As the green industry continues to evolve, so do the materials that power it. The 2025–2026 landscape season is being shaped by regional climate shifts, evolving design standards, labor constraints, and growing sustainability demands, all of which directly impact how contractors and buyers source landscape materials.
Here are the key trends shaping what’s being specified, stocked, and shipped in the months ahead.
Designers and municipalities alike are pushing for plant palettes that support biodiversity and require less ongoing maintenance. That means buyers are seeing more requests for:
This is especially true in commercial and municipal bids, where regulatory guidelines are reinforcing ecological performance over aesthetic novelty.
Tip: Sourcing native material early is critical, especially in regions where supplier field availability is limited or demand peaks during short planting windows.
With labor costs rising and maintenance crews stretched thin, landscape contractors are turning to plant selections that offer visual impact without requiring ongoing care. The emphasis is on durability, longevity, and performance in tough conditions, especially for large-scale commercial or municipal jobs.
Popular plant categories gaining traction:
We're seeing more project specs favor plants that establish quickly and thrive with minimal inputs, which reduces site maintenance and supports long-term landscape success. For buyers, that means sourcing decisions need to account not just for aesthetics, but also for install efficiency and maintenance ROI.
Procurement patterns are shifting. Instead of waiting until the week before install, many buyers are coordinating material availability weeks, if not months, before the job breaks ground.
Key drivers:
Procurement professionals who succeed in this new landscape are treating material sourcing like project management: planning with buffers, coordinating across vendors, and looking for tools that offer consolidated visibility.
Green infrastructure isn't a trend, it's the new normal. Buyers are fielding more requests for materials that align with sustainable development goals and certifications like LEED, SITES, or local stormwater regulations.
On the rise:
Landscape professionals are not just sourcing for performance, they're sourcing to meet policy, compliance, and reporting benchmarks.
Buyers are spending more time thinking about logistics, not just SKUs. Freight costs, lead times, and shipment coordination are now directly impacting project timelines and profitability.
What’s becoming standard:
This isn’t just about finding the right plant, it’s about making sure it arrives on time and in spec.
The most effective landscape firms in 2025–2026 will be those that treat material procurement as a critical part of project delivery. That means knowing what to expect from the supply chain, staying ahead of seasonal trends, and using data and digital tools to drive smarter decisions.
At LandscapeHub, we track these trends daily across a national network of buyers and suppliers. If you’re planning a large-scale project or coordinating complex material needs, we can help you get visibility across regions and streamline fulfillment from takeoff to install.
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