The Future Is Blooming: Showcasing the Gardens of Tomorrow at MIFGS
Step into the future of landscaping at MIFGS 2026. Discover design trends that are smart, sustainable, and inspiring for every outdoor space.
Natural stone, water, and layered planting highlight how traditional beauty continues to inspire the gardens of tomorrow. Image: Vivian Scarpari
Recently, Landscaping Victoria President Ian Barker and CEO Ritchie Hinton were invited to join a workshop hosted by the event managers of the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS).
Held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, the session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore how the Show and the broader landscaping industry are evolving.
What emerged was a fascinating glimpse into the future of garden design: a future that blends imagination, innovation, and horticultural mastery.
While the timeless beauty of traditional gardens will always have a place, tomorrow’s landscapes are increasingly shaped by climate realities, urban living, and shifting lifestyles. Here are some of the exciting directions we may see:
Garden Design Trends for the Future
Automated Gardens
Technology is transforming outdoor spaces into self-sustaining ecosystems.
Imagine robotic lawn mowers gliding across turf. Soil sensors dosing nutrients at just the right moment. Irrigation systems adjusting automatically to local weather forecasts.
Add in smart lighting, vertical walls with automated misting, and even AI-driven planting recommendations, and you have a garden that’s beautiful, efficient, and easy to maintain.
Immersive and sensory.
Gardens that engage sight, sound,
and touch for a full wellbeing experience.
Image: Near Far Productions
Xeriscaped Gardens
With water scarcity becoming a pressing issue, xeriscaping is poised to take centre stage.
These designs pair drought-tolerant plantings, clever soil conditioning, and hardscape features to minimise irrigation while maintaining visual appeal.
It’s a style that reflects environmental responsibility without sacrificing beauty.
Shared Gardens
As our cities become denser, the need for communal green spaces grows, too.
From rooftop veggie patches to shared courtyard oases, these gardens build connection while making smart use of limited space.
They’re places to grow food, share skills, and bring neighbourhoods together.
Edible Landscapes
Edible landscapes show that food production and beauty can coexist.
Herbs, fruiting plants, and vegetables are increasingly woven into ornamental designs, creating gardens that nourish the body and the eye.
Think espaliered fruit trees, colourful edible flowers, and raised beds that are as attractive as they are functional.
Sensory & Therapy Gardens
Wellbeing continues to shape garden design.
Sensory and therapy gardens engage sight, scent, touch, taste, and sound to foster calm, encourage mindfulness, and support recovery.
Expect designs featuring fragrant planting, textured pathways, water features, and immersive natural elements that promote mental and physical well-being.
Edible landscapes bring flavour and function.
Herbs and food plants seamlessly integrate into garden design.
Image: Vivian Scarpari
The Role of MIFGS in Shaping Landscapes
MIFGS has long been known for its spectacular show gardens; the kinds of spaces that wouldn’t look out of place in the backyards of Toorak or Brighton.
But the Show also serves as a trendsetter, shaping how suburban gardens evolve, much like how haute couture influences high street fashion.
Beyond showcasing beauty, MIFGS invites the public to have fun with their outdoor spaces.
Perhaps one day we’ll even see a Jetsons-inspired intergalactic garden! Sleek, sustainable, automated, and filled with futuristic elements.
Imagine solar-powered lighting, recycled materials, moving pathways, and maybe even a robotic pet with its own auto-cleaning system!
As futurist Gaston Berger said:
“The purpose of looking at the future is to disturb the present.”
Bold, experimental design at MIFGS. Where futuristic concepts meet reclaimed materials and creative planting. Image Vivian Scarpari
The Challenge Ahead
The future of landscaping will be written by those bold enough to experiment. Maybe the next step is for a designer to test these ideas on a smaller scale, perhaps in LV’s Boutique Garden Competition at MIFGS 2026?
We can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s gardens look like.
Join us at MIFGS from Wednesday, 25 to Sunday, 29 March 2026, and witness the future blooming before your eyes.
Interested in Showcasing Your Vision?
If the idea of shaping tomorrow’s landscapes excites you, why not bring your creativity to life at MIFGS 2026?
Entries for the Boutique Garden Competition are now open, offering designers the chance to build a 5×5m show garden in front of more than 100,000 visitors.
Submissions close 24 September 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your vision with the industry and the public.
