Chaos Gardening: The Social Media Trend Embracing Horticultural Spontaneity

Chaos gardening is a social-media-fueled movement gaining traction among gardeners seeking a rebellion against traditional horticulture. It eschews planning, skill, and experience, relying instead on chance and whim, as exemplified by TikTok videos with millions of views. The practice is distinct from the English garden aesthetic or the modern-meadow movement, emphasizing serendipity and mistakes. Notable proponents include The Chaos Gardener and Farm Boy James. The trend has ancient roots in plant diversity, such as the 'three sister' crops, and has been traced to farmer Gabe Brown's regenerative experiments. Ecologist Douglas Tallamy cautions against the term but acknowledges the potential ecological benefits of converting lawns to diverse plantings. The author's own experiment in Brooklyn, involving seeds from blackberry lily, cardinal climber, and others, resulted in an unexpected early sprout. The movement raises questions about density and thinning, as noted by gardener Jo Thompson. Research indicates that diversity-encouraging interventions in small gardens have disproportionately positive effects.