Industry exhibition, Glee (10-12 September, NEC Birmingham), explores the latest plant trends.
The garden industry is worth an estimated £5 billion, including £1,424 billion of garden plant sales. Broken down by category, £606 million comes from bedding plants, £354 million from the sales of seeds and bulbs and £464 million made up of other garden plants and trees*. In 2017, bedding plants sales are up by 3%, seeds and bulbs by 4%, and hardy plants by 9%.
Plant trends set to dominate 2018 include: on-trend colours such as Ultra Violet, convenience gardening, health and wellbeing, houseplants – bringing the outside in has become fashionable again, vertical planting and climbers, Grow-Your-Own, and Re-Wilding.
Plant trends can also be influenced by events; it has been heavily publicised that Meghan Markle’s floral arrangements (at the Royal Wedding) will involve plants and blooms typical of May – beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves. This international effect will present both growers and retailers with a marketing opportunity as celebrity style and culture influences our society with copycat looks.
Green Heart at Glee, and the wider Plant section, is set to welcome its largest number of exhibitors including Key Essentials, Leybaert BVB, Artopya, Henningsen UK, Peter Strawson Limited, H.S Hommers & Sons (Dutch Bulbs) Ltd, The Christmas Cabin, SP Trading, Javado, Laurica Plants, Air So Pure – VLAM (Dataflor, Decock Plants, Deforche Export, Het Wilgenbroek, Van Poecke, Oprins Plant).
Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “This year, more than 50 plant suppliers, growers and breeders will showcase their latest ranges and recent introductions within the Green Heart at Glee, as well as within our dedicated Plant sector. With the quality and variety of plants constantly improving and plant trends evolving, the Green Heart is a key part of Glee, and is designed to put plants right at the centre of the show.”
www.gleebirmingham.com