Our Thoughts on the Show - An RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 Retrospective

The work involved in creating RHS Chelsea Flower Show each year is enormous. Behind every garden, stand and display are months of planning, problem-solving, last-minute adjustments and more than a few moments of panic about the weather. In many ways, it reflects gardening itself - equal parts optimism, hard work and unpredictability.

One moment you are wheeling plants and planters across damp matting at 6am with a coffee in hand, trying to beat the next delivery lorry onto Royal Hospital Way. A few days later, the same space is full of television crews, designers, horticultural royalty, international visitors and thousands of people all searching for ideas to take home to their own gardens.

As long-time exhibitors at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we never quite lose that sense of anticipation. And despite decades of exhibiting, 2026 still managed to surprise us.

This year’s show felt energetic, optimistic and noticeably more personal. The big ideas were still there - climate resilience, biodiversity, sustainability - but they were delivered in ways that felt softer and more achievable for everyday gardeners. There seemed to be less emphasis on statement-making and more focus on gardens people genuinely wanted to spend time in.

Structure was everywhere

If there was one defining theme running through the show, it was structure.

Pergolas, screens, pathways, framed views and architectural planting were everywhere, often softened with naturalistic planting and looser combinations of grasses, perennials and shrubs. This year showed how strongly garden design is moving towards spaces that feel immersive and usable rather than simply decorative.

Many of the show gardens balanced relaxed planting with surprisingly strong frameworks beneath. There was a growing sense that structure is no longer separate from planting design and time and again we see the two working together with equal billing - the structure is not just functional but part of the design.

That is something we have always believed at Agriframes - a garden feels and works better when there is shape and strength beneath the planting.

Softer planting and edimentals 

Planting was noticeably looser and more informal this year. Gardens were full of movement, layered textures and combinations that blurred the line between ornamental and edible planting.

The idea of the ‘edimental’ garden - where productive planting sits comfortably alongside ornamentals  - continues to gather momentum and looks like it is not just a passing trend but a fundamental shift in the way we garden - the ‘plot to plate’ ethos is here to stay.

There were herbs weaving through borders, vegetables incorporated into mixed planting and fruit used more decoratively. This more relaxed approach to productive gardening felt particularly relevant as more people rethink how they use outdoor space at home.

Roses were another recurring feature, especially softer, more natural-looking varieties with open blooms that support pollinators. Deep burgundies, warm apricots and faded pinks appeared repeatedly throughout the show gardens and pavilion displays.

Bearded irises also seemed to be everywhere this year, often paired with looser meadow-style planting and bold architectural foliage.

The Gardens Everyone was Talking About

Chelsea is always full of opinions. Everyone has a favourite garden, a favourite plant, or a quiet grumble about a judging decision.

Among the gardens that generated the most conversation this year were the more reflective, emotionally driven spaces. The Children’s Society Garden by Patrick Clarke, which went on to win Gold, struck a chord with many visitors thanks to its thoughtful use of reclaimed materials and its message around imperfection and resilience.

The balcony and container gardens also felt particularly strong this year. These smaller spaces often attract huge interest because visitors can genuinely imagine adapting the ideas at home.

One of our own highlights was seeing the Balcony Garden designed by Katerina Kantalis featuring Agriframes Hampstead Wall Lights. 

Smaller gardens and urban outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly important at Chelsea, and it was exciting to see lighting used so thoughtfully to create atmosphere and extend the usability of compact spaces into the evening.

The people are always the best part

One of the things we enjoy most about RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the conversations.

You meet passionate gardeners, first-time visitors, designers, growers and customers who have had the same Agriframes structures in their gardens for twenty years. You hear what people are excited about, what they are struggling with and how gardening continues to evolve - and stay the same.

This year also brought international interest, including a wonderful interview with Agriframes Creative Director Hannah Downey by the US gardening team Grow For Me Gardening, reflecting how strongly British garden design - and Chelsea itself - continues to reach out beyond the enclave of South London. Watch the full video here.

A memorable year for Agriframes

2026 also marked an important year for us as a brand.

Alongside our main stand on Royal Hospital Way, this was also the first year we introduced a dedicated Agriframes Outdoor Lighting stand on Eastern Avenue - and it quickly became clear how much interest there now is in lighting as part of the overall garden experience.

Visitors were increasingly thinking beyond planting alone: how gardens feel after dark, how outdoor spaces are used in the evening and how structure, furniture and lighting now work together.

On the main stand, the zinc planters - particularly the new RHS Heritage Range - drew constant attention throughout the week. There was also huge interest in pieces that combined permanence with decorative detail, including the Coronation Obelisk, which enjoyed an unexpected moment in the spotlight after appearing on BBC coverage during the show.

The Chelsea atmosphere

No Chelsea retrospective would be complete without mentioning the atmosphere itself.

There were moments of brilliant sunshine, the occasional hurried umbrella deployment and the familiar end-of-day exhaustion that comes from walking miles across the showground. The Great Pavilion buzzed from morning until evening, television cameras seemed to appear from nowhere and every café queue was full of conversations about medal winners and planting combinations.

Chelsea always has its own character - part garden show, part theatre production, part endurance event!

And somehow, every year, it still manages to feel exciting.

What we took away from Chelsea 2026

More than anything, Chelsea 2026 reinforced the idea that gardens and gardening are becoming more personal.

People want spaces that feel beautiful but usable. They want structure alongside softness, productivity alongside ornament, and gardens that support wellbeing as much as bringing visual impact.

For us, it was encouraging to see so many of those ideas reflected throughout the show - from architectural planting and outdoor lighting to a renewed appreciation for strong, lasting garden structures.

Even after many years of exhibiting, Chelsea remains a place where we learn something new every time.

And that, perhaps, is why we return every year - to learn what matters to our customers and to be part of the conversation.  Roll on 2027 - we’re making plans already.