Summer is the perfect time to refresh your outdoor space. This year’s top landscaping trends focus on function, beauty, and sustainability. No matter what part of North Carolina you’re in, you can find big and small ways to breathe new life into your landscape with these 2025 summer landscaping trends.
Table of Contents
- Native Plants
- Sustainable Gardening Goes Mainstream
- Naturalistic & Organic Design Aesthetics
- Edible Gardens Are Growing in Popularity
- Outdoor Living Rooms & Kitchens
- All-Green Gardens
- Romantic Cottagecore Gardens
- Landscapes for Mental Health & Wellness
- Tropical Touches, Even in North Carolina
- Multi-Functional Landscapes
- Ready to Transform Your Outdoor Space?
Native Plants
One of the top trends for summer landscaping is using native plants. Homeowners and designers value these species for their beauty and ability to thrive in North Carolina’s diverse climate—from the mountains to the coast. Native plants need less watering and fewer pesticides, making them low-maintenance and resilient. According to the EPA, they can reduce landscape water use by up to 50%.
Examples of native North Carolina plants:
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Bright purple berries that birds love.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
A hardy classic with sunny yellow blooms.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Essential for monarch butterflies.
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Evergreen and perfect for shady areas.
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
A hummingbird magnet with striking red flowers.
Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Beautiful, long-blooming, and loved by pollinators.
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Elegant, fragrant, and well-suited for wetter areas.
These plants thrive in North Carolina’s climate, supporting pollinators like butterflies and bees, offering natural beauty, and often increasing property value with minimal upkeep. This creates a beautiful yard that thrives with little effort.
Sustainable Gardening Goes Mainstream
Sustainability is moving from a niche concept to the core of how we landscape. Homeowners considering summer landscaping trends are thinking long-term, investing in gardens that use fewer resources and give more back to the environment.
Here are some sustainable gardening ideas to keep in mind:
Composting kitchen scraps is a simple way to enrich soil and reduce waste.
Drip irrigation systems that reduce water waste by up to 60% and can be upgraded with smart irrigation systems for added efficiency.
Rain gardens that capture stormwater runoff
Permeable pavers for driveways and patios
Planting for biodiversity, including pollinator-friendly species
Even small tweaks, like switching to organic fertilizers or reusing rainwater, can have a big environmental impact. Many homeowners are also turning to smart irrigation systems, which are more water-efficient than manual setups, that sync with weather patterns to keep gardens healthy without overwatering.
Naturalistic & Organic Design Aesthetics
Say goodbye to rigid lines and ultra-manicured lawns and hello to landscapes that mimic nature. This year’s designs take cues from woodlands, meadows, and natural streams. The result? A natural environment that feels immersive, calming, and alive.
Some of our favorite naturalistic landscape tricks:
Flowing pathways made of stone, mulch, or gravel:
Create movement and structure while blending naturally into the landscape.
Layered planting that mimics wild ecosystems—tall trees, medium shrubs, low groundcovers:
Combine tall trees, medium shrubs, and low groundcovers for a woodland-inspired look.
Native grasses, like little bluestem or prairie dropseed, to create soft movement:
Add soft texture, movement, and drought-tolerant greenery to your beautiful yard.
Uneven edges and asymmetry for a more organic look:
Ditch the rigid borders in favor of flowing, natural design lines.
This softer eco-friendly landscaping trend continues to grow in popularity, as more homeowners lean into styles that echo the natural environment while being low-maintenance and drought-resistant. It’s no surprise this has become a top trend among those wanting outdoor spaces that feel more lived-in and connected to the natural environment.
Edible Gardens Are Growing in Popularity
The backyard garden isn’t just a weekend project anymore—it’s a food source, a hobby, and a design feature. More homeowners are embracing edible landscapes that are just as beautiful as they are functional.
Raised garden beds and container gardens for vegetables in any space
Herb spirals for compact, eye-catching plantings of basil, thyme, and oregano
Berry bushes and dwarf fruit trees for seasonal color and fresh produce
Edible flowers like nasturtium, pansies, and calendula to brighten up salads
Ornamental edibles like kale, Swiss chard, and rosemary as landscape borders
These functional gardens blend practicality with curb appeal, turning any landscape into a source of beauty and harvest. These gardens also attract bees and butterflies, supporting local pollinators.
