Petunias, begonias and other classic bedding plants like busy Lizzies will be out of fashion for 2025, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has predicted, as gardeners turn to more eco-friendly options. Bedding plants are usually grown in large greenhouses in peat. But peat excavation around the country is destroying some of our most effective carbon sinks.
On top of that, bedding plants are usually bred to be sterile, which means they do not produce pollen so are of little use to butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Edible perennials may be more popular instead; these plants need less maintenance and provide huge benefits for wildlife. Take the Honeyberry, a plant from the blueberry family, for example; the oval-shaped berry plant requires little attention and is increasingly available across the UK, meaning it will start to appear in gardens and community growing spaces very soon.
Other popular, and more environmentally-friendly, alternatives to bedding plants that are being seen more frequently in town squares include salvias, heather and dahlias, which require little maintenance as well as being colourful and good for pollinators. Gardeners have been asking the experts at the RHS how to make space for plants as well as electric vehicles as more and more homes install charging points. The RHS is expecting to see more permeable paving and gravel gardens flanked with low maintenance plants.
These are low cost and prevent pooling or runoff of rainwater, making them an id.