This year's RHS Plant of the Year 2024 has been announced direct from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
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The Plant of the Year is a competition held by the RHS to highlight new developments and innovations among the world of growers. The plants are all new to the UK and/or available for UK gardeners to buy since last year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Twenty one plants were shortlisted, including a Tulbghia, a Scabiosa, a rose called 'Chelsea Pensioner' and a plant that will be announced on Monday 20 May. A new daffodil has also been bred by Taylors Bulbs and named Narcissus 'King Charles'.
This year's winner is a winter and spring flowering ornamental cherry, with unusual pure white star-shaped flowers. Bred by Ken Tobutt and exhibited by Green Jjam Nurseries at Chelsea Flower Show, Prunus 'Starlight' was picked by over 180 experts as the winner. The winning plant's flowers have good resistance to frost and is suitable for all soil types and propagates well.
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In second place came Cosmos atrosanguineus CHERRY CHOCOLATE (‘Vg001’), a cosmos with large vibrant cherry-coloured flowers, delicious chocolate scent and contrasting yellow pollen. It was bred by Valin Genetics and supplied by Whetman Plants International and will be exhibited by Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time.
Third place was Agave ‘Praying Hands’, exhibited by Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time, bred by Hans Hansen and supplied byThompson & Morgan. It has been highlighted as an ideal plant for climate change as it is hardy to -5C and sun and drought tolerant.
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For the first time ever this year, a mushroom made the shortlist. Pleurotus euosmus, a tarragon oyster mushroom is being exhibited by Caley Brothers and bred by Adrian Ogden of Gourmet Woodland Mushrooms.
In its 14th year, the competition was open to voters online, which widened the reach of the judges.
Emma Allen, RHS Head of Horticultural Relations, said: “I’m delighted to see the Prunus ‘Starlight’ has won this year. It has fabulous star-shaped flowers, really unusual, which are reminiscent of the star magnolia. Former winners have gone on to fly off the shelves, so we hope that this win brings similar future success."
The annual RHS Plant of the Year winners and shortlisted entrants will be on display on the RHS Experience stand in the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, which runs from Tuesday 21 May to Saturday 25 May.
The full list of shortlisted RHS Plants of the Year 2024
Rosa EMMA BRIDGEWATER™(AUSB44A16)
Exhibited by: David Austin Roses
Breeder: David Austin Roses
A pink English shrub rose with rosettes that open in colours ranging from apricot and coral to
mauve and lilac. Both petals and leaves are matte, and the rose is repeat flowering. With a delicate
fragrance, this rose is also disease, pest, and weather resistant.
Agastache BEELICIOUS PINK ('Agapk')
Exhibited by: Proctors Nursery
Supplied by: Hayloft Ltd
Breeder: Van Hemert & Co.
A bee and butterfly magnet - flowering from July to September the extra long 15cm+ bottle brush-like flowers begin lighter pink, elongating with age and darkening in colour as the autumn
progresses. A compact bushy plant with aniseed-scented foliage. Good for the patio container or garden
border.
Agave 'Praying Hands' THIRD PLACE
Exhibited by: Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time
Supplied by: Thompson & Morgan
Breeder: Hans Hansen
Agave 'Praying Hands' brings a completely different look to the Mangave (a cross of Manfreda and Agave), taking on an upright elegant teardrop shape. Its colourful and striking foliage makes for a perfect pot specimen or mix in with other succulents for stunning container displays. Hardy to -5C and sun and drought tolerant, it is ideal for a changing climate.
Begonia 'Stellar Storm'
Exhibited by: Dibleys Nurseries
Breeder: Lynne Dibley
A new style of colourful-leaved begonia. Similar in style to Begonia rex but with several different species introduced into the breeding line to create a tougher and a more resilient plant that is less affected by
changes in humidity and temperature.
With its striking burgundy, red and silver striped foliage, Begonia 'Stellar Storm' adds a touch of drama to any space. Its large, spiral-shaped leaves boast unique spiked edges, making it a distinctive addition to any collection.
Clematis GUERNSEY FLUTE ('Evigsy153')
Exhibited by: Raymond Evison Clematis
Breeder: Raymond Evison Clematis
Long-lasting and robust white blooms and free- and repeat-flowering habit create a stunning display in beds and containers. It has an unusual trait of holding its flower buds which resemble champagne flutes.
Cosmos atrosanguineus CHERRY CHOCOLATE ('Vg001') SECOND PLACE
Exhibited by: Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time
Supplied by: Whetman Plants International
Breeder: Valin Genetics
Cosmos CHERRY CHOCOLATE brings a unique colour breakthrough whilst improving hardiness (RHS H4) in a garden favourite. Vibrant cherry-coloured flowers, with a delicious chocolate scent and contrasting yellow pollen, are the largest of any Cosmos atrosanguineus. Loved by pollinators, this cosmos blooms non-stop from end of May to the first frost.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Yulika'
Exhibited by: Burncoose Nurseries
Breeder: Sakamoto Gardening – Japan
Easy to prune in spring and winter hardy down to -15°c. Its raw flowers are dark red which then fully bloom into white and red, giving a beautiful contrast in flower colour.
Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis METEOR ('Hillmah')
Exhibited by: Sparsholt College Group
Supplied by: Hilliers
Breeder: Hilliers
Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis METEOR ('Hillmah') has deep green leaves, a dense globose habit, deep red foliage in spring and a flush of yellow flowers from August to November, giving this plant year round interest. The compact habit makes it suitable for a wide variety of spaces. It is trouble free
and easy to grow.
