Each year, RHS Plant Trials are undertaken across different plant groups to identify the best plants for homes and gardens, with exceptional performers receiving the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit.
The trials are assessed by a judging panel made up of experts in that group of plants, who use the trial results to inform their decision to grant plants the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit status. Each assessment is then ratified by the relevant RHS Expert Group.
Basil
Ocimum basilicum ‘Aroma 2’ was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit after the 2012 trial at RHS Garden Wisley. The shiny, dark green, 7.5cm (3in) leaves are thick, powerfully aromatic and have plenty of that distinctive sweet basil flavour. The plants are slow to bolt, so are productive for the longest possible season. Resists Fusarium disease which is a huge bonus for outdoor and indoor cultivation. Height: 50-60cm (20-24in). Hardiness rating: H1c.
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum ‘Rondo’ is a variety of Florence fennel, and is an aniseed-flavoured, Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.
Sage
‘Purpurascens’ has narrow, slightly wrinkled, velvety leaves of a lovely soft purple grey colour, and in summer are covered in open spikes of rich purple-blue flowers; but because it can flower prolifically, plants tend to need propagating and renewing more frequently. Height: 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating: H4.
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum ‘Confetti’ is an annual herb with strongly aromatic, finely divided, carrot-like foliage. Umbels of dainty white or purplish flowers in summer are followed by green then brown fruits. Both leaves and fruits are used in cooking. Height: 0.5m. Hardiness rating: H5.
Thyme
There are many different types of thyme. Some are bushy and upright and some are creeping. The tiny leaves of some are plain green, while some are Variegated means having leaves or other plant parts with streaks, blotches or patches of different colours. Typically, these would be a combination of two colours, such as green and gold or green and white.
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ is a strong, upright, bushy evergreen shrub with aromatic, narrowly linear, dark green leaves, but whitish beneath. Small, two-lipped light blue flowers are borne mainly in spring and summer. Height: 2m. Hardiness rating: H4.
Parsley
Parsley Petroselinum crispum ‘Bravour’, a crisply curled parsley, is one of the most attractive and most adaptable of foliage plants for the garden, as well as being one of the kitchen’s truly essential herbs. The fresh colouring of its tightly curled leaves makes an ideal summer foliage plant, associating well with low-growing annuals, as an edging, or in containers. ‘Bravour’ is also exceptionally well flavoured. Height: 23cm (9in). Hardiness rating: H4.
Oregano
Herbs with colourful foliage make a valuable ornamental contribution to the garden. The leaves of Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’ begin the season bright yellow, then slowly become greener as the weeks go by. In summer the plant is covered with lavender pink flowers, much loved by bees and butterflies. Height: 75cm (30in). Hardiness rating: H6.
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia ’Imperial Gem’ is similar to ‘Hidcote’ but with more silvery foliage and with slightly shorter spikes of deep violet, highly scented flowers. With its dense growth and bushy habit, it tolerates clipping better than many lavenders and so is ideal for a hedge. It is also good as a container specimen. Height: 60cm (23in). Hardiness rating: H5.
Narrow-leaf bay
So many recipes call for a bay leaf that every garden should have a bay tree. Leaves picked fresh from the tree have a much richer flavour than the brittle brown flakes of dried bay. Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia has narrower leaves than the species, and has one great advantage: it’s much hardier. Height: 5m (16ft). Hardiness rating: H4.
