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Retailer releases Canadian garden trends

Canadian consumers are still in love with geraniums, petunias, edible plants and purple varieties, reports Home Depot Canada, as gardening season ramps up across the nation.

“Our research shows that 35 per cent of Canadians are planning on adding flowers and 42 per cent are planning to grow fruit and vegetable gardens this year,” says Mark Beaty, Home Depot Canada’s gardening expert. “We are ready for the busiest gardening season of the year.”

Home Depot identified key trends among Canadian gardeners:

• Geraniums are the most popular annual flower nationwide because of their bright blooms, ability to withstand varying temperatures and long growing season

• Petunias were the second most popular annual among BC and Alberta gardeners

• White bloom and tropical plant sales were strong in Vancouver, the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, London, Peterborough, Kingston and Windsor

• Purple is the most popular annual colour, following by pink

• New trends include white and bi-colour flowers that usually include some purple

• Herbs, vegetables and fruit plants have seen a dramatic rise in the past five years. Basil is most popular, followed by tomatoes and peppers. Home Depot reportedly sells 36 varieties of tomatoes in Alberta to meet demand, more than any other province in Canada

This Victoria Day weekend is predicted to be the busiest gardening weekend of the year, says Home Depot, whose planting business has grown by 40 per cent in the past five years. Their 182 stores are stocked by 32 Canadian greenhouses. “Annuals are top sellers and represent 65 per cent of plants sold at this time of year,” according to their release.

“We advise even the most enthusiastic green thumbs to hold off on planting until the May long weekend because annuals and newly planted perennials are susceptible to frost,” says Beaty.