In less than a month, the Philadelphia Flower Show takes center stage at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Open to the general public from March 1 to 9, members will get a sneak peak on Feb. 28 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
But first, the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), which produces the flower show, shares gardening trends that they have unearthed for 2025. These trends span floral, landscape and ornamental design, as well as houseplants and vegetable gardening.
“These 2025 gardening trends aggregate a mix of ideas and approaches stemming from our observations attending professional conferences, exhibitions, visiting countless personal and public gardens, and conversations with horticultural professionals.
Pollinator garden, photo by Rob Cardillo.
“They are a fantastic reflection of what gardeners are focusing on right now, and the direction the industry at large is headed. From professionals to the beginner gardener, these trends offer inspiration and education that everyone can take something away from,” said PHS’s Vice President of Horticulture Andrew Bunting.
As gardeners prepare for spring and seek new ideas for their own spaces, the PHS offers several resources such as the PHS’s website and the Gardener’s blog.
Coneflower, photo courtesy of PHS.
They also drew up a top ten list of gardening trends for 2025. We have rearranged this a little in favor of native plants!
#1 Bringing Nature Home: inspired by Doug Tallamy’s keystone book of the same name, this trend emphasizes climate-friendly, ecologically diverse, home gardening that anyone can create. As climate change increasingly affects our environment, gardeners around the world are turning to approaches that preserve, protect, and restore local ecosystems including pollinators through incorporating native and pollinator plant species and supporting pollinators. By adopting sustainable strategies in our gardens and public spaces, we can strengthen our ecosystems.
Include native plants in your garden, especially keystone and other native plants like goldenrod, Solidago; milkweeds, Asclepias; mountain mints, Pycnanthemum; and asters, Asters. They attract native bees, moths, butterflies, wasps and other beneficial insects to your garden and serve as host plants for their young.
The best pollinators in your garden are native bees. You can protect them with “bee hotels,” pans of water, reducing lawn areas, and creating other beneficial habitat that helps provide homes for the over 400 species of bees native to the Piedmont Region. Planting flowers that support bees is also critical.
Finally, take a break in the fall and “Leave the Leaves.” This movement promotes using leaves as a natural mulch. The leaves are also critical for butterflies, bees and other insects that overwinter in them. Be sure not to chop up the leaves until summer; there may be butterflies sleeping in them.
#2 Tropical foliage such as coleus and begonias. Though not native to the Piedmont Region, they add color and texture both indoors and out.
#3 Influencing the Garden: garden influencers are taking social media by storm, sharing content on all platforms. Influencers such as Summer Rayne Oakes (@HomesteadBrooklyn) use snack-sized tips while organizations like PHS offers expert advice (@PHSGardening) through gardening “How-To,” demonstrations, plant recommendations, and more.
#4 Gardens under Glass:houseplant enthusiasts have returned to creating simple terrariums as well as large-scale greenhouses.
#5 On the Wall: living, “green” walls and vertical gardens are popping up as both outdoor and indoor installations. Green walls are especially popular in office buildings and other public spaces, and many incorporate amazing displays of tropical plants.
Outdoor green wall plants: sedum, Heuchera, hens and chicks, sedges, Liriope.
Indoor green wall plants: Bromeliads, tropical ferns, golden pothos. Plants known more commonly by their scientific name include: Kalanchoe, Philodendron, and Monstera deliciosa.
#6 Urban Gardening: urban gardening is flourishing as city-dwellers transform small spaces—courtyards, stoops, window boxes, and containers—into vibrant gardens. Community gardens are also booming, offering access to fresh food, cultural preservation, and joy.
#7 Horticulture as Therapy: gardening is gaining recognition as a tool for wellness, with research showing its benefits for mental health and overall well-being.
#8 Water-wise Gardening:water-wise gardening is gaining traction worldwide. From designing full gravel and crevice gardens, to simply incorporating drought-tolerant plants, this sustainable approach reduces maintenance and helps create resilient gardens. Native and ornamental grasses are invaluable for this.
#9 The Houseplant Phenomenon: since the COVID-19 pandemic, houseplants have become a global obsession.
#10 Backyard Fruit: Growing fruit is gaining popularity alongside vegetable gardening. Some native options include: American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana; ‘paw paw,’ Asimina triloba; serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis; and Bushel and Berry,® a series of compact berry plants including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. You can also grow species or cultivars of these.