Tropical-looking foxglove Digitalis Illumination Pink (‘Tmdgfp001’) takes the deserved title of RHS Plant of the Year 2012.
The peachy-pink flowered perennial was the overwhelming winner voted for by members of RHS plant committees. It was said to be impossible to breed this foxglove but Thompson & Morgan took on the challenge in 2006 and crossed Digitalis(Isoplexis) canariensis with Digitalis purpurea to achieve this exotic looking garden gem. The multi-branching spikes display flowers from June to November which are said to be a magnet for bees.
RHS President Elizabeth Banks will present the trophy to Thompson & Morgan on Tuesday 22 May at 10.40 at the Plant of the Year display in the Great Pavilion. (GPG 10).
Dianthus Memories (‘WP11 Gwe04’) from Whetman Pinks with its stiking white, strongly perfumed flowers and grey foliage took second place while third went to JS Pennings ‘De Bilt’ for its double-flowered dark blue Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Royal Navy’.
Other entrants this year included;
Streptocarpus ‘Harlequin Lace’ have large lobelia-blue flowers and Streptocarpus ‘Sweet Melys’ Nurseries (said to be the first streptocarpus with a strong scent) from Dibley’s Nurseries (GPD10).
Tillandsia ‘Samantha’ from Every Picture Tells a Story (GPB8) has pale-green-pink candle inflorescence.
Nepenthes ‘Linda’ from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants (GPF2) has large colourful pitchers.
Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Freak!’ with its repeat-flowering throughout the summer and repeat-flowering Osteospermum ‘In The Pink’ from Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants (GP16).
Choisya × dewitteana ‘Aztec Gold’ from Hillier Nurseries(GPD13) has a bushy habit and aromatic, golden-yellow foliage.
Lilium ‘Bethan Evans’ (Martagon) is hardy to -35°c and strongly-perfumed Lilium ‘Cream Tea’ from HW Hyde & Son.
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Royal Navy’ from J S Pennings “De Bilt”(GPF16) has deep blue flowers with double florets.
Rosa The Queen’s Jubilee Rose (‘Beajubilee’) from Peter Beales Roses GPD16 has fragrant blooms that are white-blushed with peach.
Heuchera ‘Circus’ from Plantagogo is mainly grown for its colour-changing foliage which goes from deep green to light green and then silver green with clear green rim with purple veining which deepens in the spring. In autumn the foliage turns pink and which deepens in colour through the winter.(GPH13).
Being grown in the Generation Gardens (GPD1-4) are:
Dianthus barbatus Green Trick (‘Temarisou’) that has flowers the size of tennis balls, tropical-looking Digitalis Illumination Pink (‘Tmdgfp001’), and Digitalis ‘Silver Cub’ with multiple flower stems bearing white blooms, produced from a rosette of silvery-white, woolly leaves, and Petunia × atkinsianaGioconda Series, which is a free-spreading plant bred to withstand temperatures of -5°c.
Clematis ‘Shikoo’ from Thorncroft Clematis (GPD6) with double, blue early flowers.
Aeonium ‘Cornish Tribute’ and Aeonium ‘Logan Rock’ fromTrewidden Nursery (GPC25) both have a compact form making them ideal for pot and container growing. They are also drought tolerant.
Dianthus Memories (‘WP11 Gwe04’) from Whetman Pinks(GPB14) with its white flowers and exceptionally strong spicy perfume.
