Photo Credit: Dana Gallagher
By Leanne Potts for Better Homes & Gardens, January 7, 2026
Pet-forward outdoor spaces and plant collecting are among the top trends for our gardens this year.
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 2022 as we look for plants that feed and shelter wildlife, improve soil health and manage stormwater runoff.
Photo Credit: Adam Albright
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.
Photo Credit: Kindra Clineff
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. 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 20th century, when we spent more time outdoors instead of inside staring at screens.