Around the show at Chelsea 2021 The best plants and products to look out for
Alongside the show gardens, RHS Chelsea Flower Show is renowned for its unparalleled plant displays in the Great Pavilion and its exciting garden accessory exhibits, many launching new products. Here are a few highlights
Somerset-based, edible plant specialist Pennard Plants (1) is teaming up with seed producer Burpee Europe to pay tribute to the humble tomato. This unique display, based around the forthcoming book Ten Tomatoes That Changed The World by William Alexander, celebrates the fruit’s history, beauty and practical uses. Stand GPB150. pennardplants.com
Surreal Succulents (2) will launch x Semponium ‘Sienna’ at this year’s show. Bred by Daniel Michael, this intergeneric hybrid is the world’s first official cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The fast-growing succulent grows in a conical shape and boasts an array of beautiful reds in the spring, and is all the more attractive in being easy to grow in a variety of locations – gravel garden, patio or windowsill – in free-draining, peat-fee soil. Stand GPE235. surrealsucculents.co.uk
Leading garden designer Ann-Marie Powell has designed a display for outdoor furniture designer Gaze Burvill around the themes of wellbeing and tranquillity, to highlight the importance of our relationship with nature and the need for sustainable, locally sourced materials. The garden comprises two areas: Hampshire Wild, inspired by the woodlands of southeast England, evokes a quiet space for reflection, while Rural Refined captures the pleasure of outdoor entertaining and features Gaze Burvill’s new Curved Splash Lounge. Tapping into the autumnal season, coloured cushions will complement Ann-Marie’s stunning planting. Stand MA331. gazeburvill.com
Another garden-focused stand will be Muck’s Allotment wellbeing garden, which focuses on the therapeutic benefits of gardening. This collaboration between the Original Muck Boot Company (3) and Kirsty Ward – better known on Instagram as my_little_allotment – will feature upcycled sculptures, seating made from recycled wood and lots of bee-friendly planting, and is designed to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of gardening. There’s also a chance to catch a glimpse of the Muck Boot’s new, light-duty Duck Lace Leather boots. Stand AR516. muckbootcompany.co.uk
Glasshouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic (4) will host a stand showcasing more than 80 years of trading. Four beautiful, handmade structures will represent a different era, each dressed with plants and accessories to reflect the relevant decade.
Alitex will also appear, promoting a theme of reduce, reuse and recycle with a display of two sustainable greenhouses and gardens: The Scotney, which demonstrates the possibilities for growing your own, and The Ickworth, featuring luxurious, re-loved accessories by Lamb & Newt. Find Hartley Botanic at stand SR33, hartleybotanic.co.uk; Alitex at MA334, alitex.co.uk
At its debut in the Great Pavilion, Grow Tropicals (5) will unveil a giant terrarium, showcasing a variety of South American plant species. Expect to find aroids, such as Anthurium clidemioides with its deeply textured leaves, and some rarer examples not previously seen at Chelsea. These unusual specimens reflect the growing interest and trend in houseplants and indoor gardening. Stand GPF214. growtropicals.com
Making the most of an autumn Chelsea, Parigo Horticultural (6) will exhibit a wide range of altroemerias at the peak of their flowering season (June to October), showcasing the stunning colour range of this beautiful, repeat-flowering plant. Stand GPE228. parigo.co.uk
Ocean Plastic Pots (7) has been chosen as the winner of the RHS’s inaugural Sustainable Garden Product of the Year award. Mindful of the vast amount of plastic in our seas, and its detrimental effect on marine life, the company makes plant pots from discarded fishing nets and recycled rope, offering a sustainable solution to overreliance on non-biodegradable products. Stand EA447. oceanplasticpots.com
The Parlsey Box Garden, designed by Alan Williams, is to feature two new pieces by sculptor Simon Gudgeon. The sweeping, bronze sculptures, titled Amorous, stand at 85cm high and embody a reverse heart design. The aim is to challenge stereotypes around ageing, and to portray the power of sculpture and the beauty it offers in a garden. Plot RHW286. simongudgeon.com