Three first-time National Plant Collection exhibitors, with their displays of Echium (from the Macaronesian Islands), Hakonechloa cultivars and Fuchsia (bred by James Lye), have received 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Medals at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

In total, 31 Medals were awarded to Plant Heritage’s National Collection Holders for their hard work with Hogarth Hostas and Peter Beales Roses each receiving an additional prestigious Floral Award.

Jonathan Hogarth, who exhibited his National Collection of Small and Miniature Hosta for the first time at Hampton Court in 2015 has won a Gold medal and a Floral Award for Best Plant Heritage Exhibit. Upon receiving the award from the hands of the director general of the Royal Horticultural Society, Sue Biggs, Jonathan said: “Being recognised for the second time, and this time awarded a Best Plant Heritage exhibit title is such an honour.”

Sarah Quarterman, CEO at plant conservation charity Plant Heritage said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the success of our National Plant Collection Holders and their fantastic displays at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. National Plant Collection Holders play a vital role in conserving the diversity of cultivated plants in the UK through their National Collections, and we’re thrilled that their enthusiasm and hard work has been recognised with their wonderful displays.”

As well as having the opportunity to meet the National Plant Collection Holders, visitors to the Plant Heritage zone at this year’s Show are able to visit the charity’s Seed Shop where all sorts of seed varieties including some rare and unusual ones are available, in return for a small donation.

The charity is also highlighting its Missing Genera campaign, with a selection of plants on display, such as Ginkgo and Verbena which are currently not represented within National Plant Collections. The charity is calling on anyone with a passion for plants to learn more about the campaign and support its work as well as encouraging people to bring together a National Plant Collection of their own.

All of the displays are housed in the special Plant Heritage zone at the centre of the Floral Marquee from  5th to 10th July.

Plant Heritage would like to congratulate:

Gold – Brookfield Plants – Hosta, David Austin Roses, Dibleys Nurseries – Streptocarpus, Downderry Nursery – Lavandula, Every Picture Tells a Story – Bromeliads in a natural setting (Aechmea, Billbergia, Neoregelia), Fibrex Nurseries – Hedera, Fibrex Nurseries – Pelargonium, Hart Canna – Canna, Hewitt-Cooper Carnivorous Plants – Tropical & temperate carnivorous plants (Drosera), Hogarth Hostas – small & miniature Hosta, Mickfield Hostas – Hosta from the National Collection, National Dahlia Collection – Dahlia from the National Collection, Peter Beales Roses – Old fashioned & contemporary roses, Plantagogo – Heuchera, x Heucherella & Tiarella, T3 Plants Wall End Nursery – Abutilon, Tale Valley Nursery – Rhodohypoxis and x Rhodoxis, Tynings Climbers – Passiflora, Thunbergia, Mandevilla & Jasminum

Silver-Gilt – Bowdens – Hosta, Hoyland Plant Centre – Agapanthus, Tulbaghia, Anne Milner & Sarah Cook, Iris introduced by Arthur J Bliss and Sir Cedric Morris , Gary Firth – Myrtaceae (Tribe Myrteae), Barry Clarke – Rubus spp., The Botanic Nursery – Digitalis, W & S Lockyer – Primula auricula (Doubles)

Silver – Brookfield Plants – Hemerocallis cultivars with the RHS AGM, Echium World – Echium from the Macaronesian Islands, Hillview Hardy Plants – Acanthus, Philip Oostenbrink – Hakonechloa macra & cultivars

Bronze – Floyds Climbers & Clematis – Clematis koreana & hybrids, Harper & Debbage – Fuchsia cultivars introduced by James Lye, The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens – Cornus

For more information on Plant Heritage, to donate or to become a member, please visit www.plantheritage.com or call 01483 447540