The Heliotropic Carousel, designed by Hugo & Green for the Houseplant Studios, is an indoor garden installation exploring how plants respond to light and how indoor spaces can be shaped around that natural behaviour.
The concept is based on heliotropism, the biological process in which plants orient towards the sun in order to maximise photosynthesis. In psychology, the term is also used more broadly to describe a tendency towards a positive direction or outlook.
In the installation, plants are placed on a slow-moving rotating structure designed to shift their exposure to sunlight throughout the day. The motion is described as calm and continuous, similar to a carousel, with the intention of varying light levels across the planting over time. The structure sits within a glass garden room designed to capture light from east to west. The building is enclosed in glass on all sides, while a roof element is intended to reduce the impact of the strongest summer sunlight. Artificial grow lighting is also included to supplement natural light during winter months or periods of low daylight.
The planting has been selected to respond to these changing conditions, including species that open and close in response to sunlight and foliage plants that tend to orient towards brighter areas. Oxalis triangularis is included for its characteristic leaf movement in response to light. Anthurium is displayed in some instances grown in water. Euphorbia tirucalli is included as a drought-tolerant succulent species suited to bright conditions. Dracaena reflexa is used as an adaptable foliage plant, while Caryota mitis provides a distinctive palm structure with unusual leaf form.
The designers describe the space as changing function throughout the day in response to light. It is intended to support different uses depending on conditions, including morning use with natural light, informal working, quiet rest, and social activity later in the day. The installation is also framed around the idea of slower, more plant-centred indoor environments that respond to natural rhythms.
The Heliotropic Carousel forms part of the Houseplant Studios feature at the show, a series of indoor garden rooms created by different studios and assessed within the RHS exhibition framework. The 2026 show marks the sixth year that Malvern Garden Buildings has supported the Houseplant Studios at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which focus on indoor planting and garden room design.
The installation is created by Hugo & Green, founded by John Kitchin and Stevie Kitchin. John Kitchin has previously worked in indoor plant care and display maintenance, as well as visual merchandising, and established the business following redundancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company opened its first shop in Horsham in 2021 and later expanded with a flagship store in Brighton in 2023.
The installation is sponsored by Ladybird Plantcare, which specialises in biological pest controls for indoor plant care, using natural predators such as mites, nematodes and ladybirds to manage plant pests without chemical pesticides.
“At the Heliotropic Carousel, we’re showing how you can work with nature rather than against it, using beneficial insects to keep plants healthy and thriving. It’s a really simple, effective approach that more and more people are starting to embrace,” explained Tessa Cobley, owner Ladybird Plantcare.
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