art in interior design.

8. The COTY

Teal, the 2025 Color of the Year, blends fantasy and reality, evoking serene ocean blues and expansive skies. This bold color ties into the rise of tech nostalgia, recalling the vibrant hues of early 2000s tech and the Frutiger Aero Era. Use teal in containers, hardscaping, and cool-toned plants for a calming, vibrant garden atmosphere.

What We’re Leaving Behind
In 2025, we’re saying goodbye to a few outdated trends. Perfectly manicured lawns and sterile, high-maintenance gardens will no longer dominate the landscape. Instead, we’re welcoming a more natural, relaxed aesthetic that prioritizes biodiversity and sustainability. Artificial materials like faux grass and cheap plastic pots will be replaced by more eco-friendly options like biodegradable materials, local plants, and natural stone. The excessive use of tech in the garden will also give way to a return to simpler, more tactile gardening experiences that reconnect us with the earth.

As we move into 2025, gardening will evolve beyond just planting flowers and trimming hedges. It’s about embracing the beauty of imperfection, fostering community connections, and rewilding our cities. Whether you’re creating a social retreat, designing a lived-in garden, or exploring the “unreal,” these trends will shape the future of our green spaces. So, get ready to embrace nature’s renaissance and let your garden evolve into a reflection of the world around you—real, raw, and full of life.

Download the full 2025 Garden Trends Report