Chaos gardening helps native plants take root
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Native plants grow wild in a downtown yard. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
Chaos gardening — the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and "letting nature decide" — is taking root as demand for native plants is rising.
Why it matters: Native chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also support local wildlife.
The big picture: "'I've seen the benefits," Bobby Jean Avery-Kimball, president of the Central Indiana chapter of the Indiana Native Plant Society, tells Axios. "The beauty of the plants and seeing how I've welcomed nature back into my yard … all these birds that visit and butterflies."
- Native species improve ecosystems and help address climate pressures.
- Chaos gardening complements that philosophy as native plants generally require less maintenance since they're built to thrive in our environment.
- "That's the benefit of native plants," Avery-Kimball said. "You don't have to babysit them."
Catch up quick: Chaos gardening embraces a less structured approach to planting: Scatter seeds, observe what survives and let soil, sunlight and water determine the outcome.
- The trend overlaps naturally with native gardening because both prioritize welcoming nature back into yards — even if the results look a little "chaotic."
What they're saying: "Everybody is getting on the bandwagon and it's really a great thing to see," Avery-Kimball said of the turn to wild, native gardening.
- Where an all-turf lawn used to be the norm, she said more people are seeing the benefits of alternative yards.
- "I don't have to be a slave to mowing grass every Saturday if I have a garden," she said. "And it can still be made to look nice."
- Avery-Kimball calls her own yard "organized chaos."
Yes, but: Garden experts warn that tossing random seed packets into the yard doesn't always work as advertised.
Zoom in: The Indiana Native Plant Society has resources to help you get started.
- Avery-Kimball says butterfly milkweed, coreopsis and primrose are great native species for beginners.
- Her favorite is dogbane, also known as Indian hemp.
- "It's in bloom for a good solid four months during the summer and almost covered with pollinators," she said.
The bottom line: Chaos gardening may look carefree online, but experts say the best results come from pairing experimentation with intention.