Chard trial 2026

Objectives and purpose of the trial

This trial brings together a wide range of chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) cultivars to assess which ones offer the best colour, productivity and garden reliability. Chard is a vibrant, easy-to-grow leafy vegetable prized for its glossy leaves and striking stems and its ability to produce harvests time and again. The trial is being carried out at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey and behind the scenes at RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon, where each cultivar is assessed under real garden conditions. The strongest performers will earn the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit, highlighting them as dependable choices for anyone looking to grow chard with confidence.
Colourful chard showing off its bright stems and glossy leaves
Freshly cut chard stems gathered together after a garden harvest

Judges and criteria

Judging criteria

The following factors are all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:

  • Uniformity
  • Size and colour

  • Plant health (bolt resistance)
  • Taste (raw), young plants

Suppliers To The Trial

List of plants in the trial

View all the chard on trial at RHS Wisley and RHS Rosemoor
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens BRIGHT LIGHTS (‘Bright Lights’) 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Bali’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Barese’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Bright Yellow’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Canary Yellow’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Celebration’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Delta’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Fire Fresh’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Fordhook Giant’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Galaxy’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Lucullus’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Magenta Sunset’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Orange Glory’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Peppermint’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Pink Passion’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Red Magic’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Rhubarb Chard’ 
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Silverstar’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘Vulcan’
  • Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens ‘White Silver’
RHS Award of Garden Merit logo
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Handy tools and information

Get in touch

For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at [email protected].

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