Concept watch: 25 trends from IPM Essen

Trends that will influence consumer trade

Each year, IPM Essen brings together the latest innovations and trends from the world of horticulture, offering a glimpse into what will influence consumer purchasing decisions in the months ahead. This year’s exhibition showcased an exciting mix of plant varieties, design concepts and sustainability-driven solutions, all set to capture the attention of gardeners across the UK and Europe.

From the growing popularity of trailing orchids to the resurgence of conifers and the continued fascination with terrariums, these trends reflect shifting preferences and emerging opportunities in the industry.

In this article, I’ll take you through 25 key trends from IPM Essen that are likely to shape buying habits - whether you’re a retailer looking to stay ahead of the curve or a keen gardener eager to explore what’s next.

1. Dino snack: A new way to sell to kids

Forget selling Venus fly traps to children. This is a whole lot more interesting - we are selling them dinosaur food! This fantastic German nursery has created a whole world around three or four prehistoric plants. I think this will be a big hit.

2. Trailing Orchids from Anthura

Here we have these fantastic stumbling Orchids - I hope you don't mind me calling them that. I think they look fantastic for coffee tables, maybe even a container up high indoors. And the best bit is you don't have those ugly sticks!

3. Terrariums are making ground

These terrariums have the addition of some interior landscaping thanks to the wonderful cork blocks. Terrariums are really going places!

4. A plant for a future: Tulbaghia

This can withstand all sorts of different conditions, from wet to dry, sandy to clay. This variety is called ‘Flamingo’, and has this decorative foliage, which I think looks super good. It smells of garlic, yet the flowers smell of honey.

5. Hanging planters

These are rather cool; they remind me of the flower pouches we used to do in the 90s, which were basically like a flowering sock. A really great way to get plants on vertical surfaces. And when you're using plants like Sedum, they don't need any water either.

6. Bamboo that isn't invasive

The One Boo from Plant Select in Belgium is said to be non-invasive. It's great marketing, because, of course, many bamboos are clump forming rather than creating runners. Either way. If the promotion works, I hope it gives bamboo a good name.

7. Tabletop Hebes

These were at Koder, a grower in Germany and they are very small Hebes. The moment I looked at them on the table, I realised they could actually work as tabletop Hebes. Outdoors, they only grow to about 20 centimeters. Evergreen and looking good all year round - what more could you want?

8. Soirée: Flowering miniature window box plants

Here's a plant to rival Calibrachoa, or indeed, it could rival a houseplant, as Catharanthus was always a houseplant when I was a kid. These little beauties from Suntory are a plant to watch for the future.

9. Hellebores with giant flowers

Hellebores are really going places. The breeding is top notch. Not only growing more strongly, but with bigger, open and up-facing flowers, meaning you don't have to grab a mirror in order to see them from upside down!

10. Possibly the longest lasting cut flower?

Kalanchoe from slykerman in the North Holland are offering a very new type of cut flower. Kalanchoe grown with lovely, long stems, and they last for about two months in the vase. The lovely succulent stems need hardly any water either, so even if they run dry, you're still sitting pretty.

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