Bloom Boom! The growing trends from this year’s Flower and Garden show

Packed with the most celebrated landscapers and horticulturalists showcasing their most innovative designs, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is like the Academy awards of Australian Gardening.

Better Homes and Garden’s Charlie Albone and Melissa King share their insights

Melissa’s favourite gardens

Rob Cooper and the team at Distinctive Gardens’ show garden is definitely one to look out for. Titled “əskāp”, the garden took out all the top honours including the gold medal and Best in Show.

It’s all about slowing down and reconnecting with nature and yourself. There’s lots of gathering areas which invite you to linger and the planting is just beautiful with lots of grasses and Australian natives spilling into each other.

Paul Pritchard’s Nostalgia Garden us throwback to mid-century Australian gardens and it features all of those classic flowers that never go out of style. It’s so beautifully designed and it brings back nice memories of the sort of plants that grew in my grandparents’ garden. There’s even an old vintage car on display and make sure you walk around the whole garden because there’s a nice little surprise at the back.

Brent Reid’s garden Ode is another favourite. It is a tribute to the people in the landscape industry, and all the people who have helped him over the years in his career. It proves that flowers are back in a big way. Plants are the real focus of this garden with dead trees giving some sculptural interest to the design.

Charlie’s top garden trends

New and old: The biggest trend from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) this year has been combining natural and modern landscapes like MIFGS Best in Show winner əskāp by Distinctive Gardens.

Create a Space to Unwind and Reconnect: Gardens can become sanctuaries for relaxation, helping you reconnect with yourself and nature through thoughtful design.

Wellness Gardens are on the Rise: Incorporate elements like saunas and ice baths to transform your garden into a personal wellness retreat.

Spark Joy with Nostalgic Design: Use plants or materials that evoke fond memories, like those showcased in Paul Pritchard’s gold medal-winning garden, to add personal meaning.

Embrace the Power of Plants: Don’t shy away from greenery — plants soften hard landscapes, turning them into lush, inviting gardens.

Cover the ground: This year’s plant of the year was the Runaway Bride hydrangea, which is a low-growing hydrangea: This ground-cover hydrangea is the trending plant for 2025, set to make a big impact in gardens.

Unmown lawn is everywhere: The Zoysia Sir Grange Grass is everywhere and left unmown, this grass is very popular as it can be used to dress garden borders, adding softness and elegance to outdoor spaces.

Charlie, Melissa and Graham Ross share their MIFGS stories on Better Homes and Gardens at 7pm on Seven and 7plus.