The RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year award 2026 shortlist has been announced, featuring a diverse range of plants with new or improved features. The award recognizes outstanding plants bred by exhibitors in the Great Pavilion, with a focus on novelty, innovation, garden performance, and appeal for UK gardeners.
Gardener and podcaster Michael Perry notes that this year’s contenders are particularly strong, with a wide range of plants to choose from, including hostas, hydrangeas, anthuriums, and prunus. Perry admits to having a soft spot for the Hosta, but acknowledges that the competition is fierce.
The shortlist of 20 plants will be on display in the pavilion, with a winner chosen on the Monday of the show. These plants have been selected for their unique features, such as the Anisodontea capensis CARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE, which boasts large dark-red flowers, and the Anthurium, which has striking, heart-shaped leaves with a glossy sheen.
The Antirrhinum is another notable contender, producing a non-stop succession of purple blooms over a long season, while the Cercis griffithii BLUE LAGOON features dark red stems and striking blue-toned foliage. The Clematis MOCHI has delicately brushed or spray-painted flowers, and the Clematis QUEEN’S NURSE has two flower colors on one plant.
Many of the shortlisted plants have unique features that make them stand out.
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Last year’s winner was the Philadelphus PETITE PERFUME PINK, bred by Alan Postill and launched by Hillier Nurseries. This year’s winner will be chosen based on its unique features, garden performance, and appeal for UK gardeners.
The selection process for the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year award involves a shortlisting panel of RHS and industry experts, who consider entries from exhibitors in the Great Pavilion. They then display the shortlisted plants in the pavilion, and a winner is chosen on the Monday of the show.
For gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts, the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year award provides a platform to discover new and innovative plants. It highlights the importance of plant breeding and the impact it can have on gardeners, from providing new colors and textures to improving disease resistance and hardiness.
The full shortlist of the 2026 RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award includes a wide range of plants, each with its unique features and characteristics. They will announce the winner on the Monday of the Chelsea Flower Show 2026, which is a key event for the garden show industry.
