Claire Austin has won a Silver medal at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower show with her first exhibit of hardy perennials in a decade.

“I am really pleased to have won Silver at Chelsea this year,” says Claire Austin. “It has been a huge challenge to know which plants will flower in time, given the unusual weather conditions and that I haven’t shown perennials at Chelsea in over decade. My hope is that gardeners will be inspired to try the ideas at home, whatever the aspect or size of their garden.”

Chelsea visitors are treated to the art of planting with perennials, as Claire Austin creates distinct mixed perennial borders designed for the demands of sunny, partially shady and shady conditions.Claire has designed a tapestry of her favourite late spring-flowering perennials, demonstrating how to successfully blend the blousy blooms of bearded irises and herbaceous peonies into a mixed border.

Having grown perennials in eight different gardens and on five different nursery sites over the past 30 years and written the award-winning ‘Claire Austin’s Book of Perennials’, Claire is well placed to recommend the best performing perennials for any given situation.

Much of the inspiration for Claire’s exhibit at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show has come from her private perennial borders at home in the beautiful Welsh Borders. Claire is opening her gardens, nursery and National Collections to the public on two days this summer: 04 and 16 June 2016 from 10am to 4pm each day. Entry is free. Visit www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk or call 01686 670 342 for further details.