I love this time of year. Usually starting in December, everyone brings out their crystal balls and the big-time houseplant hobbyists get busy predicting the trends ahead. Everyone but me. Not that I'm big-time. Far from it. I'm just a little fish in a big pond myself with my plant supplies store Love That Leaf here in little ol' New Zealand.
What I mean is I'm late to the party. I wait for everyone else, then do one big round-up of the hottest trends predicted by the most hobbyists for the year ahead. I would say this is the TLDR version, except you know me, I tend to write small novels. I'll try to keep this one short (er than usual), and focus on the top 5 trends that appeared in the most lists. Let's go!
#1. Ficus In (Fiddle Leaf Fig Out)
When I saw a few big names in the industry all picking the Ficus genus as the international Houseplant of 2026, I cringed just a little, waiting for the next bit...
Here we go again (I thought), it's all going to be Ficus lyrata this, Ficus lyrata that. A.k.a. every interior designer's sweetheart: The Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Rant incoming: It's all very well to pick a Fiddle Leaf Fig as a statement plant, take a photo and leave your immaculately decorated space behind a closed door, job done, But what about the poor houseplant parent who now has to maintain that beast when it reaches the ceiling? Or (shock horror, how dare you), what if they Move. The. Plant. Only to be left with an expensive bare trunk in protest.
But I got a nice surprise. It's almost anything BUT the Fiddle Leaf Fig getting attention this year. The slightly smaller leafed and less-fussy Ficus elastica and seriously adorable Ficus benjamina are taking centre stage in 2026.
I admit having a soft spot for a happy, leafy Ficus benjamina (Starlight is my favourite, look at those leaves below). Bonus points for the benjamina varieties growing back lost leaves like magic the next season, unlike Ficus elastica and Ficus lyrata who usually need a helping hand from a dab of Crazy Keiki Cloning Paste to regrow those bare stems, or they'll stubbornly stay baldies for life.
That's not to say the Fiddle Leaf Fig can't be mastered. Once it's happy it absolutely can be hardy. And it certainly is a serious statement plant. But when they're not happy, they can turn into serious, leaf-dropping drama queens. If yours is showing its inner Diva, The Ultimate Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide is for you.
#2. Bread and Butter
I absolutely LOVE this trend that I've seen shared in multiple trend prediction lists for 2026. For my recent story in NZ Gardener Magazine, I interviewed Sam Clode, Director and co-founder of PlantHouse, owner Yuki Wilheim from Rare Plantation (yes, the same Rare Plantation substrates I stock); and Head of Sales and Marketing at Gellert's, Grace Cattermole.
(PS: PlantHouse is the online store I get most of my houseplants from for my personal collection)
You'll have to get your hands on a copy of the January issue (in-stores nationwide as I write this), for the full run-down as my round-up isn't the same.
However, a common theme the three experts predicted was shared by many others this year, which is the move away from frenzied collecting of the latest trending plants.
Instead, they're seeing a noticeable shift towards more curated choices of lower-maintenance classics hobbyists expect to keep in their collection for the long-term.
Although the more dramatic Alocasia still got the expert's top vote for Houseplant of the Year here in New Zealand, I'm delighted to hear it's back to basics in 2026 in general.
#3. The A Team
As also predicted in 2025's trends, Alocasia and close-friend Anthurium are still having their moment in 2026.
Personally, my under-watering style works better for Anthurium, who I find don't mind drying out a little more between watering than the moisture-loving Alocasia; but I do have a soft spot for Alocasia despite their higher-maintenance ways.
I'm one of those people who often gets stuck in the 'one leaf club' (when Alocasia seem determined to drop one leaf everytime a new leaf is on the way). Although, since I started fertilising more regularly and at a higher dose, and keeping the substrate more moist than I would typically, I seem to have cancelled my club membership (touch wood).
My current stand-out is my gifted Alocasia odora variegata 'Batik' (thank you Yuki from Rare Plantation), which is making me look great right now (although I have heard it's one of the hardier variegated Alocasia). Thanks to tissue culture there are lots more exciting new Alocasia varieties coming in 2026 (yes, even in New Zealand).
#4. Back to Green
This prediction surprised me at first, but I totally see where it's come from with the shift back to the easy-care classics.
Maybe hobbyists are over the drama. Maybe they haven't tried Silica yet to help prevent premature browning of those gorgeous variegated leaves.
Whatever the reason, there's a shift happening away from higher-maintenance, variegated beauties, and embracing our sometimes forgotten, hardier, easier-care, all-green plant friends.
However, I have to give a shout out to my bestie the Golden Pothos for being both variegated AND hardy. Yes, you can have both.
Above: Golden Pothos
#5. P's & Q's
If it starts with a P it could be trending in 2026. This was another trend I questioned when I saw other hobbyist's trends, but it later made perfect sense alongside the shift back to the easy-care, long-lived classics.
Say Please and Thank You in 2026 to Philodendrons, Pothos and Peace Lilies.
I am 100% here for this trend. When I hit serious plant overwhelm a couple of years ago, I was so grateful for my hardy 'P plants' that tolerated me having all-but-disappeared from their lives due to Too. Many. Plants.
Like the classic green Heartleaf Philodendron, variegated Golden Pothos and (my personal fave), the Picasso Peace Lily.
If you haven't seen a Picasso Peace Lily yet, you need to go on the waitlist with PlantHouse, (unless you happen to lucky and catch them in stock). Because wow, these are the easiest care of all the highly variegated plants I've ever owned. I may have accidentally ended up with three Picassos in my collection right now, oops.
Above: Picasso Peace Lily
BONUS #6. Variegation Trends
That's not to say the love of variegation is going away anytime soon but the experts predict variegation trends are set to change this year.
Shifting away from higher-contrast, dual white and green, and heading towards more subtle shades, marbled and multi-shade variegation, such as tri-colour and even quad-colour variegation, like the Philodendron 'Orange Marmalade'.
Expect to see more silvery grey-green and mint-green variegation this year also, like Monstera 'Bulbasaur' and the variegated Alocasia Dragon Scale Mint.
Overall, I'm loving the trends this year. I'm here for the back to bread-and-butter basics and the refound focus on the classics. It feels like the love of the hobby after the hype is taking centre stage in 2026.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anna is the owner of plant store Love That Leaf which specialises in products and advice for indoor plants. She is also the resident writer for NZ Gardener magazine on the topic of indoor plants. You'll see her houseplant care articles in magazines in-stores NZ-wide, and online on Stuff, The Post, NineHoney and more.