What is chaos gardening? And why it works for Australian gardens

I’ve always gardened without much of a plan and I like it that way. At my local nursery, I raid the specials table for native Australian plants that are tired and unloved. At home, I tuck them into whatever gap I find in the garden. No grand design, no structure — just instinct. Over time, that randomness has created my garden to be a space that’s diverse, sculptural and full of character.

Turns out, there’s a name for this approach: chaos gardening.

What is chaos gardening?

Chaos gardening is all about letting go of strict garden plans and embracing spontaneity. Instead of carefully spacing plants or colour-coordinating beds, you scatter seeds, plant whatever you have to hand and allow nature to do the arranging.

It’s become a trend on TikTok and Instagram because it’s fun, creative and low-stress — but at its heart, it’s simply gardening in a way that gives more control back to nature. And we love that. 

Why chaos gardening makes sense in Australia

Chaos gardening isn’t just fun, it’s practical. In Australian conditions, diversity is an advantage:

• Resilience: A mixed planting can handle droughts, pests and changing seasons better than a uniform bed.
• Biodiversity: More flowers and plant types mean more pollinators, birds and beneficial insects.
• Natives thrive: Many Australian natives are hardy and adaptable, making them perfect for a more relaxed, scatter-planting style.
• Sustainability: Filling gaps with rescued plants or spare seeds reduces waste and creates a garden that feels natural, not staged.

My chaos gardening story

For me, chaos gardening began without even knowing it had a name. By rescuing those sad-looking natives from the nursery and dropping them into gaps, I stumbled on a process that created unexpected layers of texture and colour. I actually enjoyed the fact that I'd go to the nursery with no plan. 

I didn’t stress about spacing, symmetry, or whether two plants “matched.” Instead, I let the randomness unfold — and now the results make me happy every time I step into the garden and they've impressed others. 

What started as chance has become my distinct style.

Easy ways to start chaos gardening

Chaos gardening doesn’t need planning permission or hours of prep — it’s something you can try today.

• Scatter seeds: Grab a handful of mixed seed packets, scatter and let nature take over.
• Plant what you have: Got leftovers from seed trays or cuttings? Pop them into gaps rather than letting them go to waste.
• Mix it up: Forget matching colours or tidy rows. The joy of chaos gardening is seeing surprising combinations appear. Let yourself run wild. 
• Embrace the unexpected: Not everything will thrive — and that’s okay. What does grow will often delight you in ways you didn’t plan.

Why you should try chaos gardening

At the end of the day, chaos gardening is really just…gardening. Every gardener plants with a little hope — that something will take root, that a bloom will say hi, that the garden will grow.

What makes the “chaos” approach special is that it gives beginners permission to skip the overwhelm of plans and rules. You don’t need to know the Latin names, the perfect spacing or the colour scheme. You simply scatter, plant and see what happens. It’s freeing, creative and completely attainable.

There’s something magical in that — the not knowing. For me, that’s always been the heart of gardening. And if you’d like to try it yourself, our Native Seed Bombs are a simple, fun way to start.