6 Garden Trends to Try in 2026 for a More Functional and Beautiful Yard

It’s 2026 and we’re rolling into this year with a desire for our gardens to provide more that just curb appeal. We want our gardens and patios to be plant-filled sanctuaries that prioritize ecological health, emotional well-being, and a chance to literally touch grass. We want to be more connected to nature. From the rise of plant collecting to the urge to heal the earth and ourselves with our garden, here are the defining garden trends for 2026 that industry experts are seeing.

1. Gardening for the Planet

Many of us feel overwhelmed by volatile global climate challenges, so we’re using our gardens to restore the ecosystem one plant choice at a time. We’re planting natives that need less water and fertilizer and edibles that lower our carbon footprint by growing a bit of our own food.

In 2025, the National Wildlife Federation awarded the most Certified Wildlife Habitats than they have in the last five years, and the Eastern monarch butterfly population doubled, a huge rebound that’s partially due to people planting more milkweed and nectar sources. The demand for native species of plants has increased by 82% since 2020 as we look for plants that feed and shelter wildlife, improve soil health and manage stormwater runoff.

We’re also planting edible plants. The Sill reported sales of fruiting plants have spiked, with sales of Meyer lemon trees up 60%. More Sill customers are buying drought- and heat-hardy olive trees, too. It’s the 2026 version of pandemic-era wellness gardens, but this time it’s the Earth’s well-being we’re fostering.

"Growing a plant may seem small, but it can spark a deeper connection," says Paris Lalicata, Plant Education Lead at The Sill. "Plants can be a quiet catalyst for change."

2. Plant Collecting

Plants are the fastest growing category of collectibles, says the trendspotting marketing company Garden Media Group (GMG). Gardeners, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are rebelling against throwaway culture by ditching disposable gardening. Instead of buying whatever is on sale at the big-box store, they are becoming collectors. Getting plants from in-person plant swaps, neighborhood plant sales, and collectors’ groups on social media reclaims individuality.

According to GMG, “Collecting plants is the new Pokemon. Plant collecting taps the same emotions as gaming: achievement, progression, and control. It’s slow joy.” Some people collect lots of one type of plant, while others focus on rare cultivars, unusual foliage, and plants with a story. Collecting plants is a radical act of finding meaning and permanence in living organisms that can stay with you for years.

3. Calming, Subdued Colors

We’re in search of a soothing vibe, so we’re leaning into subdued hues to create a cozy and calm feeling. Think pale hues with a sober gray tint or tranquil neutrals. Hence, GMG crowned Faded Petal (a “soft blush kissed by ash”) as its color of the year, along with a palette of Kusumi colors, an Asian trend that embraces soft, gray-tinged colors inspired by “objects mellowed by time.” Kusumi is Japanese for smokey or dull colors.

To bring these hues to your garden or patio, try pairing Faded Petal plants like Pink Princess philodendron from Costa Farms, Princesse Charlene de Monaco from Star Roses, or Pink Shades Magical Hydrangea from Sunset Plant Collection with vintage pottery, white trellises or plant stands, and weathered wood textures for a serene, sophisticated space.

4. Pet-Friendly Outdoor Spaces

Our pets make us happy, so we’re turning our homes into pet-friendly spaces. A whopping 71% of U.S. households own at least one pet and that’s driving a trend toward creating dedicated outdoor spaces for our animals. PETios are the new patios, and we’re turning our yards into pet paradises.

To get on the trend, fill containers on your PET-io and garden beds with pet-safe plants like zinnias, daylilies, ferns, marigolds, roses, and blueberry bushes. Choose blooming shrubs and understory trees like saucer magnolia and serviceberry. For a pet-friendly privacy screen, go with boxwood, viburnum, and camellias.

Beyond plants, build a secure fenced area where your pet can safely play outdoors, and add shade with a sun sail or outdoor umbrella. Put a feeding station, stain-resistant outdoor rug, and raised dog bed on your patio.

5. AI Fatigue

Many of us are growing weary of screens, algorithms, and chatbots, and it’s showing up in our gardening choices. The Sill reports that appointments with their human plant specialists have increased 30% as people tire of advice from chatbot service agents, influencers, and AI summaries. And sales of retro houseplants like snake plants, ficus trees, and dracaenas, are up, likely because these varieties trigger nostalgia for the mid- to late 20^th century, when we spent more time outdoors instead of inside staring at screens.

Monronvia plant nursery is also seeing an increase in interest in nostalgic plants such as roses, jasmine, and lavender that have a timeless, multi-sensory appeal. These ornamentals help create a relaxing ambience in our yards where we can fully disconnect from the digital world. Monrovia notes that desire to unplug and plant encompasses growing our own food, too.

"When we asked people, 'What gardening projects are you most interested in next year?' the number one, runaway hit was edible gardening," Katie Tamoney, chief marketing officer of Monrovia, said in an online presentation in late 2025. But not just any edibles. Gen X and Boomers want to grow exotic edibles, Tamoney said, like bananas, passion fruit, and dwarf peaches in containers.

6. Data-Driven Gardening

Using the latest and most advanced technology in your garden is the flipside to AI fatigue, as some of us want our phone to be our best gardening tool. We want high tech to deliver low effort gardens. We want precise information that keeps us from wasting money on plants that die in our yard.

Data-driven gardeners use apps that diagnose a powdery mildew infection from a single photo and tell us exactly how to fix it. We want virtual gardening assistants that give us real-time plant care advice. We use sensors that monitor soil moisture and weather conditions, and smart irrigation systems that use AI to adjust water schedules based on real-time local weather forecasts.

The data-driven gardener wants to take as much guesswork out of gardening as possible because guessing about what plants will live in your yard and sticking your finger into your monstera’s soil to check if it needs water is so 1993. In a world where the climate is more unpredictable, data-driven gardening helps us navigate the ups and downs without wasting time and resources.