Category: Appearances

David Domoney is a Television Presenter and Chartered Horticulturalist who presents on several ITV programmes and also speaks at public events.

The 10 best black plants and flowers from RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Black plants make a great addition to anyone’s garden. They add depth and a new dimension to a planting scheme, and can even look opulent, especially if teamed with purples and reds.

Some people think of black plants as a bit morbid, but I think they’re mysterious and elegant. Plus it’s nice to have something a bit different and unexpected.

In truth, they are actually a deep purple rather than black. I used some in my Ace of Spades Chelsea garden in 2010, and they were all over at this year’s Show.

Here are my top 10 black plants from Chelsea this year:

Hyacinth Midnight Mystique

Viola perennis prunella

Fuchsia Maxima

Iris Black the Affair

Ophiopogon nigrescens

Aeonium Arboreum Schwartzkopf

Zantedeschia Black Star

Tulipa Queen of the Night

Phormium Platt’s Black

Black dahlia

Read about my favourite plants at this year’s show, and the weirdest!
May 21, 2014
My 10 favourite plants and flowers from Chelsea Flower Show

I love Chelsea Flower Show. It’s has a fantastic atmosphere, and it’s great to see so many people coming together over a love of horticulture.

My favourite thing to do is wander around and see all the plants that are on offer. The best place for this is actually inside the pavilion, where the growers set up stands to show off their best produce. They’re always happy to tell you a bit about them too! It’s a great way to pick up tips if you’re not sure how to care for a plant, or if you want to try something new.

Here are my ten favourite plants from this year’s show:

Scadoxus Multiflorous

This has to be my favourite flower this year. It looks like an allium, but it’s actually a scadoxus. It has bold flower heads and snazzy orange petals. I’ll be planting a few in my garden.

Auricula Star Wars No1

What a great name! Auriculas make great houseplants and this one has lovely delicate flowers with rich-coloured edging.

Daffodil Chromacolour

This daffodil has really bright, unusual colours. It really shone out from the display and will give any garden a burst of spring colour.

Chrysanthemum Zivena

Flowers with green petals are a great surprise to have in a flower bed or border. This is a big, bold plant that’s really different.

Clematis the Countess of Wessex

Clematis is a classic British plant. Every garden needs a climber for walls and fences, and this is a lovely modern twist on the traditional white flower.

Read about the best black plants from this year’s show!

Nectarascordam Tripedale

I love the delicate pink of these flowers. Pointy petals also bring a sharper edge to your beds and borders.

Fenella Strawberry

Who doesn’t love strawberries? They’re incredibly easy to grow in this country – try planting them in a strawberry pot for fresh fruit all summer! Did you know they’re also one of the only fruits whose seeds are on the outside? There were some fabulous displays at Chelsea this year.

Pinus Mugo

Bonsai trees never go out of fashion, and this one is a beauty. It’s like a miniature version of a full-sized tree! Plus they’re really easy to care for.

Check out the weirdest plants at Chelsea this year.

Fuchsia Wendy Bendy

Sometimes, you just need a burst of colour. Fuchsia is a fantastic flowering shrub, and this one has big bright blooms. They always make me think of summer.

Lily Hybrid Tiger Babies

This is a fantastic bold lily with great colours. It’ll add a wild element to your garden – they always look exotic.
May 21, 2014
Chelsea Flower Show 2009 Ace of Spades garden

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In 2009, I started my Aces series with the Ace of Spades Garden. I’ve also done Ace of Diamonds, and I’ve yet to do hearts and clubs.

This was inspired by the Ace of Spades biker anthem by Motorhead. The garden is wild and raw, and captures the chaotic freedom of the biker life.

The central pit is in the shape of a playing card spade and is decorated with airbrush artwork. There is also a large Ace of Spades made from old garden spades welded together.

The garden features many biker references, including planting in tyres, oil drums and bike parts.

I used dark plants in blacks, reds and purples such as black bamboo, black irises and black grasses. There we also silver varieties of plants to echo the chrome of the bike.

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For more garden planting ideas, check out my blog:

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Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:

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May 16, 2014