Our first Plant Heritage zone at RHS Chelsea was very popular, with thanks to the National Collection Holders who created some inspiring, colourful and informative displays:
Iris, Sir Cedric Morris introductions, plus the Florilegium (art work) – Sarah Cook (gold medal)
- Cornus (excl. Cornus florida cultivars) – Newby Hall Gardens (gold medal)
- Cosmos bipinnatus cultivars - Jonathan Sheppard (gold medal)
- Iris (Bearded) and Paeonia (hybrid herbaceous) - both Claire Austin Hardy Plants (silver gilt and silver medals)
- Rhododendron (Cox hybrids) – Glendoick Gardens Ltd. (silver gilt medal)
- Digitalis – Botanic Nursery/Mary Baker (silver gilt medal)
On the Plant Heritage central display (which won a silver medal), we showcased plants provided by more National Collection holders: Geum – Maria Heffer and Sue Martin; Heuchera and x Heucherella – Vicki and Richard Fox, Plantagogo; Streptocarpus – Dibleys' Nurseries; Camassia – Hare Spring Cottage Plants; and Baptisia – Daniel Simbrey.
More nurseries who have National Collections did their own displays in the Grand Pavilion, and the Wildlife Trust garden by Zoe Claymore (which won the People's Choice award) included rare ferns from a National Collection, so Plant Heritage really was everywhere.
Thank you to the RHS and the Shanly Foundation for their support of the Plant Heritage zones at RHS Chelsea and RHS Hampton.
President of Plant Heritage, Alan Titchmarsh visited the Collection Holders in the Plant Heritage zone at RHS Chelsea
Sue and Jeremy Heffer who brought their Geum National Collection, plus some of Sue Martins' Geum to Chelsea
View of the Plant Heritage zone at RHS Chelsea including first time display of Rhododendron by Ken Cox of Glendoick Nursery, Paeonia from Claire Austin Hardy Plants and Iris (Sir Cedric Morris) by Sarah Cook
Lucinda Compton and Lawrence Wright from Newby Hall, both delighted with their RHS Gold Medal for their first display at RHS Chelsea 2025
Mary Baker with her National Plant Collection of Digitalis
Jonathan Sheppard delighted with his first RHS Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea 2025
© Plant Heritage
Our Plant Heritage zone yet at RHS Hampton Court included 13 National Collections. There were a dozen more National Collections included as part of displays by nurseries throughout the marquee.
The winners of the best display in the Plant Heritage zone were Dibleys Nurseries with Petrocosmea, Streptocarpus and Saintpaulia (gold medal). Three National Collection holders exhibited for the first time: Jess Dighton of Botanica Plant Collections Ltd with Santolina (silver gilt medal), who was swamped after her appearance on Gardeners’ World TV; Simon Poole of Mintopia with his collection of Mentha (silver-gilt medal), which smelled fantastic in the heat; and Jenny Prosser of Devon with Liatris, which she exhibited alongside artworks (silver medal). Jonathan Hogarth exhibited his collection of Hosta (small and miniature) (silver gilt medal). Barry Clarke showed his National Collections of Asclepias & Gomphocarpus, Calycanthus and Roscoea (silver medal), along with Cornus from the National Collection held at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. Special congratulations to Paul Harris of Brookfield Plants who won a gold medal for his Hemerocallis display after 20 years.
Jess Dighton of Botanica Collections Ltd - with her first time display of the National Plant Collection of Santolina
Si Poole of Mintopia and Bec with the first time display of Mentha at RHS Hampton, awarded an RHS Silver Gilt medal
Paul Harris with his RHS Gold Medal for his display of his National Plant Collection of Hemerocallis
Mellie Lewis with her exhibit of Aeonium - interspecific hybrids, awarded an RHS Silver Gilt medal
Jenny Prosser with her first time display of her National Plant Collection of Liatris
Barry Clarke showcasing some of his four National Plant Collections
Awarded best in the Plant Heritage zone at RHS Hampton - Dibleys Nursery were delighted as they showcased their extensive National Plant Collection of Petrocosmia, alongside Streptocarpus and Saintpaulia
Jonathan Hogarth with his education display of Hosta (minature and small)