Boxwood bushes and wildflowers alike are taking center stage in Southern gardens, as enthusiasts embrace a blend of aesthetic charm and practicality, with a growing preference for native flora. More than mere ornaments, outdoor spaces and horticulture are becoming the welcoming face of homes, a true reflection of how residents live and gather. As the gardening renaissance in the region continues to bloom, experts predict that 2026 will see a heightened focus on outdoor living spaces, container gardening, edible gardens, and low-effort plantings. Here are seven gardening trends set to emerge next year, as per the insights of experts.
- Adam Millhouse, co-founder of the Birmingham, Alabama-based Millhouse Howell Landscape Company, aims to create spaces that harmonize with their surroundings.
- Katie Tamony, Chief Marketing Officer and a trend analyst for Monrovia Nursery, the country’s top grower of premium shrubs, trees, and perennials.
- The Southern Living Plant Collection, a handpicked assortment of plants, is developed in collaboration with seasoned growers, tailored to thrive in Southern conditions and to infuse landscapes with year-round allure and ease.
True to Southern spirit, the connection between food and gardening is as inseparable as ever. Research from Monrovia indicates that adding edible plants is a top priority for many gardeners. “Even when times are tough, growing your own food is a natural inclination, but this trend transcends that,” Tamony explains. “The surge in the edibles trend reflects a growing boldness and global awareness in the plant choices of gardeners. Drawing from their passion for cooking and travel, wealthier gardeners are seeking distinctive and gourmet edibles to integrate into their gardens.”
This movement towards combining ornamental plants with edible ones in the garden extends beyond the usual herbs and vegetables in raised beds. There’s a burgeoning interest in microgreens, edible blossoms, and fruit trees like figs, persimmons, apples, and berries.
It’s not about overly groomed spaces; rather, it’s about crafting structure. “Small spaces can feel expansive when they are well-defined,” Adam Millhouse points out. “Details like stone borders assist in delineating lawns and planting areas, maintaining clean, sharp edges.” This approach leaves room for “modern meadows,” where naturalistic, wild designs intersect with refined borders and simplicity, offering distinction that makes each garden area feel more thoughtfully planned.
Whether sourced from grandparents’ gardens, local shops, or foraged from nature, purpose-driven gardening and the resurgence of heirloom plants are more popular than ever. A 2026 trends report from the Southern Living Plant Collection notes, “People are planting not just for beauty, but for meaning.” The report highlights homeowners’ more mindful gardening practices—collecting rare cultivars, new foliage colors, and variegations with sustainability in mind for enduring beauty.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
For Southerners, the love for porches and patios as extensions of the living room is timeless. However, according to a consumer research report by Monrovia, there’s been a rise in “patio culture.” Gardeners are softening hardscapes, filling containers with lush ferns, broad-leafed evergreens, and fragrant climbers like jasmine and mandevilla, and incorporating more vibrant and aromatic plants.
“Interest in gardening on decks and patios has never been greater,” says Katie Tamony. “We’re witnessing the most significant increase in container gardening among gardeners aged 65 and up, but this trend spans all age groups, particularly those seeking elegant, low-maintenance outdoor spaces. They’re crafting entire gardens on their patios using exquisite containers.”
For landscapes that beautifully transition with the seasons, Millhouse advises: “Keep planting palettes simple and use garden containers with seasonal plantings to highlight an entrance and serve as a focal point.”
While we cherish bright, colorful annuals that illuminate facades, filling landscapes with evergreens in various textures, shapes, colors, and sizes can provide equal, if not more, enduring interest. “Year-round blooms are delightful, but equally captivating are plantings in shades of green with varied leaf textures,” says Millhouse. This approach is becoming a prevalent practice for effortless maintenance, particularly with in-ground plantings.
Gardeners are seeking plants that add a touch of sophistication and structure while remaining low-maintenance, encompassing both potted and in-the-ground plantings. “Container-grown boxwoods are always in style,” notes Millhouse. Monrovia experts emphasize an increased interest in evergreen hedges like holly and boxwood, climbers such as roses, jasmine, and camellias for color, and flowering shrubs and perennials including hydrangeas and lavender.
While the South’s affection for container gardens is well-known, the Southern Living Plant Collection asserts that homeowners are delving deeper into small-space gardening in this era of “compression.” The report states, “Everything is condensed into smaller, smarter, and more intentional formats, from communication to content to consumer products.” This trend is translating to green spaces as Southern gardeners are embracing a more curated, compact, and purposeful planting philosophy that packs a powerful visual punch. The SLPC suggests a “flight” of camellias in a spectrum of bloom hues to add charm to any front porch or patio, an idea that can be adapted to any floral variety.
