Hyde Hall: Latin Names, Water Butts and Plant Superpowers
Peter Gibbs leads the horticultural festivities as a vibrant panel of plant pros take on questions from a crowd of passionate and curious gardeners.
What can gardening clubs do to entice new members? How do the panel handle their plant addiction? If you were to have a plant superpower, which would it be and why?
It’s party time in the garden once again! Gardeners’ Question Time returns with the much-anticipated GQT Summer Garden Party, recorded at the breathtaking RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex.
This week, Peter Gibbs leads the horticultural festivities as a vibrant panel of plant pros take on questions from a crowd of passionate and curious gardeners. On the panel - proud plantswoman Christine Walkden, pest and disease detective Pippa Greenwood, and botanical explorers James Wong and Dr Chris Thorogood.
Expect expert insights, surprising solutions, and a whole lot of garden inspiration in this special summer celebration of all things green and growing.
Producer: Matthew Smith
Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali
Assistant Producer: Rocky Cocker
Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Featured
-
.
Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.
Q – How do the panel handle their plant addiction? (02’40”)
Q – Can the panel suggest other imaginative ways of using common, easily grown plants in the garden? (06’11”)
Pippa Greenwood –
Squash
Q – Why have the flowers of my Rosa Jacques Cartier started to distort and deteriorate? (09’37”)
Q – What should horticultural societies do to make sure they continue to thrive and entice new members? (11’38”)
Q – What should I do to ensure my plants survive as it gets hotter each year? I rely on water buts to water my garden. (18’33”)
Dr Chris Thorogood –
Digitalis, foxglove
Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Lavender' (Camelot Series), foxglove 'Camelot Lavender'
Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Peach' (Dalmatian Series), foxglove 'Dalmatian Peach'
Alcea rosea, hollyhock
Stachys byzantine, lamb's ear
Christine Walkden –
Buddleja globosa, orange ball tree
Embothrium coccineum, chilean fire bush
Q – The fruits of my grape vine have suddenly gone hard and small, what’s happened? (25’07”)
Q – Do you think it's necessary or even helpful? To know the Latin names of common plants? (28’25”)
Q – If you were to have a plant superpower, which would it be and why? (34’42”)
Pippa Greenwood –
Sarracenia, pitcher plant
James Wong –
Coffee Plant
Christine Walkden –
Mimosa pudica, sensitive plant
Ecballium elaterium, squirting cucumberBroadcasts
- Fri 15 Aug 2025 15:00BBC Radio 4
- Sun 17 Aug 2025 14:00BBC Radio 4
Join us at RHS Garden Wisley and be part of the show as we host the BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time Summer Garden Party
Podcast
-
Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts

