Plant of the year crowned at Chelsea

The winner of the 2015 RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year has been announced and the crown goes to Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘KILMANJARO SUNRISE’ (pictured above) exhibited by Burncoose Nurseries.

A striking, easy Japanese snowball, with upright pyramid that carries flower from base up to eye level.

The winner was selected for its white lacecap flowers that flush with pink. In summer the plant has masses of deep red berries turning black, which attract birds, followed in late summer by a second flush of blossom. In Autumn the rich foliage displays orange/red shades.

So this is a plant which will give year-round appeal. Its habit is more compact and slower growing than the parent, suiting modern gardens.

Second place has gone to Streptocarpus ‘Polka-Dot Purple’ (pictured left) from Dibleys Nurseries. I have to say that this was my favourite this year – I just loved the deep intense colour.

It is a good compact plant with a windowsill habit and easy to maintain. Long lived with 10 months of blossom, it has seen a high commercial demand worldwide.

Bred on the nursery, first flowering in 2013, the parent plants are part of an ongoing breeding programme which is based on over 20 years of work. A really pretty and delightful plant.

Third place was awarded to Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ from Dyson’s Nurseries. (pictured left)

Bred by Australian breeder John Fisher, this is a truly spectacular plant producing a stunning display of rich purple flowers with burgundy calyces over an unbelievably long season – typically May to October. ‘Love and Wishes’ is the third in the ‘Wish’ series and has attractive foliage and a very tidy habit. A brilliant choice for a container.

The shortlist for 2015 consisted of the following plants in addition to the top three:

Anigozanthos ‘PINK PEARL’ – from the National Dahlia Collection
Antirrhinum ‘PRETTY IN PINK’ (‘Pmoore07’) – Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants
Blechnum brasiliense ERUPTION (‘Alceru’) – Bowden Hostas
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. Suksdorfil (Caerulea Group) ‘MAYBELLE” – Avon Bulbs
Dianthus (Allwoodii Group) TEQUILA SUNRISE ‘Wp15 Pie45’ (Cocktail Series)
Fuchsia ‘PINK FIZZ’ – Scotts Miracle Gro
Gerbera GARVINEA SWEET SURPRISE (‘Garsuprise’) (Garvinea Sweet Series)
Gladiolus ‘PRIMS VERDE’ – Pheasant Acre Plants
Iris ‘POIVRE ROUGE’ – Cayeux Iris
Lilium ‘TWYFORD’ – H W Hyde
Primula x anisodoxa ‘KEVOCK SURPRISE’ – Kevock Garden Plants
Raspberry RUBY BEAUTY (‘Nr7’) – Scotts Miracle Gro
Rhmannia WALBERTON’S MAGIC DRAGON (‘Walremadra’) – Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants
Restio tetraphyllus ‘CORNISH GOLD’ (syn.Baloskion tetraphyllum ‘Cornish Gold’) – Trewidden NurseryRosa ‘SUSIE’ (‘Harwhistle’) – Harkness Roses
Salvia ‘LOVE AND WISHES’ – Dyson’s Nurseries
Tiarella ‘ANGEL WINGS’ (Fox Series) – Plantagogo

The RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year was created to recognize the most inspiring new plant at the show. A shortlist of 20 plants are selected by a panel including Plant Committee Chairs, RHS Garden Curators and the RHS President. The shortlist is comprised from over 40 plants entered by Floral and Garden exhibitors.

Picture credit: ‘Love and wishes’ ©copyright RHS

All other illustrations ©Reckless Gardener