The traditional idea of gardening is undergoing a major shift, with edible balcony plants, indoor jungles and low-maintenance gardens on display at the Queensland Garden Show.
Colin Fruk, CEO of Greenlife Industry which represents the nursery industry, said younger Australians and downsizers were embracing smaller, more manageable green spaces that better suited contemporary lifestyles and high-density living.
“Australian homes are being built on smaller blocks, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing average lot sizes in Greater Brisbane shrank by 20 percent from 2012 to 2021,” Mr Fruk said.
“But while backyards are getting smaller, Australians’ connection to gardening and plants certainly isn’t.”
Smaller sized lots and balcony living dictate plant life
Mr Fruk said indoor plants, vertical gardens, edible gardening and smaller, more manageable green spaces were becoming more popular.
They were also seeing growing interest in unusual or statement plants, with many gardeners treating their homes and balconies as an extension of their personal style.
“Gardening today is as much about wellbeing, creativity and sustainability as it is about plants, and Australians are proving you can create your own green sanctuary almost anywhere,” Mr Fruk said.
More people want to grow their own food
Nursery owner Alexander Marques said he had seen a noticeable shift towards edible gardening, low-maintenance spaces, and ornamental plants that bring colour and personality into smaller homes and apartments.
“The biggest demand we see right now is for productive plants – vegetable seedlings, potted fruit and veggie, culinary and therapeutic herbs, edible flowers, mini-vegetables,” Mr Marques, who runs his family business Rumbalara Nursery in the Glasshouse Mountains said.
“These all allow individuals to be the masters of their own food security and personal health journey. Plant selection and breeding, together with inventive container design, are helping people make smaller spaces highly productive.”
The Australia Institute recently found almost four in five Australians aged 18 to 39 are interested in growing their own food, despite many identifying limited space as the biggest barrier. The research also said 45 percent of Australians already grow some of their own food, with small urban spaces increasingly being transformed into productive gardens.
Cost-of-living and time pressures influence garden sizes
Mr Marques also said cost-of-living pressures and a faster pace of life were changing the way Australians viewed their gardens and outdoor spaces.
He said when he was growing up people had larger gardens and time to maintain them.
“Mowing the lawn and tending your quarter-acre garden was how most people spent their weekends – having a home with a nice big garden was the Australian dream,” Mr Marques said.
“But these days people are opting for smaller gardens that are more manageable and also often far more curated and productive.”
Gardening industry helps grow economy
Mr Fruk said Greenlife’s Industry Snapshot for 2024-25 showed that the industry injected around $3.49 billion into the Australian economy, producing more than 2.1 million plants annually and supporting more than 22,000 jobs.
Queensland Garden Show Program
There will be 55 wholesale and retail nurseries with 60,000 plants a day, plus more than 360 exhibitors showcasing everything from tools and garden art, to water features, outdoor products and ride-on equipment.
Plants include everything from seedlings and fruit trees to rare collector plants, exotic ornamentals and native favourites, as well as a fully-planted kitchen garden for inspiration.
Australia’s largest gardening speaker program includes ABC Gardening Australia’s Sophie Thomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams, and horticulturist Graham Ross.
The program will include workshops and cooking demonstrations
The Queensland Garden Show is on from July 10-12, 2026 at the Nambour Showgrounds on the Sunshine Coast. Entry is free for children under 15. Gates open from 8am to 4pm.
For more information and tickets, click here.
