Most of us take breathing for granted and rarely give our lungs a second thought – yet one in five people in the UK will develop a lung condition during their lifetime. Even for those who never experience conditions such as asthma, breathing well matters. Stress and anxiety often lead to shallow breathing, which is why we tell ourselves to ‘take a deep breath’ or look for some ‘breathing space’ when life feels overwhelming.
The Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, designed by Angus Thompson, aims to raise awareness of the impact of breathlessness and to offer support to people living with lung conditions.
RHS / Neil Hepworth
It embraces the Japanese concept yohaku no bi – the beauty of empty space – so the design uses calmness, stillness, and uncluttered space rather than dense planting. Feeling calm helps our body to relax and our breathing rate settle.
RHS / Neil Hepworth
The garden features low-allergen planting, accessible paths, quiet seating areas and a ‘breathing platform’ for yoga, tai chi and breathing therapy.
The planting palette of mainly greens and whites helps create a tranquil environment. Two structural pine trees act as symbolic anchors representing resilience and restorative breathing.
RHS / Neil Hepworth
Angus has a personal connection to respiratory illness through his family. His partner, Kate, provides breathing therapy groups for the charity and researches the emotional impact of breathlessness. The design team all have family members who have been affected by lung conditions. ‘I hope visitors will view our garden and pause, notice their breathing, and experience a moment of calm and clarity,’ Angus says.
The garden is being relocated to a lung rehabilitation centre in Rotherham as a space for patients and carers.
RHS / Neil Hepworth
To explore some simple ideas to help support calmer, more comfortable breathing, see asthmaandlung.org.uk/breathing-exercises. For further information and to download a pdf of the plants used in the garden, see asthmaandlung.org.uk.
Meanwhile, here are six low-allergen, lung-friendly plants worth considering for a healthier garden:
1. Scots pine
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Two striking pine trees are at the heart of the garden. Symbols of strength and resilience, they’re thought to have antioxidant and immune-boosting qualities. They’re also thought to help clean the air of toxic particulate matter known as PM2.5 – tiny particles in the air that are a leading cause of poor lung health.
2. Scleranthus Uniflorus – Knawel Cushion or New Zealand Moss
This low-allergen plant forms a dense, moss-like carpet of tiny leaves and inconspicuous flowers. It invites people to touch with its tactile cushion-y texture.
3. Mukdenia karasuba Rossii – Mukdenia ‘Karasuba’Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’
A slow-spreading herbaceous perennial with rich green maple-like foliage that develops rich red tones in autumn. It produces pretty sprays of bell-shaped white flowers in spring.
4. Euonymus planipes (Flat-stalked Spindle tree)
A large deciduous shrub that turns a spectacular red in autumn. It grows well in moist, well-drained soil.
5. Rodgersia podophylla ‘Braunlaub’ – Rodgers’ bronze-leaf
From damp, shady woodland in Japan, this perennial has large leaves that are rich dark brown in spring, turning green as they expand and then copper-tinted when mature. In late spring and early summer, creamy stems of star-shaped flowers bloom.
6. Iris Ensata – Japanese water iris
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The elegant Japanese water iris framed the central wildlife ponds and added a pop of colour to the garden. A herbaceous perennial, it grows best in moist to wet soil.
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