Philodendron Pink Princess’. Photo courtesy of Costa Farms.

January 2025
A rosy outlook for foliage By Becky Paxton

These pink-hued plants are set to dominate the industry in 2025.

As 2025 sets in, garden retail customers are looking through rose-colored glasses, keeping an eye out for foliage that features pink hues. From new growth in rouge to pops of pink, trend-spotters at Garden Media Group are predicting a boom in what they’ve dubbed “tyrannically cute” plants.

“Across social media, we’re seeing a dramatic spike in searches for surreal pastels, unusual coloration and landscape photos that look too good to be true,” said Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group. “AI-generated images and videos are flooding our feeds with dreamy landscapes crafted to evoke escapism and relaxation, sparking interest among consumers to recreate these looks with real plants.”

The firm labeled this cluster of trending plant searches — aesthetic flowers, unusual flowers and pretty houseplants aesthetic — “tyrannically cute” because of the pastel aesthetic and surrealist flair in varieties that bring whimsical, unusual or candy-colors to foliage.

The trend finds its origins in the pandemic-era design aesthetic of maximalism when consumers, seeking brighter days, turned to bold interiors and landscapes. This new wave of maximalist gardens was characterized by dense ornamental plantings, foliage in raucous colors, bold statuary, exterior lighting and densely planted ornamentals.

Indoors, houseplants and brightly colored tropicals took center stage, showcased across social media with sprawling vines and enormous foliage as statement pieces in home décor.

Today, this maximalist aesthetic has taken a softer turn toward surrealism with pink accents, white flecking or spots and rainbow-like, multi-hued foliage now trending in social media searches. The “tyrannically cute” look extends across an array of plants, from succulents and tropicals to woody shrubs.

Minimal Maintenance

Holly_Red_Sky_Credit_Southern_Living_Plant_Colletion — Holly ‘Red Sky’. Photo courtesy of Southern Living Plant Collection.

“Today’s home gardener is craving color, but with shrinking lot sizes, they’re often contending with smaller spaces in which they can achieve it,” said Corrina Murray, director of marketing for Southern Living Plant Collection. “Their need for hardy, low-maintenance foundation shrubs hasn’t changed, but they’re looking beyond basic green for foliage.”

To meet the demand, Southern Living Plant Collection is highlighting varieties with a flush of color on new growth such as holly ‘Red Sky’, as well as color innovations on landscape favorites like abelia.

Abelia 'Suntastic Peach'. Photo credit: Southern Living Plant Collection. — Abelia ‘Suntastic Peach’. Photo courtesy of Southern Living Plant Collection.

“Our new Suntastic collection of abelias is particularly appealing to younger generations of consumers seeking pastel or rainbow-hued plants,” Murray said. “The varieties offer minimal maintenance paired with pink, peach and multi-colored foliage that pops on garden center shelves.”

Suntastic Peach’ abelia, in particular, drew attention this year influenced by Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz — a soft pastel peach that embodies the “tyrannically cute” trend and is proliferating across the fashion, pop culture, and design worlds.

Seeing Stars

Aspidistra ‘Tokyo Skies’. Photo courtesy of Southern Living Plant Collection.

Southern Living Plant Collection’s upcoming releases, cordyline ‘Magic Star’ and aspidistra ‘Tokyo Skies’, speak to the trend. ‘Magic Star’ showcases green and white leaves that transition to vivid pink at the base, while ‘Tokyo Skies’, winner of the Cultivate’23 Retailers’ Choice Award, features bright white flecks against green leaves mimicking a starlit sky. Its adaptability as both a houseplant and a landscape plant in Zones 8 to 10 makes it especially appealing to Gen Z and millennial gardeners who are driving this trend.

Cordyline ‘Magic Star’. Photo courtesy of Concept Plants.

Houseplants are seeing a similar increase in demand for white and pastel accents. Spearheaded by the pandemic’s strong consumer interest in rare and unusual plants, new releases that offer interesting variegation often combined with other trending elements such as fenestration are selling quickly.

Variegated Varieties

Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’. Photo courtesy of Costa Farms.

Indoor plant grower Costa Farms has seen success with new variegated varieties such as monstera ‘Thai Constellation’ and philodendron ‘White Knight’, both of which draw the eye with bright flecks of stark white.

Philodendron White Knight’. Photo courtesy of Costa Farms. — Philodendron ‘White Knight’. Photo courtesy of Costa Farms.

Pretty in Pink

Soft pastel pinks adorn philodendron ‘Pink Princess’, which offers a multi-hued display of vibrant emerald leaves and splashes of pretty pink. Fascination with these variegated houseplants has reached such a fever pitch that “Thai Constellation Monstera Tattoo” has become a top trending search on Pinterest, suggesting a love affair that’s enduring to say the least.

“The essence of the ‘tyrannically cute’ trend lies in a sense of ‘unreality’ — plants that look almost too good to be real,” Dubow explained. “However, the abundance of AI-generated plant photos has led to an increase in fraudulent product listings and disappointed customers when those purchases don’t work out.”

Dubow emphasizes that the industry’s role is to guide consumers with trustworthy information. She advises brands to build trust on social media by sharing on-trend products, addressing misinformation with kindness and providing clear, reliable resources.

“This trend may attract younger gardeners with its playful style,” she said, “but by engaging them with the right products and designs, these beginners will bloom into serious gardeners.”

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