5 must-see exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 – you won't want to miss out on these spectacular gardens and design ideas

In just a couple of weeks, the Royal Hospital Chelsea will once again be taken over by some of the best garden designers, nurseries, and growers in the industry. The Chelsea Flower Show 2025 takes place between 20-24 May and it set to be another incredible week of celebrating the very best in horticulture.

Here on the Gardens team at Homes & Gardens, we're getting ready for a thrilling day of soaking up Chelsea Flower Show design trends and keeping an eye out for the best ideas to tell you about. With 16 Show Gardens, a Feature Garden, five Balcony Gardens, five Container Gardens, and more on offer at the Houseplant Studios, All About Plants Gardens, and The Great Pavilion, there is so much to see at the biggest gardening show of the year.

That's why we've put together a list of what to see at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025, with highlights we think simply cannot be missed this year. Whether you're looking for Chelsea Flower Show 2025 tips for first time visitors or you're a veteran who attends each year, you'll want to make sure to add these gardens to your priority visit list.

5 must-see gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025

The 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show was packed with impressive gardens. This year is looking promising, too, with so many exciting ideas among Show Gardens, as well as creative solutions for indoor gardens, balcony gardens, and container gardens on offer – so make sure to get your hands on RHS Chelsea Flower Show tickets while they're still available.

Here, we've pulled out some of the highlights we're making sure not to miss this year:

1. A grand floral entrance at The Chelsea Gate

Before even stepping foot into the showground, take in the sights of The Chelsea Gate. Located on Royal Hospital Road, this entrance to the show is traditionally set up with a stunning floral display.

'Each year the entrance to the Chelsea Flower Show is transformed into a spectacular floral installation, and 2025 will be no different,' says Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull. 'Look out for the most incredible, soaring ombre columns, designed and created by Lavender Green Flowers using British flowers and ethically sourced stems.

'It will be a maximalist-meets-traditional floral display, designed to capture the eccentric charm of British craftmanship, and is guaranteed to wow,' she describes.

For lovers of English garden plants and flowers, this definitely has to make your list of what to see at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025. It's the perfect spot to get some cutting garden flowers inspiration.

'I cannot wait to see all the amazing, home-grown floral ingredients in this display, and to experience its scent as I enter the show this year - giving a tantalising preview of all what's to come,' Rachel adds.

Rachel Bull

Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger. She then trained and worked as a floral designer and stylist, before joining the Homes & Gardens team. 

2. Rare species in Chelsea's first South African succulent garden

As someone with South African heritage, I am beyond delighted to hear about this first for Chelsea – a garden dedicated to the indigenous succulents found in South Africa’s Karoo.

Created by The Newt in Somerset (sponsors of the Chelsea Flower Show) in collaboration with their sister estate Babylonstoren in South Africa, this installation will include rare succulent specimens from 15 plant families.

South Africa has some of the most unique and resilient plants, and many of the succulents that will be on display at the Karoo Succulent Garden are rare types of indoor succulents you can grow at home.

The garden is planned to take visitors on a journey through six key areas representing the different landscapes in this South African region. I'm expecting lots of rich, earthy, red hues, and the plant list is promising a feast for the eyes in the form of shapely succulents of all kinds – from houseplant favorites, like string of hearts (available at The Sill), to lesser known varieties like ice plants (Lampranthus).

What's more, these succulents have proven to be resilient to harsh conditions in their native, dry, hot landscape, so it will be an interesting discussion around using these succulents to futureproof your yard with drought-tolerant planting.

3. Tough plants in the British Red Cross 'Here for Humanity' Garden

Of course, one of the best bits of Chelsea is that it acts as a platform for some incredible charities to show off their life-changing work. Our Gardens Content Editor, Thom Rutter, is excited to check out The British Red Cross 'Here for Humanity' garden for this reason.

'It’s a modern take on an alpine garden, with areas of scree and crevice planting that will showcase resilient species from regions where the Red Cross has provided disaster relief, including Morocco and Turkey,' Thom says. 'It is a powerful story supported by unique and often overlooked plants. I am excited to see some tough and resilient species, and I do love a pine, too,' he adds.

If you're looking for what to see at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 because you need some rock garden inspiration, this is the garden to check out. Plus, the best pine trees are expected to be on display, too.

'Chelsea is always such a grand spectacle, full of big, bold displays. But sometimes, it’s the quieter, less flamboyant designs with unique planting that tend to catch my eye.' Thom says.

Thom Rutter

Thom is a Content Editor within the Gardens Team at Homes and Gardens. He has been working as a gardener and garden writer for several years. Whilst completing his Horticultural Traineeship at the Garden Museum, London, he was able to gain experience at many of the UK's world-famous gardens, including Sissinghurst, Lowther Castle, and Iford Manor. Following this, he worked for two private estates in Tuscany, Italy.

4. Immersive planting in The Glasshouse Garden

Another incredible cause to check out this year, The Glasshouse Garden will shine a light on an initiative that provides women in prison with horticultural training to help them resettle back into society.

'I am a huge fan of Jo Thompson's designs, and have no doubt this Show Garden is going to stand out as a masterclass in color, biodiversity and timeless, elegant romance,' says Rachel.

'Centered around the theme of second chances through horticulture, the design will feature a translucent pavilion, emerging from the greenery and be a wholly immersive space.

In particular, I cannot wait to see the jewel tones of the flowers, and observe how water will be used to connect the zones in the design. I will also be looking to spot Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’, and the flowering shrub Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’,' Rachel adds.

There's no doubt the planting plans for this garden echoes everything a romantic garden has to offer. It even touches on some eco-friendly garden themes with recycled acrylic pivoting screens used in the pavilion.

5. Talking trees in The Avanade Intelligent Garden

While traditional themes at Chelsea are always adored by visitors, it's also important to look to the future of gardening. That's why Gardens Content Editor, Drew Swainston, is keen to check out The Avanade Intelligent Garden.

'I think it's going to dominate discussions around the Chelsea showground, and also divide options. Designed by Tom Massey in partnership with Microsoft, it showcases a garden powered by AI,' Drew explains.

'The show garden is going to be fully-equipped with sensors to track the soil and the health of plants – and it will be interactive so show visitors can interact with the trees,' he adds.

The garden is sure to delve into all things AI in gardening as this technology becomes more integrated into home gardening life, such as through the best gardening apps. This is certainly a garden many of us will learn from, so it's wise to take a long a notebook (from Amazon) on your visit.

'The aim of the garden is to show how AI can support trees in urban spaces against climate change, but will visitors like the idea of AI playing such a huge role in their gardens? I am sure visitors will flock to the garden, thrilled with the idea of having one-to-one chats with the trees,' Drew notes.

FAQs

What themes are expected at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025?

The RHS have revealed that the Show Gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 will touch on themes of innovation and introspection, challenging perceptions, creating an oasis, among others. Just like previous years, it is expected there will also be a focus on sustainability throughout the gardens and installations.

These are just some of the things to add to your what to see at the Chelsea Flower Show 2025 list. If you are attending this year, make sure to also spend time at the Houseplant Studios for indoor garden inspiration, independent nurseries in The Great Pavilion for new plant varieties, and Container Gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show for urban gardening ideas.