Top 3 Garden Trends To Know For 2022

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

The new year is here and you must be so excited for everything that 2022 holds! Before you know it, spring will be in full swing and you'll be enjoying the prime gardening season.

While you're reflecting on your new year's resolutions, now is the perfect time to think about the changes you want to make in your own home and garden. These new plants and gardening techniques may be exactly what you need!

Keep reading for the top 3 garden trends you need to know for 2022. We hope this inspires you to plant a garden worthy of showing off that will bring you daily pride and joy!

Trend 1: Create Dazzling Floral Displays

Have you heard the rumors that 2022 will be the start of the new roaring 20s? Think lavish parties, trend-setting styles, and most of all, showing off! The 1920s were a time of opulence, and if history does indeed repeat itself, you’ll want to update your garden with showy flowering plants to match!

GreatMyrtle™

This widely popular great myrtle line has plants with delicious names like Cotton Candy, Cherry Delight, French Vanilla, and Red Velvet that are brand new to the plant market.

They make for a stunning garden addition with their bright but delicate blooms. You'll want to plan your garden to include some of these show stoppers for spring!

What makes them 'great' you may ask? They are hardy to zone 5! Which no other crape myrtle can say!

Perfecto Mundo Azaleas

Aka the 'Perfect Large Azaleas'. Not only are the flowers MASSIVE, but the range of colors you can find them in makes this plant a great addition for a showy garden.

The thing is – these azaleas won't stop with just one round of blooms, you'll get new flowers on them from springtime to late summer!

Trend 2: Growing Your Own Unique Foods

A home garden that sustains you is nothing new - but having plants that grow things nobody can find in-stores is! Gifts from your home garden will bring delight to your neighbors and friends as they'll enjoy high quality produce or goods they can only get from you.

The Cocktail Tree

This little tree is a MUST HAVE for Citrus lovers, as you bring edible gardening into the convenience of your home. Add this to your home cocktail bar and use the fruits it produces for pies, drinks and preserves!

This unique plant comes from an Improved Dwarf Meyer's Lemon and Mexican Key Lime that are trained to grow together as one.

Victory Garden

One of the best things in life is enjoying the taste, fragrance and health benefits of homegrown foods! Victory Gardens fulfill all 3 of those small things. The best part? You do not need an excess of land or flat space to do this, food producing plants can be planted in containers wherever you have the space. With a victory garden, you'll be the one 'winning'.

See our favorite citrus trees that thrive in potted homes here.

Trend 3: Making your Garden Great For You, and the Environment Too!

Support your local environment every year, but especially in 2022! Environmental issues like climate change, drought, and habitat loss continue to impact both humans and wildlife. Do your part at home by planting with your whole community (human or not) in mind!

Native Plants for Pollinators & Wildlife

If you're a lover of bees, butterflies and more then these natives are for you! Planting for pollinators and wildlife will help your own garden ecosystem, and contribute to the health.

What will draw in pollinators to your garden? Perennials like Bee Balm and trees such as Linden or Eastern Redbud will do the trick.

Your garden will also benefit from being bird friendly. In partnership with the Audubon society, this collection is for those who love birdwatching.

Download the Smart Plant Home app to see what's local to your region and where you can get the perfect plants for pollinators!

Water Wise Landscaping With Xeriscape

Water wise gardening is incredibly important if you live in a zone that gets little to no water! If you're living in a hot, dry climate and still want an at home garden, Xeriscaping may be the answer for you. Plus, it is quickly becoming a 2022 gardening trend.

What is'Xeriscaping'? Xeriscaping just means water-wise or water-efficient landscaping. Planting slow-growing, drought tolerant plants helps conserve water and reduce yard trimmings. Conveniently, this can also make your garden lower maintenance!

You can search for Drought Tolerant Trees, Perennials and Shrubs on Nature Hills' website or in the Smart plant home app.

What gardening projects are you most interested in this year?

Happy 2022 gardening!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which plants work best for the top 2022 garden trends if you have a shady or drought-prone yard?

The 2022 trends highlighted by Nature Hills focus on GreatMyrtle, Perfecto Mundo Azaleas, and edible plants like the Cocktail Citrus Tree, but these have varying shade and drought tolerances. Perfecto Mundo Azaleas are your best bet for shadier spots, as azaleas naturally prefer dappled light and consistent moisture rather than full sun and dry conditions. GreatMyrtle performs best in full sun and is not ideal for shade, though its hardiness to Zone 5 makes it a standout for cold-climate gardeners with sunny yards. For a drought-prone garden, consult the plant detail pages on naturehills.com to filter by drought tolerance and find the best match for your specific conditions before ordering for spring.

How much sun do plants featured in 2022 garden trends typically need to thrive?

The article highlights several trending plants for 2022, but does not specify sun requirements for any of them. As a general rule, flowering plants like crape myrtles and azaleas perform best with at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, while citrus trees like the Cocktail Tree typically need 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Visit the individual product pages on naturehills.com for the specific light requirements of each plant before deciding where to place them in your garden.

