Exotic Hampton Court

Hampton Court Flower Show certainly lives up to its name with the majority of the plants on display very much of the flowering variety. However that doesn't mean there is limited choice for those with more of an interest in exotics or foliage. In many ways we were spoilt this year with show gardens and nursery displays catering for the tropical look.

Of the show gardens A Valley Garden was the one that stood out from the crowd for exotic interest. Packed full of unusual plants, many of which were Crug Farm introductions this was one of my favorite gardens this year (my other favourites were less exotic so will feature in a future post no doubt). Designed by Sophie Walker, A Valley Garden is designed as a 'pop-up' installation, to be assembled and dismantled with ease and reinstalled with different planting schemes. Construction is entirely above ground, which makes the garden ideal for use on ‘no-dig’ urban sites such as car parks.

A Valley Garden featured many plants from Crug Farm

I loved the piecing spear of a pathway that sliced into the water, this was reminiscent of a boat pushing aside the water as it would travel along a river. When we chatted with Sophie on Mondays Press Day she explained that the garden style was influenced by a trip she had taken to the Amazon, and whilst much of the plants are from elsewhere in the world the garden did have this feel. A Valley Garden won a very well deserved Silver Gilt Medal.

In the Floral Marquee there were several specialist nurseries exhibiting exotics, here are some of the highlights.
On entering the Marquee the first display that jumped out at us was that of Fernatix and a lovely Cyathea cunninghamii.

Blechnum nudum

Cyathea cunninghamii on the left

Harveys Garden Plants sell a wide variety of plants and whilst not particularly focussed on exotics as such how can one pass by Beesia calthifolia, something I have not been able to do when I have seen it previously as we now have several in the garden. I did resist this time though!

And what else did they have.... a Sphenameris chinensis collected by Crug Farm.

Sphenameris chinensis

There were several displays of carnivorous plants, and whilst not typically associated as an exotic, these really are stunning. We have grown a number of them in the past although don't currently have any in our garden. Possibly something we should reintroduce in the future perhaps?

These were all on the display of Hampshire Carnivorous plants.
Desert to Jungle from Somerset usually have an interesting selection of plants (we have visited a few times in the past)...

Musa lasiocarpa in flower

A stunning Blechnum tabulare, probably ignored by many visitors, but one of the plant highlights for us.

A lovely display of ferns from Bentley Plants

Regulars on the show circuit are Trewidden Nursery, we visited earlier this year.

Leucospermum cordifolium

Banksia grandis in flower

Aeonium 'Logan Rock'

Various Aeoniums

Aeonium 'Cornish Tribute'

Sometimes a plant that you would not usually associate as "exotic" catches our imagination, this Campanula is 'Pink Octopus' and I can see this working well in an exotic planting scheme.

There were a number of displays of cacti, and Mark had to have a closer look...

Crassula cv. Buddah's Temple

Amulree Exotics had a big display this year called "Don’t Be Afraid Of Big Leaves And Monster Plants", which featured a number of exotics

The very architectural, leafy, and lush stand of Amulree Exotics

Note the tall, trunked specimen of Chamaerops humilis var. arborescens in the middle

Plantbase had a particularly stunning Solanum, we almost bought one, but unfortunately when we went back to the stand they had sold out.

Solanum quitoense

Whilst you would not call Hosta's an exotic plant they do work well by association. This dramatic display was by Bowdens.

Todd's Botanics are another regular exhibitor at many of the RHS shows and are well known for their large Olive trees and vivid planting schemes, winning Gold again this year at Hampton Court for their display.

The big plant nursery is another we are familiar with, having purchased Ginkgo biloba varieties from them previously, they had a number of interesting Ginkgos on display, a particular favorite for us was this one.

Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken'

Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'

When we visit Cornwall we normally try to get to Burncoose Nursery, and they are also regulars at the shows. Their stand featured a number of unusual species as well as plenty of color - this is a flower show after all!

Catalpa x erubescens 'purpurea'

Daphniphyllum himalayense subsp. macropodum

Pseudopanax laetus

And combining exotic and colourful quite successfully was Hart Canna...

In the far end of the marquee was Ainsworth Displays with a fine selection of palms.

Overall there was a great selection of exotic plants, many more than just those selected here with many of the show gardens utilising exotic plants in their planting schemes as well as some of the more traditional nurseries stocking a number of exciting and unusual plants.

Gaz :)