Forget minimalism: Aussie experts reveal the top 2027 gardening trends you’ll want to adopt early

From bird-friendly grevilleas to meadows of everlasting daisies, natives have shifted from niche to mainstream in the garden world. After Jenny visited the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, she noticed that almost every finalist garden featured a native plant or flower. From Matt York’s ‘We the Wild’ garden at MIFGS (winner of Best in Show) with Dicksonia ferns, to Charlie Abone using Dichondra repens (Kidney weed) as a lawn alternative on BHGTV, natives are the new norm.

Clea Cragan explains that this slow shift has been driven by climate awareness and an increased availability of Aussie plants in nurseries and retailers. With wellness and sanctuary in mind, Kath Gadd puts this popularity down to inspiration from our local surroundings of forests and bushland. The result? Gardens packed with native plants that have a ‘wilder’ feel.

Adding natives into your own garden is simple; just follow Natasha Morgan’s top piece of advice: “Start with your council’s list of species local to your area. Choose for your place, and for the birds and insects already living there — and then, honestly, plant what you love.”

Water features are one of the top design elements for 2026 gardens. Almost every garden finalist at MIFGS had a water feature, while the RHS Chelsea Flower Show also reported a surge in aesthetic water features. Jenny loved Arit Anderson’s water element in her garden with Parkinson’s UK. This accessible garden had a ‘hand-rill’, fashioned after traditional garden rills, built into a sweeping hand rail that guided viewers through the garden.

Our experts commented on the popularity of water in garden design, with all three agreeing it is an important feature. Aesthetic is easily created with water – Natasha enjoys the “sound of it, the reflection, the way a still pool holds the sky”, but function has begun to factor into water features as well. Adding a shallow pool for local birds, insects, and reptiles to drink from, a natural pool for water-loving plants, or even a fountain that contributes to an irrigation system is a great way to incorporate functional water elements into the garden.

For those with smaller spaces, a rain chain emulates the sound of running water we all love, or a small birdbath helps hydrate local wildlife without taking up valuable planting spots.

Rock features have been a constant in Kath Gadd’s designs. Big boulders are perfect for drawing in local wildlife: flat tops for sunning lizards and crooks and crannies for insects to inhabit. Now, rocks, boulders and stones have moved into the mainstream, adding interesting texture and a more natural, bushland feel. Kath attributes this trend back to pioneer naturalistic landscape designers, including Gordon Ford and Ellis Stone, where “rock is used as a feature and strong textural element”.

The ‘We the Wild’ garden at MIFGS was enclosed by granite boulders, while Iftikhar Ahmed’s ‘Echoes of the Ancient Silk Road’ contains a large water feature built with natural stone. Whether you’re adding in a few random larger rocks or even a structured rock wall, will make your backyard feel more organic and fitting with the surrounding environment.

Minimalism has no place in a 2026 garden. Chaos gardening, wildflower meadows and rewilding are still popular garden trends, with a preference towards more natural, unruly design. In future Aussie gardens, more is more is still on-trend, but with a more structured approach than past years.

Jenny says that a layered approach is taking off: building a garden from the ground up, starting with groundcovers, moving to mid-size shrubs and creating height with larger trees and hedging. Natasha agrees, saying that “the gardens that hold up aren’t the crammed ones, they’re the considered ones.” She loves this idea of ‘structured abundance’, which she describes as “strong, quiet bones holding a loose and generous planting inside them.” Kath Gadd also mentions layers, explaining that increasing plant density helps build up wildlife habitats.

Clea Cragan loves the comfort that layering provides: “Generous layering creates a sense of abundance and enclosure that feels genuinely luxurious. Beneath all of it is a deeper desire for gardens to function as sanctuaries. Lush planting provides privacy, softens boundaries and creates a calming sense of escape.” She says that this kind of design sits somewhere between the romance of a cottage garden and the restraint of contemporary Australian design.

Finally, a new word popped up at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2026: edimentals. Mixing herbs, vegies and edible plants in with ornamental flower beds adds to the sensory experience. Not only is your backyard beautiful-looking and filled with floral scents, but it’s now semi-edible as well.

It’s not as whimsical as a cottage garden, but brighter and bolder. Jenny explains that vegetables with striking foliage are the highlight, including ruffled kale, feathery carrot tops, or voluminous cabbage or cauliflower. Likewise, the bright red stems of Swiss Chard or rhubarb also make a statement.

For inspiration, take a look at The King’s Foundation Curious Garden, designed with help from Sir David Beckham. According to Jenny, it had “beans and huge, attention-grabbing cabbages amid delphiniums and sweet pea, while trees included mulberry, pistachio and pomegranate that are also very ornamental.”