RHS Predicts Shift in Gardening Trends Due to Climate Change

The Royal Horticultural Society predicts a significant shift in gardening trends for 2026, as the UK charity highlights a movement towards tabletop vegetable plants instead of traditional bouquets of cut flowers.

Mini-planters featuring dwarf varieties of aubergines, chillies, peppers, and tomatoes are expected to gain popularity, as these plants are both decorative and can supplement grocery shopping. The RHS notes that this trend is driven by a response to one of the driest springs and summers on record, leading gardeners to seek drought-tolerant plants, with rose growers crossbreeding with central Asian varieties to enhance aridity resilience.

Guy Barter, the chief horticulturalist at the RHS, emphasized the expanding market for small vegetable plants, which are easy to grow and visually appealing. Additionally, the RHS reports a ten percent increase in sales of potted herbs, alongside the introduction of drought-resistant roses derived from Rosa persica, which exhibit outstanding performance in extreme conditions.

The trend also includes the adaptation of indoor plants for outdoor use, with varieties like spider plants thriving in summer hanging baskets, reflecting a broader shift as England braces for hotter, drier summers.

Innovations in water management are emerging, with gardeners utilizing water butts for efficient irrigation and experimenting with AI-enabled water butts that self-empty based on weather forecasts, highlighting a proactive approach to gardening in a changing climate.

The RHS's insights stem from public engagement through their gardens, shows, and gardening advice service, alongside retail and industry trends, scientific research, and new plant breeding efforts. (Source: The Guardian International)