4 min read
Spring means it’s officially gardening season, and we’re already making plans for the flowers, shrubs, and trees we’ll plant in our outdoor space. Whether you have a tiny city balcony or a sprawling estate with acres of land, you can create beauty in your spring garden with the addition of color, texture, scent, and movement. The key is creating a sensory experience that brings you joy and makes you want to linger outside from your morning coffee to alfresco cocktails at night.
Each year, we see the rise of certain garden trends (last year’s trends included moon gates, irises, and water-wise plants). To get the scoop for this year, we tapped garden experts for their learnings—and we have to say, we’re pretty excited about these spring garden trends for 2026. Read on for their hot takes and predictions.
White Flowers
Hear us out: We know that white flowers are certainly more timeless than trendy, but Ball Horticultural predicts we’ll see more cloud-like gardens this spring and summer. This is partly due to Pantone’s (somewhat controversial) color of the year, called Cloud Dancer, but also because white flowers pair beautifully with other palettes (think: red, white, and blue for America’s 250th anniversary). White gardens also feel calming while inviting stillness, reflection, and creativity—things we could probably all use a little more of—and are ideal for creating moon gardens that glow at night.
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MICHAEL MUNDY
Microgardens
This spring is all about making room for gardening—even if you don’t have a huge yard. Katie Tamony, chief marketing officer and trend spotter for Monrovia, says, “There is more interest than ever in gardening on decks and patios.” She adds, “We’re seeing the biggest increase in container gardening with older gardeners, but this is a trend that reaches every demographic, especially gardeners who want elegant outdoor spaces that are low maintenance. They are creating whole gardens on their patios with beautiful containers filled with interesting and unique plants.”
Pinterest’s spring trend prediction report for 2026 agrees, noting that pinners are looking for “microescapes that fit into real life: 10-minute garden breaks, renter-friendly balcony makeovers, and tiny outdoor sanctuaries.” The report says that searches for “garden inspiration ideas” are up 940%, and “balcony makeover ideas” are up 165%, proving that even the smallest gardens deserve to shine.
There’s also an increase in breeding statement-making plants that fit in compact spaces, and folks are thinking outside of the traditional culinary herbs in pots. Ball Horticultural released VentiPinkBurst & Fire Burst Dahlias that offer big blooms and color in containers, as well as Sugar Basket tomatoes that trail over pots while still offering major flavor.
Tamony says, “Modern breeding work is creating selections that stay compact, so just about every shrub and perennial can be grown in a container, offering more options for an elevated look.”
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Dahlia Tubers (Dinnerplate) – LabyrinthClean, Classic Lines
While we adore the rambling paths and variety of plants found in a cottage garden or meadow garden, Adam Kober, landscape architect and the principal of Kober Design Group, says that he’s seeing a rise in tidier, more structured landscaping. “We’re veering away from the recently overused ‘rustic and imperfect’ aesthetic for both hardscape and softscape—and going back to clean, classic lines,” he says.
Get ready to see lots of boxwood hedges, tidy garden beds, and even beautiful shapely topiaries that nod to more traditional gardens this spring.
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Annual Flower Borders
Adam Kober says, “We are reinforcing borders with rows of annual flowers. For the past decade, this implementation was often thought of as a holdover from the ’80s and ’90s, or something you’d see at a resort. However, as they become en vogue again, we’re using annuals as a way for clients to become active participants in their design—as opposed to casual observers.”
He adds that his clients are asking for more variety throughout the year, and borders of annuals are an easy way to achieve that without spending a lot of money redoing their entire landscape. “Our annual flower rotation programs are structured such that the flowers can be changed three to four times throughout the year; this allows the client to participate in picking varieties that experiment with color, texture, and form. This helps keep the landscape looking fresh and the client engaged.”
Ranunculus Bulbs – Bridal Mix
Freesia Bulbs – Double Mix
Victoria Pearson
Big Bloomers and Unusual Forms
One of the most rewarding parts of gardening is seeing huge blooms as a result of your hard work—and the different textures and forms that arise from pairing different plants together. We’re predicting that there will be a rise in prolific bloomers like shrub roses, sunflowers, dahlias, camellias, hydrangeas, and magnolias this spring.
Kober agrees, saying, “We’re using plants like petunias, impatiens, vinca, and marigolds that produce a profusion of blooms for greater visual impact.” He adds, “We’re experimenting with various new plant cultivars that allow us to make unusual forms. For example, by connecting the heads of plants on taller stems, we’re able to create the illusion that the shrub mass is floating.”
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Jaime Milan (she/her) is the deputy digital editor for VERANDA, where she manages the brand’s cross-platform digital strategy. She also writes and edits dozens of stories each month about design, architecture, gardening, jewelry, travel, entertaining, shopping, news, and trends. Prior to joining VERANDA, Jaime was a digital editor for over 10 years at national news and lifestyle brands and has written everything from in-depth packages and celebrity news to features and holiday gift guides. In her spare time, she can be found shopping at the antique store, cooking, gardening, or teaching her mini Australian Shepherd, Gumbo, new tricks. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan.
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