The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is upon us again — starting on Tuesday, and kicking off the British summer. We’ve had a fabulous spring and growers will worry (they always worry — it shows how much they care) that perhaps it’s been too fabulous and their mollycoddled plants will have finished flowering come showtime. These are, however, horticultural magicians so they will no doubt have a plan B (not to mention C, D and E) up their soil-spattered sleeves.
The number of large show gardens is down this year, with just six in total. Part of the brief these days is that the gardens should have a legacy and live on after the show, so most are transported and adapted to a new home. That’s an important development but it does add to the price. Project Giving Back is an organisation that is generously funding or part-funding four of the six charity-based large show gardens, as well as several in the other categories. Next year is its last planned year of involvement, so I guess the RHS will be working hard on a plan.
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Thanks to social media we often get an early sneak peek of the Chelsea Flower Show: designers making nursery visits, features being created in workshops and images of on-site builds as the gardens begin to come together. None of that detracts from the excitement for me, however. Walking into the show feels as thrilling as ever — seeing these creations first hand, perhaps witnessing a new approach (he says, sidestepping the term “gardening trends”) and then debating with friends as to which are our favourites and which medals may be handed out. There are no set limits to how many golds, silver gilts, silvers or bronzes are awarded but, to be in with a shout to win the much coveted best show garden, you must have already earned a gold medal. Whatever the judges decide, we all have our favourites and the people’s choice award (voted for at the show or online by the public) is a huge deal for the winning designer. Here is a rundown of this year’s gardens.
The show gardensHospice UK: Garden of Compassion
by Tom Hoblyn
This garden is inspired by the Olive Houses, two architectural off-grid houses in the Tramuntana mountains, Mallorca, set in the Mediterranean landscape to create a powerful sense of being grounded in nature. Hoblyn is using large rocks and some beautifully constructed dry stone wallsand has divided the plot into “rooms”, with a mix of open (communal) and secluded (private) spaces. Sculptural benches and water bowls punctuate the space. The dry planting palette includes soft silvers, olive greens, vibrant blues, burnt oranges and warm yellows. It looks cohesive, wonderfully textural and beautifully built — now we just need some hot weather to set it off. After the show the garden is being relocated to St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham.
The Glasshouse Garden
by Jo Thompson
The Glasshouse is a fabulous charity supporting women in UK prisons, who receive horticultural training, employment and resettlement support. The charity won a gold medal last year in the house plants studio category. This year Jo Thompson has designed a large garden, which is a big step up. It’s an immersive space centred on a translucent elliptical pavilion — the glasshouse, I guess, but this one is rather fancy, with coloured tints to reflect the planting palette. A narrow rill (stream) winds its way through the space, connecting different areas and ending in a reflective pool. Thompson loves her roses so it’s not surprising that there will be plenty, inspired by the notion of “strong beauty” in a palette of deep reds and muted pinks. The garden will be relocated to a women’s prison in the south of England after the show.
Kazukuki Ishihara Japanese Tea Garden draws on many cultural influences
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Cha No Niwa: Japanese Tea Garden
by Kazukuki Ishihara
Kazukuki Ishihara has designed umpteen gardens at Chelsea, mesmerising visitors with his exquisite attention to detail. They are always Japanese-themed gardens, although sometimes with a twist. The theme of his large show garden is communication and harmony, and the design is inspired by Fushikaden (The Flowering Spirit) by Zeami, a playwright from the Muromachi period, as well as the teachings of Ikenobo, the head school of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. The design looks classic, set on levels with areas of raked gravel and a central studio. The restricted planting includes trees commonly seen in the Japanese countryside, such as maples, enkianthus, hornbeam and iris. Ishihara always does well and if he gets another gold the celebrations will be huge.
The Hospitalfield Arts Garden focuses on resilient coastal planting in sand dunes
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The Hospitalfield Arts Garden
by Nigel Dunnett
Nigel Dunnett is known for his ecological and sustainable approach to gardens, landscapes and public spaces, and he’s has done many Chelsea gardens in the past. This year’s takes its inspiration from the location of Hospitalfield Arts on the east coast of Scotland, with its precious sand dune landscape. It’s an abstract representation of this natural habitat, with a focus on dune topography and resilient coastal planting. An artist’s studio sits at the heart of the design, nestled into sand banks. The coastal-themed planting uses resilient plants such as Tamarix ramosissima, Euphorbia mellifera, Armeria maritima and Geranium palmatum. The make-or-break will be the stylised sand dunes, from how they’re fabricated to their scale in the overall design. The garden will be relocated to Ladyloan Primary School, Arbroath, Angus.
One of the screen-printed panels in The King’s Trust Garden
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The King’s Trust Garden: Seeding Success
by Joe Perkins
At the age of 43, and having designed a few gardens, Joe Perkins can now be classed as a Chelsea veteran. His garden looks interesting and makes a subtle connection with the charity. It focuses on pioneer plants and how their seeds represent the potential for life, growth and optimism, drawing parallels with the potential held in young people. A key feature will be the screen-printed glass panels woven through, representing seed dispersal. Perkins will be praying for some sunshine throughout the week to filter through these nicely. Tall pines tower above the garden and, beneath, self-seeders such as alliums and poppies do their thing. The garden will be redesigned to accommodate its final destination at Uxbridge College, west London, where it will be used, developed and maintained by students enrolled on the King’s Trust programme and the local community.