How often should you water plants that fit the leading 2022 garden styles?

Watering needs vary depending on the specific plants you choose, but most of the trending 2022 selections have distinct requirements. GreatMyrtle plants are drought-tolerant once established and typically need deep watering once or twice a week during their first growing season, then only during dry spells. Perfecto Mundo Azaleas prefer consistently moist but well-drained soil, so aim for about an inch of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. For citrus trees like the Cocktail Tree, water deeply every one to two weeks depending on your climate, and always check soil moisture a few inches down before watering to avoid overwatering.

What type of soil or compost gives trending 2022 garden plants the best start?

While the article does not specifically address soil or compost recommendations for these trending plants, a general best practice is to amend your planting beds with well-draining, organically rich soil before spring planting season begins. For acid-loving plants like Perfecto Mundo Azaleas, incorporating peat moss or pine bark compost to achieve a soil pH between 4.5 and 6.0 will give them the strongest start. For citrus trees like the Cocktail Tree, a sandy loam mix with added compost works best to promote drainage and root health. Visit naturehills.com for each plant's specific soil requirements and get your beds prepped early so you are ready to plant when your order arrives.

Can you pull off 2022 garden trends in containers, raised beds, or a small backyard?

Absolutely. Many of the hottest 2022 trends are well-suited for smaller spaces and container growing, including the Cocktail Tree, which is a dwarf citrus variety that thrives in pots and can be brought indoors during cold months. GreatMyrtle varieties are hardy to zone 5 and can be planted in raised beds or compact garden borders for a bold floral statement. Start planning your container arrangements and raised bed layouts now so you are ready to plant as soon as your last frost date passes in spring.

How should you space and arrange plants to get the best look from 2022 garden trends?

For dazzling floral displays, pair GreatMyrtle varieties like Cotton Candy or Red Velvet with Perfecto Mundo Azaleas, giving each plant enough room to showcase their full spread, typically 3 to 6 feet apart depending on the mature size of the variety you choose. Place taller GreatMyrtle plants toward the back of beds since they are hardy to zone 5 and can serve as a reliable backdrop, while azaleas work beautifully as mid-border plants that deliver blooms from spring through late summer. For edible gardens, situate Cocktail Trees in a focal point near an outdoor entertaining area so you can enjoy both the aesthetics and easy fruit access. Shop your desired varieties now and sketch out your spacing plan before spring planting season arrives to make the most of these trending combinations.

Which low-maintenance plants fit the most popular 2022 garden trends without a lot of upkeep?

For dazzling, low-effort floral displays, Perfecto Mundo Azaleas bloom continuously from spring through late summer with minimal deadheading required, while GreatMyrtle varieties like Cotton Candy and Red Velvet are cold-hardy down to zone 5, making them far more forgiving than traditional crape myrtles. If you want to grow your own unique edibles, the Cocktail Tree combining Dwarf Meyer Lemon and Mexican Key Lime delivers two fruits in one compact plant that thrives indoors or on a patio. Head to naturehills.com to browse these trending varieties and get them ordered in time for spring planting.

How do you control pests and disease in trending 2022 garden styles without harming pollinators?

The 2022 garden trends emphasize flowering plants like Perfecto Mundo Azaleas and GreatMyrtle varieties that naturally attract pollinators, so protecting those beneficial insects while managing pests is essential. Apply targeted treatments like neem oil or insecticidal soap in the early morning or evening when pollinators are least active, and avoid broad-spectrum pesticides entirely. For disease prevention in crape myrtles and azaleas, focus on proper spacing for airflow and water at the base of plants rather than overhead to reduce fungal issues before they start. Scout your plants weekly and address problems early so you can use the least invasive solution possible and keep your pollinator-friendly garden thriving.

What is the best way to mulch around plants used in 2022 garden trends?

Mulching is a great practice for nearly all the trending plants of 2022, helping retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch such as shredded bark or wood chips around the base of plants like GreatMyrtle and Perfecto Mundo Azaleas, keeping it a few inches away from the stems to prevent rot. For citrus trees like the Cocktail Tree, mulching is especially helpful in cooler climates to protect roots from temperature fluctuations. Apply mulch in early spring before the growing season kicks off and replenish as needed throughout the year to maintain that ideal depth.

How do you prune, deadhead, or trim the plants featured in 2022 garden trends to keep them looking their best?

For crape myrtles like the GreatMyrtle line, avoid the common mistake of heavy topping and instead prune lightly in late winter before new growth emerges, removing only crossing branches and spent seed heads to maintain their natural form. Perfecto Mundo Azaleas are reblooming varieties, so deadheading spent flowers as they fade through the season encourages the next flush of blooms from spring through late summer. For the Cocktail Tree, light pruning to shape and remove any crossing or dead branches is best done in late winter or early spring before the growing season kicks off. Focus on clean cuts with sharp tools and never remove more than one-third of any plant's growth at a single time to keep your featured 2022 trend plants healthy and performing their best.