The 2019 RHS Flower Show Cardiff flowers
Go behind the scenes of the 2019 show artwork and make your very own Cardiff-inspired display
Sourcing spring flowers (let alone photographing them under hot lights) in late summer is no mean feat, but this was the challenge faced by the team of designers creating the artwork for the RHS Flower Show Cardiff 2019.
The design featured an array of spring flowers artfully bursting out of a watering can, bringing the vision for Cardiff 2019 to life.
It’s the ultimate spring bouquet and if it’s left you feeling inspired to create your own display, here are the flowers you’ll need to bring a little bit of RHS Flower Show Cardiff to your home.
How to style your own show bouquet
Our display for Cardiff wouldn’t be complete without a daffodil or two. These yellow flowers are often considered as the floral icon of spring, heralding the arrival of brighter days and drier weather.
These hardy plants are suitable for planting in the autumn, so get digging in September and October to see their sunshine heads lighting up your garden from February onwards.
The bright white nodding heads of Lily of the Valley appear on slender stems, arising from lush green foliage, brightening up shady areas.
These easy-to-care for plants require no pruning and are most happy within a sheltered part of the garden, with partial or full shade.
Another spring favourite that we couldn’t miss out is the colourful tulip. Brightening up every garden, bookshelf or dining table that they inhabit, tulips are typically planted in autumn for a show of spring flowers.
We’ve chosen white and yellow tulips for Cardiff, but these plants come in a whole spectrum of colours, meaning there’s a tulip for almost every occasion.
Dotted between the daffodils, you’ll spot a few flashes of deep purple. These belong to beardless irises, a plant that thrives in rich, moist soil and flowers from spring to summer.
These plants are relatively easy to care for, and you’ll know if they’re unhappy. Look out for non-flowering plants as this could be a sign that your irises are in too much shade.
Hellebores (sometimes known as the Christmas rose) feature elegant flowers and start to bloom from late winter onwards.
Hellebores prefer to grow in rich, well-drained soil in dappled shade and, while the plants are full hardy, it’s best to provide shelter from strong, cold winds.
Providing a beautiful backdrop to the main display, you’ll notice ferns dotted among the spring flowers, with their lush green colour providing an effective contrast.
Ferns are low-maintenance and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, providing the perfect complement to any shade plant combination.
