The Horticultural Trades Association National Plant Show, now in its thirteenth year, has established itself as the premier plant show for the garden retail and nursery industry. We’re delighted to have the support of the RHS in sponsoring our annual New Plant Awards at the Show.
Once again, over 100 entries were received this year, demonstrating not only the importance of the New Plant Awards to the trade, but also the depth of plant breeding that we are currently seeing.
The judging panel chose the foxglove entered by Bransford Webbs – Digitalis ‘Apple Blossom’ – as Best in Show, and that was an outstanding winner for me too. The long flowering of the sterile flowers, which apparently are still loved by bees, and extended flowering period due to its magnificently multi-stemmed flowers, suggests that this will be a great garden performer. Some have likened the split blooms, which open pale primrose and fade to pink, to those of orchids, and there is certainly a resemblance.
Although not in flower at the Show, the Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’ – a stable mate of the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year for 2024, Prunus ‘Starlight’ – is a welcome addition to the late-winter flowering trees suitable for the smaller garden.
Of the two indoor houseplants that topped their categories, I can see Aglaonema Grand Blossom, with its sumptuous-looking and highly coloured leaves, being in strong demand, and the double-flowered Cyclamen Illusia, with its unusually held petals, catching the eye of consumers and houseplant enthusiasts.
For succulent enthusiasts – and there are many – the Cotyledon ‘Elephant Trunk’ is a fun and easy plant to cultivate. Each leaf looks like a grey elephant trunk raised to smell the air.
