RHS Trend Watch: What’s In Bloom?
Yes, there are trends in garden design—and this year’s Chelsea had some clear favorites. Lilac tones were the main story, showing up in beautiful waves of Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’, Salvia ‘Nemorosa Caradonna’, Alliums, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Iris ‘Flight of Butterflies’, Lupins, and Lavenders. Pink tones added softness—like Allium “Eros”, Astrantia ‘Roma’, dark pink Salvias, and Foxgloves—while darker accents came through with burgundy Poppies and nearly black Peonies. If designers chose to branch out from this palette, they often added soft yellows (especially from Foxgloves) or oranges like the striking Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, which popped up in several show gardens.
Bold is back, and I couldn’t be happier!

Top Plants I Spotted at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

If you’re planning a garden project this year—or just need a bit of inspiration—Here comes a list of the Perennials & Favorites Seen Throughout the Show (Swedish within parantheses):

  • Astrantia ‘Roma’ (Stjärnklocka ‘Roma’)
  • Astrantia ‘Poscharskyana’
  • Cosmos – especially in white
  • Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (Kantnepeta)
  • Salvia ‘Nemorosa Caradonna’ + Pink version
  • Allium ‘Giganteum’, Allium ‘Mount Everest’
  • Allium ”Eros” – Pink Allium
  • Iris ‘Lilac Beauty’, ‘Blue Star’, ‘Blue Pearl’, ‘Flight of Butterflies’
  • Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Trädgårdsnäva)
  • Lupins – Not to be planted in the Nordics unfortunately
  • Foxgloves (Digitalis) – yellows, pinks, lilacs
  • Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – A favorite!
  • Agapanthus (African Lily)
  • Calla Lily
  • Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ (Ängsvädd)
  • Alchemilla erythropoda / mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
  • Hosta (Funkia)
  • Malva
  • Erigeron karvinskianus (Murbinka)
  • Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’
  • Marguerite (Prästkrage)
  • Carrot Flowers (Blomstermorot)
  • Buxus (Buxbom)
  • Lavender
  • Alum Root (Alumrot)
  • Sunflower ‘Lilac’

 

Just look at these magnificent Lupins (in the picture below)—their rich hues stretching skyward with such elegance. It’s a shame they’re classified as invasive, as I must admit, I felt a quiet temptation to sneak a few into my own garden.