As with all realms of design, there are prevailing themes that have long held their place in the design canon, and new, emerging trends that are utterly redefining. Garden trends are determined by a whole host of influences, including designers, aesthetes, tastemakers, and horticultural buffs. Some are short-lived micro trends, and some trends really take root and dominate the entire garden scene for years, or even decades, without flinching.
However, the particular plants that become fashionable can be harder to predict, but know where to look and keep your finger on the pulse and immerse yourself, as I do, in the gardening world, and you will see the allure of the future it-girl plants very clearly, and these are set to influence our garden ideas in 2026 and beyond.
Here, I read the tea leaves on the plants that are expected to have their time in the limelight next year, each earning its place on the roster, I feel, for good reason, and each I expect will be the most coveted plants next year, the next Geum 'Totally Tangerine' or Dahlia 'Café au lait', it's just a case of identifying them. Finger to the wind, here are seven plants I predict are set to soar in 2026.
1. Cephalaria gigantea
There has been an emerging trend for the use of butter yellow flowers and acid yellow plants, to cut through the oftentimes sickly sweet layer upon layer of ballet slipper pink and dusky purples that dominate so many cottage gardens.
The soft lemon shade of these giant scabious is utterly delightful, and I have seen more and more gardens favour it over its magenta pink and lavender blue sisters.
Honeybees are passionate about this plant, and it is always aflutter with butterflies, too. I plan on filling my sun-drenched border with several of these plants, in anticipation that they will be very hard to come by next year, as everyone catches on.
Height: 80" (200cm)
Position: Full sun or part shade
Hardiness: Zones 4-11
Where to buy: You can purchase Cephalaria gigantea seeds from Ferri Seeds
2. Verbascum phoeniceum
Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), sometimes known as 'fluffweed', is a very tall and statuesque biennial, and I rarely see it growing in the gardens I visit.
It has marvellous furry leaves and a tall woolly grey-green stem, from which little canary yellow flowers pop out. Verbascum phoeniceum, known as purple mullein, is one of those plants that has flown under the radar when it comes to garden designers' top picks.
Still, in the last year, I have seen that there has been a collective awareness, or perhaps a re-jogging of the memory, amongst gardeners and garden designers of this impressive plant. It provides immense vertical interest and architectural seedheads for months after it finishes flowering.
It has a reputation for being tricky to grow, but so long as it is drenched in sunshine, it is actually very easy to grow. It is a promiscuous self-seeder, which makes some gardeners nervous, but to me, it simply adds to its charm. I expect to see a lot more Verbascum in 2026. Watch this space.
Height: 100cm (40in)
Position: Full sun only
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Where to buy: You can purchase mixed Verbascum seeds from Amazon
3. Cornus kousa and Cornus venus
Flowering dogwoods, or cornus, seemed to be the star of the show at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I spied it in the supporting cast in several show gardens, popping up again and again, clearly a firm favourite. As such, it makes the roster for my predictions on the plants we will see everywhere in 2026.
The cultivars of Cornus kousa, to be more specific. There are a few fantastic cultivars that are becoming incredibly popular and highly coveted. Cornus kousa ‘Teutonia’, which is bred in Europe and turns to a fantastic shade of deep, rich auburn in fall.
The hybridisation of dogwoods has led to the development of several more shrubs that are becoming highly desirable. Cornus Venus, bred in the USA, produces masses of gargantuan white flowers which really don't stop until the first frost.
Height: 140cm (55in)
Position: Partial shade or full shade
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Where to buy: You can purchase Cornus Florida from Fast Growing Trees
4. Lilium 'Nightrider'
Growing lilies fell out of fashion somewhat; perhaps many of us think of them as an '80s throwback, reminding us of power suits and nauseating chintzy patterns.
But now lilies have been redefined by a new wave of designers and tastemakers, who are embracing their retro charm and unapologetic flamboyance.
As such, I have seen a proliferation of the most exquisite lily varieties grown in highly prestigious gardens. But which lily do I predict will be all the rage in 2026? Nightrider.