Outdoor Living Rooms & Kitchens
Outdoor spaces are now being used for hosting, relaxing, and even working. Modern landscaping is about creating outdoor rooms, not just gardens.
Covered patios, pergolas, and gazebos add shade and charm on hot summer days. Outdoor kitchens, grills, and pizza ovens offer unmatched convenience and character, transforming backyards into culinary spaces. Add garden lighting or overhead outdoor lighting to enjoy evenings outside.
Sectional sofas, outdoor rugs, and coffee tables make these spaces feel like true living rooms. One of this year’s top landscaping trends is adding outdoor fireplaces or fire tables for comfort, convenience, and increased property value. These upgrades extend the living area beyond the house and into the yard.
All-Green Gardens
Minimalist but full of life, all-green landscapes are having a major moment when it comes to summer landscaping trends. Instead of colorful flowers, these gardens use various shades and textures of green to create a peaceful, beautiful yard without relying on flowers.
Foliage-forward ideas to try:
For smaller yards or shaded patios, vertical gardens made from trellises or modular planters can be a stylish way to layer greenery. Vertical gardens are also gaining popularity, especially in compact outdoor spaces where homeowners want to make a bold green statement. Minimalism and sustainability are at the forefront of today’s landscaping trends, and all-green gardens capture both with elegance and ease.
Romantic Cottagecore Gardens
The Cottagecore trend continues to bloom in 2025, blending nostalgic charm with wild, natural beauty—think Jane Austen meets modern North Carolina.
Climbing plants like roses, clematis, and honeysuckle spill over trellises, adding height and privacy. Soft color comes from perennials in flower beds like delphinium, daisies, and foxglove, planted in informal clusters. Gravel paths, vintage benches, and wrought iron accents add storybook character to this whimsical garden style.
Landscapes for Mental Health & Wellness
In 2025, landscaping isn’t just about appearance—it’s about how it makes you feel. Wellness-focused designs help reduce stress, promote mindfulness, and create safe outdoor escapes where you can reconnect with nature. Thoughtful design choices, such as layered greenery and cozy corners, can transform any space into a beautiful yard that fosters peace of mind.
Features for peace of mind:
Quiet corners with hammocks or benches.
Water features like fountains or bubbling rocks for calming sound.
Fragrant plants such as lavender, chamomile, and gardenia.
Textural diversity for sensory engagement (like soft grasses or smooth pebbles)
Consider adding a meditation deck or yoga area nestled in greenery.
These calming spaces make you want to spend more time outdoors.
Tropical Touches, Even in North Carolina
Tropical landscapes are bold, fun, and increasingly popular—even in climate zones like those in North Carolina. With the right plant choices and container gardening, you can enjoy lush tropical flair all summer.
Tropical landscaping elements:
Banana plants, elephant ears, and canna lilies for height and color.
Palm-like textures from cold-hardy varieties like windmill palm.
Bright planters, tiki torches, and bamboo screens for that island feel.
Use containers for tender tropicals so they can be moved indoors in winter.
Even a few bold containers can add a splash of energy to your landscape and boost your outdoor living space’s curb appeal with minimal effort. Use bold hardscaping elements, such as stone planters or paver paths, to frame tropical plantings.
Multi-Functional Landscapes
Backyards in 2025 do more than ever: hosting, growing food, relaxing, and even working. Smart zoning and flexibility are key.
Use shrubs, decorative fencing, planter walls, or low hedges to define areas without closing them off. Add game zones like bocce or cornhole for low-maintenance fun, and tuck in cozy garden nooks with a bench or hammock.
Modular seating, pop-up shade, and container planters keep the space adaptable. Even compact outdoor fireplaces add comfort and function. Replace turf with lawn alternatives like clover, thyme, or gravel to reduce maintenance and water use.
Ready to Transform Your Outdoor Space?
At FortSmith Landscaping, we stay ahead of the latest landscaping trends to keep your outdoor space fresh and functional. We’re passionate about designing landscapes that reflect your style—whether you want native plants, outdoor kitchens, or vertical gardens.
Contact us today at (919) 228-8495 for a free landscaping service consultation!