The Avanade Intelligent Garden
by Tom Massey and Je Ahn
These two seem to make a Chelsea garden just about every year and I’m exhausted just thinking about the amount of work they put in. Last year’s Water Aid garden was a triumph. This year the garden is sponsored by a Microsoft AI partner. It’s an urban forest garden that supports trees and highlights all the good they bring to a city. The garden will no doubt look great — there’s a fabulous-looking pavilion made from trees that had ash dieback, and textured mycelium panels but, of course, there’s a twist (or is it a gimmick?): the AI element. Sensors will track the trees’ health through an app, supposedly monitoring growth, sap flow, soil conditions, air quality and weather patterns. That means visitors can learn how they’re doing and what care they may need.
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Small show gardens
What were once named sanctuary/artisan gardens are now classified as small show gardens, which frankly keeps it nice and simple for us. There are ten in this category.
The Pathway Garden
by Allon Hoskin and Robert Beaudin of Modular garden design
Representing the work that the charity Pathway does for homeless people, the Pathway Garden is made up of interconnecting spaces yet keeps an open feel, with no dead ends. Everything is made from recycled materials and no cement is used in its construction. The construction detailing I’ve seen looks fab: the bench and pergola form a sheltered resting place, with the water feature providing an opportunity for reflection. The planting is for a moist garden (one that’s been left so plants naturally regenerate by self-seeding, naturalising and colonising), set in the dappled shade of alder and hazel trees. The garden is being relocated to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, after the show.
The domed pavilion roof at Boodle Raindance Garden
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Boodle Raindance Garden
by Catherine MacDonald
Catherine MacDonald is back for the second year in a row and hoping for a gold this time. Her theme is simple: a family garden to relax in, inspired by the impact of water on stone. A domed pavilion roof channels rainwater into a circular rill at its base, symbolising the “dance of rain on water”. The colour palette has been chosen to work with the platinum-coloured water features, while seating areas provide moments of tranquillity amid the lush greenery, creating a serene and restful atmosphere.
London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden
by Dave Green
Dave Green’s garden has been designed with a simple brief: a place for the pensioners who live at the Royal Hospital to share or to enjoy quiet reflection. It’s a woodland setting and Green does woodland planting beautifully — he walked off with a gold and best show garden at Hampton Court a few years ago. A bespoke bench is upholstered in recycled pensioners’ scarlet uniforms, and there will be a world map table to encourage the pensioners, their families and visiting veterans to come together in a secluded spot. The garden is being relocated to the Prince of Wales Court in the grounds of the Royal Hospital.
Addleshaw Goddard Freedom to Flourish Garden
by Carey Garden Design Studio
Joe and Laura Carey are career changers, only getting into garden design five years ago. Previously Joe worked as a teacher and Laura was an illustrator. It was the right move: they won a gold for their first Chelsea garden in 2023. This year their design encourages us all to slow down and explores the benefits to mental health of living an unhurried lifestyle, spending time in nature and getting involved in gardening (hear, hear!). Inspired by the landscape of north Norfolk, the garden features gabions filled with natural materials, representing coastal cliffs and providing habitats for wildlife. The planting palette has a base colour of sandy tones in the bark of feature trees such as Heptacodium miconioides, and flowering grasses.
British Red Cross Here for Humanity Garden
by John Warland and Tom Bannister
The garden is inspired by Henri Dunant, the visionary Swiss founder of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement, and the countless volunteers who have dedicated their lives to supporting people in crisis in the UK and overseas. It’s a twist on an alpine garden, with large stone column-like planters that mimic traditional trough alpine displays, plus areas of scree and crevice planting that allow for a unique collection of plants to be shown. It looks theatrical and intriguing, which it would be with John Warland and Tom Bannister behind it. The garden will be relocated to the grounds of Maudsley Hospital in south London.
Killik & Co ‘Save for a Rainy Day Garden’
by Baz Grainger
Baz Grainger’s garden last year was very popular and accessible — it had an “outdoor room” type feel, which is what many would want in their own space. This year’s design looks even more ambitious. There is plenty of flowing water as the garden aims to manage flooding while also promoting water harvesting to ensure precious water reserves for dry periods. It’s a modern family garden with resilient trees such as Zelkova serrata and Pinus mugo ‘Mughus’, which can endure drought, flooding and rising temperatures.
The hexagonal tiling reflects the chemical structure in medications in the Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden
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Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden
by Manoj Malde
This garden draws inspiration from the significant scientific and medical advancements made in HIV treatment over the past 40 years. Statues by the artist Ralph Bourdoukan serve as a tribute to lives lost, while hexagonal paving reflects a key chemical structure found within many HIV medications. A covered gazebo offers a tranquil space for reflection and supportive discussions. Designed in collaboration with the charity ambassador and former rugby player Gareth Thomas, the garden is being relocated to Calthorpe community garden in King’s Cross, north London.
