Dazzling displays in the floral marquee

Phil Clayton, Features Editor of The Garden describes some of the highlights in the floral marquee.

Winners of the best exhibit in the marquee are Plantagogo.com of Cheshire, specialist growers of Heuchera and Tiarella who have used these foliage plants inspiringly in a woodland- like setting with spring flowers to show off the virtues of these plants to great effect.

Among plants to be admired are Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’ with leaves of warm glowing brown, H. Café Olé’ with dark purplish leaves, H. ‘Sugar Plum’ its leaves a silvery tapestry of blushing purple. The various hybrid x Heucherella combine attractive foliage with spires of little white flowers; look for ‘Brass Lantern’ with lobed reddish-brown foliage, and ‘Solar Power’ with bright yellow leaves bruised with red.

Primrose Bank of York (above) have produced a delightful display of largely spring flowering shrubs and perennials, including Fritillaria pallidiflora with its nodding ivory-green bells, a cascading Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’ with sprays of showy white flowers, choice woodlander Mertensia virginica which holds it bright blue bells above fresh green foliage and dainty Dicentra ‘King of Hearts’ with racemes of reddish pink flowers and delicate sea green fern-like foliage.

Craig House Cacti of Birmingham (above) have a display that will delight lovers of succulent plants. Look out for arresting Kalanchoe thrysifolia ‘Variegata’, its large smooth fleshy leaves, each variegated with blue-green and cream, and most strikingly edged with red. Among true cacti on display are Mammillaria spinossima with rose-pink flowers and pendant Pfeiffera monocantha, a forest cactus its strappy leaf-like stems edged with masses of small cup-shaped orange flowers.

Tale Valley of Devon (above) are growers of Alpine plants. Their exhibit features a small alpine house, glass removed, filled with a range of choice species, some potted, others planted in a small terrace. Eye catching are Lewisia tweedyi with peach-pink flowers, Dazzling Primula auricula ‘Piers Telford’ with blooms of orange, edged in black, and unusual variegated Bergenia cordifolia ‘Tubby Andrews’. Elsewhere, pots of Sempervivum and attractive foliage plant Beesia calthifolia are worth looking out for.

R.A Scamp Quality Daffodils (above) of Cornwall produced a dazzling, traditional display of daffodils, immaculate cut flowers arranged in vases on a tiered stand. Among the many choice selections on display are near orange Narcissus ‘Tamar Lass’, Double, peach- coloured ‘Mazzard’, Clear yellow ‘Nightcap’ and for lovers of smaller flowered selections, ‘Angel’s Whisper’ with tiny sulphur-yellow blooms.