Events

RHS March London Flower Show

Unusual spring-flowering bulbs

This show was themed around unusual spring bulbs, and the show featured together 30 of the UK’s best nurseries, many of whom introduced visitors to some of the lesser-known spring-flowering plants.

In what could be described as a slow start to this spring, it was amazing to see such a colourful show in the Lawrence Hall. Once again exhibitors from around the country delighted the visitors with a marvellous display of bulbs, flowers and plants from a wide range of genera. This month also saw the start of the amateur competitions with camellias and daffodils.

As expectations for the coming year develop once again the visitors poured into the halls in their hundreds. From the 30 exhibitors who made the journey to London the judges awarded six Gold Medals. This year these shows seem to be as popular as they have ever been - and long may that continue.

The sundries exhibitors included: Access Garden Products; Carpenders Park Nursery; Chi-Africa; Darlac; Field & Garden; Gardening Goods; International Camellia Society; Ivelet Books; Kazworks Ceramics; Mike Park Limited; National Gardens Scheme; RHSE Ltd - The Wisley Shop; Snape Stakes; Wells & Winter.

Show report & images: Tim Sandall

Ashwood Nurseries' display of hepaticas and hardy cyclamen was one of the many highlights of the show to which the judges awarded a Gold Medal

Broadleigh Gardens' display of miniature daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs was a worthy winner of a Gold Medal

Burncoose Nurseries from Cornwall won a Gold Medal for its exhibit of trees, shrubs and other ornamental plants

Churchtown Nurseries, who also travelled from Cornwall with this display of restios and plants from the Southern Hemisphere, also won a Gold Medal

Camellia japonica 'Shikibu' is a new introduction from Dorset-based Trehane Camellia Nursery who were rewarded with a Gold Medal

Kelways was awarded a Gold Medal for its exhibit of early-flowering tree peonies which contained this amazing example of Paeonia suffruticosa 'Renkaku'

This Chasmanthe bicolor growing among some restios could been seen on Church town Nurseries Gold Medal winning exhibit

Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' on the Gold medal winning display by Ashwood Nurseries

Here are the winning results

Gold

Ashwood Nurseries: Hepaticas & hardy cyclamen
Broadleigh Gardens: Miniature daffodils & spring-flowering bulbs
Burncoose Nurseries: Trees, shrubs & ornamental plants
Churchtown Nurseries: Restios & plants from the Southern Hemisphere
Kelways Ltd: Early flowering tree peonies
Trehane Camellia Nursery: Camellias, pieris & dwarf rhododendrons

Silver-Gilt Flora

Jacques Amand International: Spring-flowering bulbous plants
Avon Bulbs Ltd: Early spring-flowering bulbs
Dibleys Nurseries: Foliage begonias & gesneriads
Fibrex Nurseries Ltd: Hellebores, pelargoniums, hederas & ferns
Harveys Garden Plants: Hellebores & other perennials
The Old Walled Garden: Spring-flowering ornamental shrubs
P W Plants: Hardy bamboos & associated plants
Pembroke Farm Nursery: Cacti & succulents
Potash Nursery: Primroses
Rushfields of Ledbury Ltd: Perennial plants for sun, shade & moisture
Brian & Pearl Sulman: Scented-leaf pelargoniums

Silver Flora

Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery: Trees & shrubs
The Botanic Nursery: Euphorbias
Foxgrove Plants: Spring-flowering plant
Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants: Spring-flowering herbaceous perennials
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Pot-grown bulbs
Southcombe Gardens: Willows & rockery plants
Wilford Bulb Co Ltd: Lilies

Bronze Flora

Choice Landscapes: Early flowering bulbs & alpines
Coghurst Camellias: Camellias ihn containers
D'Arcy & Everest: Alpines & associated plants
Pennard Plants: Spring plants
Rougham Hall Nurseries: Cut-flower perennials

Bronze Grenfell

Somerset Postal Flowers: Flower arrangements