After our surprise Winter Wonderland in January, the weather has warmed up and we find ourselves barreling toward spring. For the gardening and plant-loving enthusiasts, March means cleaning up beds, trimming back the dead growth from the cold months, and getting new plants in the ground to enjoy all the way through fall and beyond. Just like fashion, food, and many other aspects in life, there are trends in gardening. Here are four that are happening across the United States and especially in our corner of the world in South Louisiana.
Gardening is Going Strong
The first trend is that gardening and enjoying the wonderful world of plants has moved beyond a trend toward becoming a staple in many people’s lives. When COVID kept us locked down at home, whether out of boredom or because there’s only so much sourdough bread you can eat, folks embraced gardening and discovered the green thumb they never knew they had.
Edibles: Growing the Food You Eat
One of the most popular plant categories to explode during COVID was growing plants that produced an edible crop to enjoy. People learned that a little bit of self-sustenance gave them a sense of pride, not to mention that fresh cucumbers in a salad or a smoothie featuring backyard blueberries are quite delicious! Five years past COVID, we have a new set of challenges as inflation, farm labor, shipping and other factors keep causing food prices to rise. Folks are doubling down on edible plants and producing one’s own food has become less of a hobby and actually more utility driven. “While your basic vegetables like tomatoes, squash and bell peppers remain popular, we’ve really seen a huge jump in the perennial fruit category like blueberries, blackberries, figs and others,” said Ben Pecnik, Louisiana Nursery Vice President. “Being that most of these plants are cold hardy and bear fruit each year with little maintenance, people are planting them and not only enjoying the fresh fruit, but also saving money.”
Sharing Space with Indoor Plants and Rare Tropicals
Louisiana’s temperate climate allows us to enjoy a variety of tropical plants outside in containers or in the garden, many of which bloom and grow from early spring all the way through early winter. However, since these plants do have a limited lifespan outdoors, many people are investing in some of the newest indoor tropical plants that have exploded onto the scene in recent years. Philodendra, bromeliads and calatheas are indoor mainstays, but now there are new, rare varieties with bold pinks, purples and reds along with variegated versions that lend a pop of color to any room. To add to their uniqueness, some of these plants have bizarre-shaped leaves, and when combined with their bright colors make for interior showstoppers that guests will be sure to notice. These plants have become quite popular with a younger generation who have reduced access to outdoor gardens or may live in a smaller house or apartment with less space. “Rather than buy expensive art or home décor, some people decorate their house with these colorful and unique plants,” explained Beau Mutrie, Digital Director at Louisiana Nursery. “There is a large online community of indoor plant and rare tropicals enthusiasts. I know when I post new shipments on our Facebook and Instagram pages, it creates quite a stir and we see an uptick in store traffic. Some people do order them from online outlets, but plants sometimes arrive damaged, so most of our customers enjoy coming to the nursery and buying in person so they know exactly what they’re getting.” In addition to these indoor plants being beautiful, they can also boost your mood, increase creativity, reduce stress and eliminate air pollutants.
The Native Plant Movement is Thriving
Around the country, there has been a renewed interest in cultivating native plants and we look for this to increase in 2025. Native plants are those that have evolved over thousands of years, learning to thrive in a particular area. These plants are lower in maintenance and require much less watering, fertilizer, and pesticides. In fact, native plants have the ability to pull and store excess carbon and they enhance biodiversity, providing a habitat for a variety of birds and mammals. Local pollinators like bees and butterflies are more attracted to these varieties since the plants and insects have evolved together over the centuries. “Louisiana Nursery is making a commitment to more native plants this year,” said Pecnik. “We have a new native plant vendor and we are ordering more product and also noting native plants with in-store signage, so customers interested in this category can easily identify them when shopping.” Just some of the native plants carried at the nursery include coneflowers, Southern magnolias, Joe Pye weed, mayhaw, beauty berry, black eyed Susans, and more.
For more information on edible plants and trees, indoor tropicals, and native plants, visit Louisiananursery.com and sign up for our newsletter. Also, follow us on social media and get the scoop on rare plant drops throughout the year.
