Discover a Love for Flower and Gardening in the UK

In the past couple of years, the UK has seen a boom in the plant and flower market.

Adjusting to changing demands in the market, flower shows and garden centres revolutionised their order systems, integrating click and collect software as well as home deliveries, which, although common for flower shops, were not the norm for garden centres.

This is according to Ibis World, who also forecasted 1% annual growth in the industry up until 2024, turning it into a billion-pound industry. In this article, we’ll take a look at aspects of this sector in both Wales and the UK.

Gardening in the digital age

In the past five years, the increase in popularity of domestic plant ownership has been quite remarkable. The recent trend towards working from home or hybrid working has affected this, with people having more time to look after their plants. There are also thousands of social media accounts that provide advice along the way, too.

The increased popularity can even be seen across the entertainment industry. For example, in the gambling sector, players can play games such as the Secret Garden slot machine, which allows players to bet their money on a flower-themed game complete with reels made of rainbows, flowers, and insects, along with Red Rose or Golden Garden Lock features. While on television, Gardener’s World and Love Your Garden are two shows that feature across UK television, providing viewers with tips and tricks for keeping their plants healthy and vibrant.

The best of UK flower shows

According to many, the world’s best flower show is right here in the UK. Of course, we’re talking about the Chelsea Flower Show, which runs annually in the month of May for five days. Attracting over 100,000 visitors, people can expect to not only learn more about their favourite flowers but also see exotic and rare species as well as a range of creative floral arrangements. The Hampton Court Garden Festival is another that will interest not only greenfingers but also those looking for an interesting day out.

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Closer to home, the National Botanic Garden holds over 6,000 species of plantlife, while just over the border, the Southport Flower Show is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024 and provides not only flower displays but also other entertainment for visitors. For those looking a bit further afield, the Singapore Garden Festival is one of many garden shows held across Asia and the Americas that could interest plant lovers.

What flowers are most popular in Wales?

For those interested in creating a garden for themselves, the first question is usually about the types of plants they should grow. It makes sense to grow something you know might have a chance of not only surviving but also flourishing. With this in mind, gardeners should consider growing peonies, lavender, or daffodils in the summer or snowdrops and pansies in the winter. The Botanic Garden of Wales has plenty of resources to help would-be gardeners as they start out on their journey to improve their gardening skills.

Whether new to the hobby, or an experienced grower, there are now more resources than ever to help and with flower shows, both in person and on television, there is no excuse for not having the perfect, colourful garden.