Musa sikkimensis EVER RED ('Lou 1')
Exhibited by: Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time
Supplied by: Suttons
Breeder: Bruno Chauvet
Musa sikkimensis EVER RED rivals Musa basjoo for hardiness and speed of growth. Its thicker, stronger leaves are more windproof and more colourful than M. 'Bengal Tiger', retaining its red for longer during the summer. With winter protection it can grow to 4m high in 10 years, developing a woody stem over time, creating a dramatically tropical architectural centrepiece.
Narcissus 'King Charles'
Exhibited by: Taylors Bulbs
Breeder: Taylors Bulbs
This particular cultivar is very unique and distinct in its look. The petals are reflexed and start off white with a beautiful funnel shaped, lightly frilled pink trumpet that is flared at the mouth. The perianth segments then mature to yellow with white remaining along the midrim.
Papaver (Oriental Group) RED RUMBLE ('Hg01')
Exhibited by: Hare Spring Cottage Garden Plants
Supplied by: Hayloft Ltd
Breeder: Herbert Oudshoorn
Repeat flowering, cupped, hand sized and intensely coloured with multi- layers of ruffled petals, this sturdy Papaver will attract attention. Unlike most poppies, RED RUMBLE's foliage stays a healthy green for longer being less sensitive to disease. Each flower is held on thick strong stems and won't flop when left unsupported.
Petunia NICOLA ('Kernicola') (Tumbelina Series)
Exhibited by: Sparsholt College Group
Supplied by: Kerley & Co
Breeder: Kerley & Co
Petunia NICOLA is innovative, with appeal and sturdy performance credentials for gardeners of all proficiency. The colour and flower shape is new - a central flourish of petals with contrasting frame - but nonetheless elegant. With weather tolerance for an uncertain climate and sustainable peat-free performance, this petunia is a modern twist on a traditional summer favourite.
Philadelphus PETITE PERFUME WHITE ('W1')
Exhibited by: Sparsholt College Group
Supplied by: Hilliers
Breeder: Hilliers
This plant is perfectly suited to a modern garden. Compact, naturally branching, free flowering and with an intense fragrance that fills the garden, the flower has an almost cruciform look with recurved petals that is quite unique for this genus and visually attractive.
Pleurotus euosmus - tarragon oyster mushroom
Exhibited by: Caley Brothers
Breeder: Adrian Ogden, Gourmet Woodland Mushrooms
The tarragon oyster mushroom is quick and easy to cultivate, simple to grow and accessible to anyone, regardless of space, experience and budget. It can be cultivated and grown on a variety of substrates such as waste products like sawdust.
It is a speciality variety of a well-known species, with a stunning and unique flavour profile. In a move towards a more plant based diet and conscious consumerism, mushrooms are a growing source of sustainable food.
Prunus 'Starlight’
Exhibited by: Green Jjam Nursery
Breeder: Ken Tobutt
A winter and spring flowering ornamental cherry, with attractive and unusual pure white star-shaped flowers. It has a profuse flowering habit in late March which can extent into April. It can also flower in early winter in mild weather and its flowers have good resistance to frost. Suitable for all soil types and propagates well.
Rosa CHELSEA PENSIONER ('Harhomley')
Exhibited by: Harkness Roses 1879
Breeder: Harkness Roses 1879
Rosa CHELSEA PENSIONER, an easy to grow Hybrid Tea rose, with the colour matching the iconic Chelsea Pensioners' uniform. The blooms are proudly held and perfectly formed. The leaves are lush, the growth strong, and perfume spicy. A garden rose flowering from June to October and easy to grow.
Salvia × jamensis BELLE DE LOIRE 'Barsabel'
Exhibited by: Middleton Nurseries
Breeder: La Possonniere
Providing interest through a long flowering season with blooms changing from yellow and orange in spring transitioning through to cream and salmon in autumn. It’s nectar-rich blossoms attract bees and butterflies and its low-maintenance requirements, easy growth and hardiness make it ideal for novice gardeners.
Scabiosa KUDO BLUE ('Ichbu2005') (Kudo Series)
Exhibited by: Daisy Roots Nursery
Supplied by: Sarah Raven
Breeder: Kaori Ichiba
Scabiosa KUDO BLUE is a fully hardy and compact scabious, bearing many larger than average, bright blue pincushion flowers from spring to autumn. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in a bright and sunny position, it makes a fantastic choice for a mixed herbaceous border, gravel garden or container
planting scheme. The flowers are wonderful for cutting and the blooms are loved by pollinating insects.
Sempervivum GOLD MINE ('Ggm2022') (Chick Charms Giants
Series)
Exhibited by: Sparsholt College Group
Supplied by: Hilliers
Breeder: Chris Hansen
This variety is hardy, drought tolerant and easy to grow. Dramatic colouration and huge rosettes to 30cm across make it a perfect patio or container plant.
Trachelospermum asiaticum STAR OF MILANO ('Trsuz01')
Exhibited by: Stonebarn & Gardeners’ Question Time
Supplied by: Suttons
Breeder: Yuji Suzuki
Trachelospermum STAR OF MILANO brings together two sought after features of an already popular evergreen climber - striking variegated foliage and pink flushed bicolour fragrant blooms, making it a standout addition to the genus. Ideal for modern gardens, it reaches just 3mx2m
requiring no pruning or training. Hardy to -12C for year round interest.
Tulbaghia cominsii 'Fancy Pants'
Exhibited by: Hoyland Plant Centre
Breeder: Steven Hickman
A floriferous Tulbaghia, with a unique flower resembling a miniature cyclamen. Plant in full sun or part shade. Hardy to -10C.
