Chelsea’s autumn blooms

As flower show moves to September, top designers share stunning garden ideas — and now’s the time to plant

With its immaculate lawns, tumbling cascades of flowers and artfully created water features, the Chelsea Flower Show is a highlight of the summer: a celebration of the enduring British passion for plants and gardens.

So when last year’s show had to be cancelled because of the pandemic, gardening fans were aghast. But this week the Royal horticultural Society announced that, for the first time ever, Chelsea would be moved from its customary date at the end of May to the autumn, running from September 21 to 26.

the news has sent shockwaves through the gardening world. Plants at their peak in May cannot be used again in September, and garden designers will be scrambling to order a whole new range of shrubs and flowers.

So don’t expect to see cottage garden favourites such as delphiniums, lupins, alliums or irises this year — the usual Chelsea palette of blues, pinks and whites looks set to be replaced by a blaze of hot purples, pinks, oranges and reds. ‘it will feel different because of the change in season, but it will still be the same magical show as always,’ says hattie Sherwood of the RhS.

Gardener Alan titchmarsh adds: ‘ the wealth of plants that can brighten our late summer and autumn gardens, and cheer us on our journey into winter, should inspire us as never before. An autumn Chelsea offers us a chance to broaden our gardening horizons.’

While there is no doubt that this year’s show will be very different from previous years, like most people i can’t wait.

here, four top garden designers share their exclusive concepts for a September garden.