RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - At the Bandstand

Q1 – “Do the panel have any tips on how to create the Chelsea Show Garden look in a normal family garden and on a normal family budget?” (01’36”)

Matthew Pottage

• Geranium ‘Rozanne’, cranesbill ‘Rozanne’

• Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’, Peruvian lily ‘Indian Summer’

• Molinia spp., moor grass

• Deschampsia spp., tufted hair grass

• Allium spp., ornamental onion

Chris Thorogood

• Lupinus spp., lupin

• Iris spp.

• Gladiolus spp., gladiolus

• Allium spp., ornamental onion

Q2 – “Since repotting my olive tree, the leaves are going brown on the outsides. Is it too wet or too dry?” (06’59)

• Olea europaea, olive

Q3 – “What is best to plant in very, very wet ground?” - Clare Balding (10’58”)

Matthew Pottage

• Iris spp., iris

• Astilbe spp., astilbe

• Veronicastrum spp., veronicastrum

• Cornus spp., dogwood

• Salix spp., willow

• Ligularia spp., ligularia

Chris Thorogood

• Salix spp., willow

• Iris pseudacorus, yellow flag iris

• Calla palustris, bog arum

Bunny Guinness

• Alnus spp., alder

• Alnus glutinosa, common alder

• Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby, Italian alder

• Salix elaeagnos, olive willow

Summer Garden Pary Announcement (16’20”)

Q4 – “I have a sickly acer tree, it keeps coming back each year, what should I do to make it better?” (17’19”)

Q5 – “I have a west‑facing rooftop terrace. What flowers or edibles would you suggest. There are also many flights of stairs so nothing too heavy?” (21’13”)

Matthew Pottage

• Astelia spp., astelia

• Hebe spp., hebe

• Echeveria spp., echeveria

• Agave spp., agave

Bunny Guinness

• Hedera spp., ivy

• Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmine

• Citrus × microcarpa, calamondin orange

Chris Thorogood

• Salvia spp., sage/salvia

• Foeniculum vulgare, fennel

• Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, globe artichoke

Q6 – “What’s the best plant to put in your garden for bees?” - Bill Bailey (28’50”)

Bunny Guinness

• Symphytum ‘Hidcote’, comfrey ‘Hidcote’

Matthew Pottage

• Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Balkan clary ‘Caradonna’

Chris Thorogood

• Phacelia spp., phacelia

• Echium spp., echium

• Cerinthe major, honeywort

Q7 – “How could I become a famous gardener?” (30’46”)

Q8 – “I’ve overdone the purple in my garden. Everywhere’s purple… irises, nepeta, centaurea. What can I do to break up the purple?” - Martha Kearney (33’12”)

Bunny Guinness

• Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, avens ‘Totally Tangerine’

• Euphorbia mellifera, honey spurge

• Euphorbia × pasteurii ‘John Phillips’, spurge ‘John Phillips’

Chris Thorogood

• Euphorbia rigida, upright myrtle spurge

• Euphorbia myrsinites, broad-leaved glaucous spurge

• Stipa spp., feather grass

• Molinia spp., moor grass

Matthew Pottage

• Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, wormwood ‘Powis Castle’

• Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’, oleaster ‘Quicksilver’

• Rosa spp., rose (white forms)

• Allium spp., ornamental onion (white forms)

Q9 –  ”What do you wear when gardening at home? What are your favourite gardening clothes?” (36’19”)