Philadelphus steals it – compact varieties and a series of firsts unveiled
The RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 is a joy for plant lovers, showcasing the best of new horticultural breeding and trends. Floral exhibitors in the RHS Chelsea’s Great Pavilion can enter new plants. Entries are judged by a short-listing panel of RHS and industry experts who choose the 20 finalists. The winner was selected on Press Day, May 19, by members of the RHS Expert Groups.
The judges’ decision is based on novelty and innovation, garden performance, and likely appeal for UK gardeners. Here’s the list of last year’s Plant of the Year. Read more about the RHS Chelsea Show Gardens for 2025.
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 WINNER – Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink (P1)
Breeder: Alan Postill. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd. The first truly pink Philadelphus. Deep pink buds open to fragranced flowers. Compact and hardy. H x S: 150cm x 150cm.
JOINT SECOND PLACE – Hosta Silly String
Breeder: Hans Hansen (Walter’s Gardens). Exhibitor: Sienna Hosta. Supplier: Fairweather’s Nursery. Narrow blue leaves with wavy margins. Vigorous and fast-growing, with pale purple flower spikes. Perfect for containers or a shady garden. H x S: 35cm x 70cm.
JOINT SECOND PLACE – Salvia Tropicolour Sunrise (Tropog021 – Tropicolour Series)
Breeder: La Rolando Uría and Francisco Lozano. Exhibitor: Middleton Nurseries. Orange-red petals contrast with coppery yellow calyces. The deep green leaves have purple undersides, unique in salvias. Full sun to part shade – needs no deadheading. H x S: 70cm x 60cm.
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis Zambezi (Kek5006)
Breeder: Keith Kirsten. Exhibitor: Gardeners Delight Nursery. Supplier: Sarah Raven. Broad, dark green leaves streaked with creamy yellow and edged by a golden-yellow margin. Violet flowers grow on tall stems. Ideal for borders and containers. Winter hardiness to -7°C. H x S: 90cm x 75cm.
Clematis Elpis (evigsy154)
Breeder: Raymond J Evison Ltd. Exhibitor: Raymond Evison Clematis. Supplier: The Guernsey Clematis Nursery Ltd. Vibrant and strong foliage (a rare trait in red cultivars). Prolific red blooms from late April until June, repeating in early autumn. Prefers full sun or part shade. Named in support of male cancer research. H x S: 120cm x 80cm.
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 – Deutzia Prettistars Pink Cloud (Botex 015)
Breeder: Botanic Experience BV. Exhibitor: Stonebarn Landscapes Ltd. Supplier: Suttons. Compact ball-shaped growth. The flower buds resemble pink pearls, before opening into white and pink-blushed petals for weeks in early summer. Hardy to -20°C. H x S: 100cm x 70cm.
Fuchsia Mambo ‘Kerfumam’ (Patio Dancers Series)
Breeder: Tim Kerley of Kerley & Co. Exhibitor: Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Supplier: Kerley & Co. The aesthetic traits of traditional fuchsias with the smaller habit and earlier flowering of modern cultivars. Better branching and shorter internodes make it compact. H x S: 40cm x 40cm.
Geranium × oxonianum Gold Nugget (Hillger)
Breeder: Alan Postill. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd. A compact, mound-forming Geranium with bright golden foliage patterned with red markings. Pink flowers in early summer. H x S: 25 x 30cm
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 – Hemerocallis See You Tomorrow (Huhe01)
Breeder: Michel van’t Hul. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Thompson & Morgan. Unlike typical Hemerocallis (whose flowers fade afterone day), the flowers of this day lily last up to seven days. trumpet-shaped yellow blooms. Hardiness down to -18°C. H x S: 60cm x 60cm.
Hosta Party Streamers
Breeder: Hans Hansen (Walter’s Gardens). Exhibitor: Sienna Hosta. Supplier: Fairweather’s Nursery. Golden, long, narrow leaves with ruffled edges. Quick-growing and mound-forming. Deep-purple flower spikes. Ideal for containers or borders in part shade. H x S: 30cm x 80cm.
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 – Hydrangea Fairytrail White (Wnhydfbvywmh – Fairytrail Series)
Breeder: Mr. Ushio Sakazaki of WinGen LLC. Exhibitor: Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Supplier: Bransford Webbs Plant Company. Long trailing stems have mophead flowers at every leaf node, covering the entire plant. Grow in semi-shade, in containers, hanging baskets or open ground. H x S: 100cm x 120cm.
Lomandra longifolia Miner’s Gold (Km-mg24)
Breeder: Keith Miner and Jen Miner. Exhibitor: Ashcroft’s Perennials and Ornamental Grasses. The first golden Lomandra with an elegant, weeping habit. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant. Full sun to part shade. H x S: 50cm x 50cm.
Miscanthus sinensis Lady in Red
Breeder: Krzystof Slowinski. Exhibitor: Ashcroft’s Perennials and Ornamental Grasses. A mix of dark purple and green leaves in summer, turning vivid red in autumn with silver panicle flowers. H x S: 160cm x 150cm.
Prunus Crystal Falls
Breeder: Ken Tobutt. Exhibitor: Plant Heritage. Supplier: Frank P Matthews Trees. The first weeping, winter-flowering ornamental cherry. Double, pure white flowers from mid-December, often lasting for 2-3 months. The flowers do not sustain frost damage, and it is fully hardy. H x S: 200cm x 50cm.
Rhaphiolepis indica White Cloud
Breeder: Peter van Groningen. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd. A compact, evergreen shrub with white fragrant flowers. Suitable for container growing, in sun or light shade. H x S: 100cm x 100cm.
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 – Rhododendron molle subsp. japonicum Pink Star (Mapo 2)
Breeder: Martin Ponjee. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Thompson & Morgan. Star-shaped, deep reddish-pink flowers, each with 20-30 petals. Winter-hardy to -15°C.. H x S (in four years): 100cm x 100cm.
Salvia Peach Melba
Breeder: New World Plants. Exhibitor: Proctor’s Nursery. Supplier: Sarah Raven. Large, two-tone peach and deep pink flowers in bloom for six months. Neat, bushy habit. Hardy and copes well with the drier conditions. H x S: 45cm x 60cm.
Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025 – Streptocarpus Betty
Breeder: Lynne Dibley. Exhibitor: Dibleys Nurseries. A compact houseplant with large, sky-blue flowers with a flash of deep purple. H x S: 30cm x 40cm.
Here’s more on this year’s show gardens. For information on opening times and tickets, visit www.rhs.org.uk.
