Growing conditions at Wisley, and the special interests of staff there, have resulted in the garden becoming well-known for certain special collections. In the Rock Garden Department, there are now excellent collections of bulbous plants, including two National Plant Collections (Crocus and Galanthus), and of Cyclamen species.
Committees
The RHS Rock Garden Plant Committee is a source of expertise for the Society for advice on all matters regarding rock garden and alpine plants. The committee is responsible for judging individual exhibits of rock garden and alpine plants, including hardy terrestrial orchids, at London Flower Shows, Chelsea and other nominated shows. It will only judge irises, rhododendrons, narcissus and tulips which are suitable for the rock garden or alpine house, when the relevant specialist committees are not meeting.
It is also responsible, through a sub-committee, for recommending plants for trial and for judging these trials. It will consider plants for the Award of Garden Merit and will encourage excellence in cultivation and the maintenance in cultivation of selected plant material which is considered to be at risk.
Group exhibits at the London Flower Shows are judged by the Rock Garden and Alpine Plant Group Committee. Those at Chelsea are judged by a Council-appointed Panel.
Plant committees
RHS Trials and Awards
The resident expertise is also exploited in support of various trials of rock garden and alpine plants at Wisley. Trials of interest include Corydalis, dwarf Penstemon and silver saxifrages (Saxifraga section Ligulatae).
Plant trials
Links
Alpine Garden Society