The Garden of the Future features climate-resilient crops
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Garden of the Future
by Matthew Butler and Josh Parker
The Garden of the Future is set not so far from now, when countries all over the world, including the UK, will experience higher-than-average temperatures, more extreme weather, periods of drought and sudden heavy rainfall. Planting spills over the roof of the rammed-earth building surrounded by beds of climate-resilient crops and planting in a pink, purple and white palette. A dip tank makes up part of a system of rainwater harvesting, integral to the climate-friendly design.
Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden
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Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden
by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall
This garden hopes to change visitors’ perceptions of the lives of people with Down’s syndrome, and is inspired by the co-designer Duncan Hall’s nephew, Liam. It’s a semi-wooded garden with a crazy paving path running through two main areas of planting, each conveying contrasting moods. A building at the end of the path is surrounded by tall river birch trees with delicate hanging branches to feel like a comforting hug, reflecting the affection often displayed by people with Down’s syndrome. The garden will be relocated to the garden managed in partnership with Down’s Syndrome Scotland by the charity Watch US Grow, at Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire.
The whites and greens zone at Children with Cancer UK ‘A Place to Be …’
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Children with Cancer UK ‘A Place to Be …’
by Tom Clarke and Ros Coutts-Harwood
Tom Clarke is only 24 and this is his second year in a row at Chelsea. This garden shows his youth with a bright pinks and burgundy colour palette, a carefree design and a more “healing” whites and greens zone. It is a place where children recovering from cancer can be themselves, away from doctors, worried parents and their own fears. The Garden will go to Raines Retreat, North Yorkshire, the holiday retreat of the charity for the children and their families.
All about plants gardens
These are all supported by Project Giving Back and are found in the floral pavilion. There are four this year, with the emphasis on plants rather than hard landscaping. Keep an eye out for these two.
Seawilding
by Ryan McMahon
This garden looks interesting and aims to raise awareness of marine conservation. The design is inspired by the landscape found at Loch Craignish on the west coast of Scotland, home to the charity Seawilding. A sandstone step stone path leads to an informal rocky seating area within the garden, with a seagrass sculpture linking the areas. Seagrass is our only native flowering plant in the ocean and this is the first time it will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden
by Zoe Claymore
Inspired by the ambitious 100-year mission of the Wildlife Trusts and Aviva to bring rainforests back to the British Isles, this garden shares the story of this precious habitat, which once blanketed a fifth of our country and is now so rare that it covers only 1 per cent of the land. The garden is based on the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend and the space creates a sense of wonder as a domestic garden on the edge of a beautiful British rainforest. A raised wooden walkway takes visitors on a sensory journey under lichened boughs of trees over mounds of mosses.
• Monty Don: A window box can be as joyful as a big garden
Balcony gardens
These are tiny spaces turned into gardens, which need plenty of imagination and expertise to get right. There are five this year, including the two mentioned below.
A Space to Read Balcony Garden, sponsored by Viking
by Freddie Strickland and Ben Gifford
A balcony to take a seat and read or do a spot of gardening. The use of natural wood is a nod to the paper used in books. The garden features two small shelves for pots and storing books.
Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat
by Ssh Scapes, Sonia Kamel, Sally Giles and Helier Bowling
Quite a team effort, this one — I hope they can all fit on the balcony. It’s a taste of the Cairngorms in a tiny space and why not? It’s even got a copper bathtub too — what will the planners say? Designed for a busy professional couple who love the outdoors and want to recreate the environment for daily health benefits on their high-rise city balcony. Looks fun.
Container gardens
Many people have tiny spaces or no space at all to garden but there are still ways of designing with flair and running a narrative through it. Here are a couple to look out for — there are five in total this year.
MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden
by Hamzah-Adam Desai
I met Desai when he was just starting out, and now he’s at Chelsea. The garden explores colour therapy and the impact of colour on human perception. Planting is laid out to reference a colour wheel but in a 3D space, with contrasting leaf textures, shapes and flower colours for maximum impact.
Komorebi Garden
by Masa Taniguchi
Komorebi is a Japanese word for when light pierces through a tree canopy and the gently swaying branches make shadows dance on the ground. Here, a wooden platform is surrounded by a canopy of trees, creating a moment to contemplate and remember — delightful and right in the middle of Chelsea.
RHS exhibitsRHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden
by Monty Don
This is the only RHS exhibit garden this year and, while dogs are usually banned from Chelsea, I’m sure there’ll be dispensation for a few special ones in this garden on press day. At the centre of the space is a neatly mown lawn, essential for canine sprawling, sleeping, rolling, flopping and chasing balls. A large tree provides shade on the grass to stretch out on a warm afternoon while surrounded by alliums and topiary, a taste of Monty Don’s own garden at Longmeadow. Within the garden is a sectioned-off area for humans to enjoy, and for dogs to visit only when supervised by their owners. The Chelsea visitors will love it.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 20-24 May, tickets available here: rhs.org.uk