Each year, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show offers a chance to step back and take in where the industry is at. It brings together designers, builders, growers and suppliers from across the country. What people experience over a few days is the result of months of design thinking, planning and fabrication – all brought together on site in a compressed 9-day build. It’s a fast-paced environment, but one that’s driven by a high level of detail and coordination.

“Immerse” – by La Muxlow Gardens

Seeing it from the other side

Returning this year, after building our own show garden in 2025, shifted the way we experienced it. There’s a clearer understanding of what sits behind each garden – the lead-up, the logistics, and the level of planning required to deliver something of this scale in such a short timeframe. You don’t just look at the finished outcome. You start to think about how it was built, how it was sequenced, and how each element has been resolved on site.

“Where We Gather” – Emma Dorman

Planting and material direction

From a planting perspective, there were a few consistent themes across the show this year. Carex was used heavily throughout a number of gardens, often in mass planting to create softness and movement. Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’ featured repeatedly as well, which was interesting to see used across multiple designs. Zoysia turf appeared across several of the show gardens – continuing that move toward finer, more controlled lawn finishes within highly detailed spaces.

There was also a strong presence of perennial planting, particularly through pink and purple palettes. These combinations were layered through the gardens to bring colour and seasonal interest, rather than relying on a single feature moment.

“We The Wild” – Matt York

Time away from site

Spending time at the show offers something that’s often hard to find in the day-to-day of running projects. It’s a chance to step back, walk the gardens, and take things in properly – planting, materials, levels, and how each space feels as a whole. There’s also real value in the conversations. Catching up with others in the industry, seeing how different teams approach their work, and being part of that shared experience.

“Urban Luxe” – Andrew Stark

2026 Show Garden winners

This year’s show delivered a strong lineup of gardens, with a clear focus on detail and build quality.

The City of Melbourne Award of Excellence – Best in Show was awarded to “We the Wild”, designed by Matt York. The garden also received a Gold medal and the Horticultural Media Association Award for Best Use of Plant Life. Joel Barnett of InStyle Gardens was awarded a Gold medal for “je ne sais quoi”, along with the Mark Bence Construction Award. Across the show, the overall standard was high, with a noticeable emphasis on cohesive design and well-executed construction.

“je ne sais quio” – Joel Barnett (Instyle Gardens)

Taking it forward

We always leave the show with a clearer perspective. Not necessarily one defining idea, but a collection of smaller observations – planting combinations, material selections, and construction details – that gradually find their way into our own projects. Well done to everyone involved in this year’s show, and congratulations to all of the winners. It’s no small undertaking, and what’s delivered each year continues to push the standard of our industry forward.

“We Are All Visitors” 

Words & Photographs — Tahlia