Discover the stars of the show
It's easy to miss some real gems hidden away in the sheer size of the world's biggest flower show at Hampton Court Palace, so don't leave without hunting out these stars from Susyn Andrews, of the RHS Woody Plant Committee.
And first on the list is one of the easiest-to-grow plants you'll ever find - lavender. If you're new to gardening, or just enjoy scent, then lavender is the one for you.
It's not just lavender and white either, it comes in a huge range of tones - and the Derrydown Nursery stand in the Floral Marquee is one of the best places to compare colours and inspire yourself to mix and match them too.
Three particular examples took Susyn's eye - all bred in New Zealand from Lavendula augustifolia.
- 'Thumbelina Leigh' is very small, very compact and will flower for a long time. It's new to the UK.
- 'Melissa Lilac' is a pale mauve variety. "It looks fantastic," raved Susyn.
- 'Blue Ice' is white, blue and even has shades of green in it. "It's a very different colouration," says Susyn.
Susyn's Top Tip: Grow lavenders on a hot, dry, free-draining site. Trim plants back before the end of august, but never cut back into dead wood.
More tips on growing lavender
More 'must-see' gems in the Floral Marquee
Hippopottering Nurseries: Acer palmatum 'Chikumano' has leaves that turn red with a green flush. "It's colouration is very unusual," said Susyn.
Burncoose: Lomatia ferruginea - it's in full flower and it's perfect!
Plantbase: Deutzia scabra 'Robert Fortune' (pictured). Named after the famous plant hunter.
The Big Plant Nursery: Ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga' - a very good specimen.