Spring Plant Fashions

Spring Plant Fashion On Colorful Flowers
(Image credit: sasapanchenko, mawielobob, Moussa81, Aneduard)

Spring is here, and that means it’s time for your plants to get out and strut their stuff. But there's nothing more embarrassing than discovering, all too late, that your garden is sporting last year’s styles! Don’t worry though -- we’re here to get you up to date on all the latest, most cutting edge plant fashions. Read on to learn about the top plant trends for Spring 2021. 

Last year, with public gardens closed to visitors and even backyard beds off limits to admiring neighbors, comfort was the name of the game, with most gardeners retiring their plants’ work clothes in favor of softer, more flexible fabrics. We saw even the most elegant of rose bushes embracing the joy of a good pair of yoga pants. But this year, with things opening up again, plants are taking full advantage of the chance to show off. Expect to see towering heels, sharp angular lines, and dazzling colors. 

Plant fashion is coming back in full force!

So what are the do’s and don’ts of plant fashion 2021? What do you need to know to make sure your garden has its finger on the pulse of the latest styles? Don’t worry. We’ve got the scoop.

Hats!

If you’ve been by any garden, you’ve probably noticed this one already. Hats are back in a big way, sported by everything from the tallest oak to the littlest tomato seedling. Be it a boater, a beanie, or a beret, make sure your plants don’t go uncovered this spring!

Belts!

No longer just for attaching pants to your plants’ stems, belts are the focus this year, becoming a fashion must instead of just an accessory. Try mixing and matching -- a chunky buckle on a vining plant like cucumber, or a jeweled belt on a subdued plant like lithop can make a big statement.

Patterns!

This one you can really have fun with. Maybe your plants are more into leopard print vests. Maybe striped tights are their style. Or maybe you don't want to stop at just one, and would rather double or even triple up on bright and audacious patterns. We say go for it! As long as your garden is sporting some kind of pattern this spring, the sky’s the limit for your creativity! 

So get out there and dress your plants to the nines, and have a very Happy April Fools’ Day!

Liz Baessler
Senior Editor

The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.