The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is back this March and the gardens this year are in full bloom, featuring a stunning line-up of award-winning designers, the gardens will bring a brilliant showcase of colour, creativity and inspiration.
The Show Gardens will once again be the centrepiece of the event, featuring large-scale, immersive landscapes designed by Australia’s top landscape designers. These breathtaking spaces blend innovative design, sustainable materials, and creative plant selections, offering inspiration for everything from expansive outdoor retreats to compact urban gardens.
This year’s Show will be inaugurated by the Welcome Gardens, titled Straightcurve Breaking Free, designed by the visionary team at Bayley LuuTomes Design and Bespoke Landscapes. The gardens are designed to embody the power of endless possibilities and featured inside a tiny Rubik’s Cube.
For those with smaller spaces, the Boutique Gardens showcase vertical gardens, smart container planting, and multifunctional greenery, proving that limited space is no barrier to lush, stylish outdoor living. More budget-friendly and sustainable designers can look to the Challenger Achievable Gardens, delivering DIY-friendly, low-maintenance solutions.
The Balcony Gardens competition celebrates urban greening with clever planting for small outdoor areas. The Border Gardens highlight how narrow strips, pathways, and overlooked edges can be transformed into stunning green spaces.
Adding a meaningful cultural element, the Indigenous Garden – Wurundjeri biik baan honours the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, focusing on the iuk (eel) as a symbol of seasonal change and deep connection to Country.
Renowned designer, Paul Pritchard of Paul Pritchard Landscape design returns once again with his competition garden, Nostalgia. Inspired by the nostalgic charm of mid-century Australian homes, this garden pays tribute to a time when homeowners took pride in crafting personal outdoor spaces.
Rooted in a family tradition of weekend gardening, it reflects a shared history within aging communities, including those now affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s. In partnership with Dementia Australia, the garden raises awareness for the caregivers and support networks supporting individuals living with these conditions.
Through its design and storytelling, it highlights the challenges they face while celebrating the resilience of those who care for them.
Get ready for the ultimate serene experience as award-winning designer Christian Jenkins returns with his Japanese inspired garden, Yutori. The Japanese inspired garden embraces the Japanese philosophy of slowing down to simply be.
Featuring a sauna, ice bath, and tiny home, the garden redefines wellness within a serene Japanese landscape. The name comes from the Japanese word Yutori, meaning to slow down with intention and taking time to consciously reflect, relax and exist.
This year’s Show is thrilled to host the creative mind behind Distinctive Gardens, Robert Cooper, displaying the innovative masterpiece “ǝ’skāp”. An deeply immersive experience, ǝ’skāp is a space designed to help you slow down and reconnect with yourself.
Cooper explains he wanted to create a lush, vibrant and green predominantly Australian native garden. It feels both welcoming and intriguing, drawing people into the garden and inviting visitors to immerse themselves into the space.
The garden brings together a modern style with natural elements, creating a beautiful balance between structure and flow. A variety of grasses have been chosen for their height, textures and colours and a gentle breeze allows for the foliage flutters and naturally spills into each other.
Each plant has its own character, creating a lush, layered feel throughout the garden. Key features of the space include a sleek, vine-covered structure offering shade and a soft touch, a natural stone seating and fireplace invites gathering and conversation.
Matt York is returning with a breathtaking installation titled In Ratio with Africa – a deep exploration of the intricate and nuanced connections between African and Australian garden design. With extensive experience working on international projects across Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, Matt brings a broad global perspective to his craft.
His Show Garden explores how insights from global outdoor living—such as spatial patterns, gathering spaces, occasion-driven design, lighting techniques, and resilient planting—can inspire local landscapes. The team also delves into innovative water use and reuse, highlighting its role in cooling urban environments and enhancing sensory experiences.
Prolific Melbourne landscape designer Brent Reid of Candeo Design is also presenting his garden, ODE, alongside Martin Semken of Semken Landscaping. ODE is a sincere tribute to the mentors, friends, and trailblazers who have influenced his journey in the landscape industry.
Created as a space for reflection and inspiration, ODE represents the lasting legacy of mentorship and innovation, honouring the profound impact of a career devoted to creativity, community, and growth.
Fan favourite, Jason Hodges is premiering his Doable garden, the product of meticulous and thoughtful planning, proving that spectacular gardens can be created on any budget and with any materials. The warm and inviting garden features a cosy seating area and an array of scalable plants that can be altered for any arrangement.
“We have an incredible line-up of designers showcasing at the Show this year! Their incredible displays are a true testament to their artistry and passion,” said Trent Cornish, Director of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
From grand immersive landscapes to sustainable and innovative designs, every corner of the Show features something new and exciting to uncover.”
“Our designers are paying homage to the deep cultural significance of our land, as well as the powerful connection between nature and wellbeing. With multiple past Best in Show winners, this is not a Show to be missed,” said Cornish.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show stands as Australia’s premier celebration of floral artistry and spectacular garden design. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, admiration or simply a fun day out with the family, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show has something for everyone.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show takes place at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from 26 – 30 March 2025. For more information and full program, visit: www.melbflowershow.com.au for details.
Image: Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show – photo by Rohan Shearn