Walking into the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show and you’ll be immediately wowed by the stunning floral archway. It’s made of 10,000 pastel blooms and towers over the entrance. This breathtaking display of British-grown flowers was created in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday. And sets the scene for what’s in store for visitors.
What’s in Store?
There are amazing show gardens and floral displays. Rare and unusual plants, and everything plant and garden related. From gardening tools and furniture to the trendiest gardening threads to help you look good.
For me, one of the most exciting parts of the show every year are the new plants on display.
Standing right at the horticultural heart of the show is the Great Pavilion. Here over 100 exhibitors are vying for attention and that elusive gold medal from the RHS judges. This is where the best nurseries showcase plants to get their fellow gardeners’ tongues wagging.
My Favourites
With all this is in mind, here are 11 of my favourites plants from the 2016 show.
Roses
The pick of this year’s new plants starts with one of the Queen’s favourite flowers, roses.
‘Sandringham’ from Peter Beales is a deep pink, petal and heavily scented shrub rose. It was chosen by the Duchess of Cornwall from a selection presented to her at the Sandringham Flower Show in 2014. (www.classicroses.co.uk).
Sandringham
The English shrub rose ‘Roald Dahl’, from David Austin is also set to be a favourite. Its beautiful peach-coloured blooms have a stunning tea fragrance. Its fruity overtones give you the rich sensory experience of opening a new packet of leaf tea. Another gem in his collection is ‘Bathsheba’ with dynamic apricot-pink blooms and a complex myrrh scent. (www.davidaustin.co.uk).
Roald Dahl
Bathsheba
Harkness honoured the Great British Bake Off host and RHS Ambassador, Mary Berry, with her very own hybrid tea rose. It’s sweetly perfumed blooms are the colour of clotted cream and honey. Also from Harkness this year are ‘Hamilton Princess’ featuring rose pink flowers with wonderful perfume. And the floribunda ‘White Fox Rose’, which is gorgeously scented with elegant pearl-pink blooms (www.roses.co.uk).
Harkness
Hamilton Princess
White Fox Rose
Iris
Tall bearded iris always impress at Chelsea, and this year was no exception. Cayeux Iris has come up trumps with the beautiful ‘Terre’. A silex featuring white standards with aubergine muted edges over purple-black falls, and highlighted by a vivid burnt-red beard (www.iris-cayeux.com).
Acer
Hilliers drew the crowds with a spectacular display of the new chartreuse-lime leaved Acer ‘Shirasawanum Moonrise’. An extremely hardy, sun-tolerant and vigorous plant with carmine new growths. (www.hillier.co.uk)
Shirasawanum Moonrise
Rhododendrons
It’s the 100th birthday of the Rhododendron Society and expectations were high among enthusiasts this year. Millais Nurseries did not disappoint, bringing out eight new varieties. This, included the outstanding Dutch-bred ‘Prinses Maxima’. Which is hardy with smallish, weather-resistant heads of blush-pink flowers, heavily spotted in red. (www.rhododendrons.co.uk)
Prinses Maxima
Cottage Plants
Hardy’s cottage garden plants have six new varieties. Including an unusual white form of the popular thistle Cirsium rivulare called ‘Frosted Magic’. It’s perfect for prairie-style planting. Also standing out from Hardy’s are the Hebe ‘Celebration’. A vibrant and high-impact small shrub, and the beautiful red-petalled Geum, ‘Scarlet Tempest’. (www.hardys-plants.co.uk)
Cirsium rivulare ‘Frosted Magic’
Hebe ‘Celebration’
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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