Over the past five years there has been a huge increase in sales of berries, herbs, water garden features, containers, bulbs and houseplants. This growing trend is expected to continue according to Bruce Butterfield, Research Director at the National Garden Bureau. The five year annual compound growth rate for berries is 23.3% and for herbs it is 21.4%. "From my perspective the interest in good food and healthy cuisine has caused the increased interest in growing berries and herbs," Butterfield said.
The percentage that water gardening purchases have increased is a whopping 20.3%. "Increased spending on water gardening is a part of the new emphasis on garden décor, exterior decorating and creating outdoor rooms," according to Butterfield. "Water gardens can be as simple as a fountain in a container or a fully featured pond with a waterfall."
Instant gardens are something that many people are wanting these days, this is where container gardening has come in. Consumer spending on container gardening products currently account for 19.5% of the five year compound annual growth rate. "Container gardens are like living bouquets," Butterfield said. Container gardens bring color and interest up close and personal because they can be placed on a porch, patio, deck or near the front door.
Both spring and summer flower bulbs have also seen an increase to 15.7%. Spring bulbs allow people to achieve blooms earlier in their gardens while the summer flowering bulbs make elegant additions to both annual and perennial flower beds.
Finally, coming in at 13.9% is the houseplants. A large amount of these sales have been in the areas of bromeliads and orchids, although any type of flowering houseplant does seem more popular than traditional foliage plants.
"Another major trend we have seen recently is that the lawn and garden business has become more of a mass-market business than ever before," Butterfield concluded. "Home Depot, Lowe's and Wal-Mart continue to increase the amount of lawn and garden merchandise they sell each year. The depth and breadth of their nursery departments have expanded significantly as has the mass merchandiser's market share."
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