Girlypop Biosphere was Plant Studio’s immersive houseplant exhibit for the RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026—and it won an RHS Gold Medal.
Inspired by late-90s and early-2000s femininity, it brought together bright colour, kitsch decoration, playful excess and a lot of plants that absolutely refused to be background greenery.
Created with support from Breeze House and Livingreen Design.
The idea
Houseplants are often presented as calm, tasteful and restorative. Girlypop asked what happens when they’re allowed to be energetic, gaudy, sentimental and fun instead.
The colours weren’t there to be subtle. The unusual textures weren’t meant to blend in. The whole exhibit explored girlhood and femininity within indoor horticulture, using plants as something expressive rather than polite.
It was grown-up nostalgia with the volume turned all the way up.
Caladiums, Crotons, Fittonias, Ficus, Philodendrons and Bromeliads proved that foliage can deliver every bit as much colour as a flower—sometimes considerably more.
Philodendrons, Alocasias and Ficus created height and structure, with lime, orange and copper new growth adding drama beyond giant green leaves.
Neoregelias, Cryptanthus, Aechmeas and Tillandsias brought sculptural shapes, extraordinary textures and colour that looked almost manufactured.
Rhipsalis, Lepismium, Epiphyllum, Selenicereus and Hoyas challenged the idea that every cactus belongs in a desert—or needs to look spiky.
Aeoniums, Echeverias, Agaves and other succulents brought architectural shapes and intense colour developed through careful acclimatisation to stronger light.
Caudiciforms, carnivorous plants, Tradescantias, Silver Squill and a rescued Cissus made room for the best possible question: “What on earth is that?”
The thing underneath all the pink
Every plant in Girlypop taught us something. Some needed patience. Some challenged advice we’d accepted for years. Others adapted to conditions we never expected them to enjoy.
The more time we spend growing plants, the less interested we are in one perfect set of rules. Plants respond, change and surprise us. Good care starts with paying attention.
Girlypop was really about giving living things the right environment to become their loudest, strangest and most vibrant selves.
Because obviously the biosphere needed its own personality quiz. Find out which Girlypop plant matches your energy.