The gothic garden is on the rise: dark purple, burgundy, deep moss green, and inky blues are key to creating the melancholy that is set to overtake the sweet-as-pie cottage garden aesthetic in 2026. Nightrider is the bulb to order now and plant in borders for a bang on trend but still highly unusual plant. You heard it here first.
Height: 36-48 inches
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Where to buy: You can purchase Lily Night Rider bulbs from Eden Brothers
5. Artichoke 'Violet de Provence' (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)
I am utterly lovestruck with this artichoke. Not just an edible for a kitchen garden, really, I think it is best grown as an ornamental in a mixed flower bed, with its handsome, deeply cut leaves and thistle-like purple flower heads.
Growing artichokes is becoming more and more popular, and this year, the most prolific designers are using them, which is a sure sign that nurseries and garden centres will catch on, and a flurry of young plants will hit the shelves.
Although knowing how to grow artichokes from seed will make it far more economical.
Height: 35-40 in
Position: Full sun
Hardiness: Zones 2-10
Where to buy: You can purchase Artichoke Violet de Provence seeds at Eden Brothers
6. Briza maxima
Briza maxima
Greater Quaking Grass (Briza maxima) is one of my all-time favourite ornamental grasses, and I am glad to see that the fan club for this plant is expanding, making this delicate beauty the soon-to-be it-girl for 2026.
Briza maxima makes for the most stunning fresh or dried cut flower, and my cut flower arrangements wouldn't be the same without it.
It is a must-have for mixed grass plantings or in a prairie garden scheme, with its unusual heart-shaped heads that nod in the breeze and structurally dramatic seedheads that look magnificent against the fine-textured foliage.
It's drought-tolerant and unfussy when it comes to soil types, tolerating heavy clay soils and sandy soils with the same unwavering optimism.
Height: 45cm (18in)
Position: Full sun
Hardiness: Zones 4-11
Where to buy: You can purchase Quaking Grass Ornamental Grass Seeds from True Leaf Market
7. Helianthus annuus 'ProCut Plum'
Think you don't like sunflowers? Out of all the sunflower varieties out there, this is the one that will almost definitely change your mind.
As we become more and more aware of the vital role our gardens play in feeding pollinators, garden centers and wholesalers are seeing a dramatic increase in demand for plants for pollinators and a subsiding demand for non-pollinator-friendly plants. There is also a dramatic realisation, especially among young gardeners, that we need to plant with birds in mind, too, to support the overall ecosystem of our gardens.
Plants for birds, such as sunflowers, which have hundreds of calorie-dense seeds, are becoming more and more attractive to naturalistic gardeners, and they're becoming far more ubiquitous than they were even a year ago.
One of the most beautiful cultivars that I predict will be highly sought-after in 2026 is Helianthus annuus 'ProCut Plum', which has the most stunning peach-colored leaves with a wonderful, unusual antiqued tone.
In terms of care, the only thing to bear in mind is that ProCut Plum is a hungry feeder, so plant out with plenty of garden compost and feed regularly with an organic plant food like this fertilizer available at Amazon.
Height: 1.5m (5ft)
Position: Full sun
Hardiness: Zones 1-10
Where to buy: You can purchase ProCut Plum sunflower seeds at Eden Brothers
Shop gardening must buys
A beautiful long handled garden trowel made from ash wood and stainless steel which makes for the perfect gift for a gardening enthusiast
These oatmeal colored leather puncture resistant gardening gloves with an elbow-length gauntlet cuff are beautifully made but modestly priced, so its worth buying a few pairs.
If you are looking for the ultimate gardening pruners, you can stop your search here. Made of Japanese Izumi Yasuki hardened steel these are incredibly sharp and pruning is totally effortless with them
If you're weighing up investment plant purchases to make, or not to make, in the coming weeks and months, these should all be top of your list.
As ever, though, trend or no trend, ultimately you should plant what you love and avoid what you don't love, to plant authentically in your plot.
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