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The King’s top plants from Sandringham

Sandringham’s Head Gardener Jack Linfield reveals the four standout plants that bring year-round majesty to His Majesty’s private estate, from fragrant winter blooms to regal summer borders

The gardens at Sandringham Estate are renowned for their seasonal displays, historic planting and diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and perennials. While there are countless plants to admire across the Estate, Head Gardener Jack Linfield has selected four particular highlights. From richly scented winter flowers to striking trees and regal summer blooms, these selections provide year-round interest.

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’

This semi-evergreen shrub is highly valued for its intensely fragrant winter flowers. Clusters of small, sweetly scented, deep-pink

buds open in January and February, providing colour and perfume at a time when few other plants are active. The flowers are followed by rounded, purple-black berries.

Grown near paths, the scent of the flowers is unmatched

Jack Linfield
Flowering in the middle of winter, it’s easy to see why Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ earns a top spot.

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ in winter
Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’

Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’ is a large

deciduous shrub grown for its exceptionally long season of interest. In late spring and early summer, it produces flowerheads up to 8cm across, with four showy white bracts that gradually turn pink with age. Strawberry-like fruits follow, while the foliage develops attractive reddish tones in autumn.

This is a shrub that plugs the flowering gap in late spring. Another favourite is Cornus ‘Porlock’

Jack Linfield
Its succession of flowers, fruits and autumn colour makes it a valuable, hard-working performer across multiple seasons.

The strawberry-like fruits of Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’

Commonly known as coral-bark maple, this large deciduous shrub or small tree is celebrated for its year-round ornamental qualities. Its young branches are a striking coral-red. Five-lobed leaves emerge pinkish-yellow in spring, turn a lush green through summer and develop a vibrant yellow autumn hue before falling.

Many acers might be considered a favourite, but this is a particularly great one for winter stem colour

Jack Linfield
Once the leaves have fallen, the vivid coral-red branches bring vital structure and warmth to the winter landscape.

Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ leaves in spring
Delphinium ‘Mighty Atom’

A hardy herbaceous perennial, ‘Mighty Atom’ produces tall flower spikes of large, deep lavender-blue blooms with dark centres in midsummer. Reaching around 1.2m in height when in flower, it forms a mound of dark green, deeply cut foliage, adding both architectural interest and colour to borders.

It’s well known that His Majesty likes delphiniums. ‘Mighty Atom’ has rich purple flowers, densely packed up the stem

Jack Linfield
The dramatic flower spikes make a striking addition to summer borders, providing the powerful vertical impact for which delphiniums are celebrated.

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This piece comes from The Garden; the monthly magazine sent to RHS Members. Filled with expert advice, planting inspiration and seasonal ideas, it’s one of the many benefits of RHS Membership. Become a member to receive your copy each month.

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