Shows

As the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival drew to a close recently, reflections linger on days steeped in sunshine, heavy with scent, and warmed not only by the blazing summer heat but also by the shared joy of gardening.

Now that the show gardens have been dismantled and the last petals settle, we take a quiet moment to reflect on this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Chelsea is far more than an event; it is a meeting of minds and a celebration of beauty, carefully tended and thoughtfully shared.

This year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we’ve created something truly special - a garden that feels like a quiet retreat. Inspired by the idea of a hidden sanctuary, our Secret Garden is calm, immersive, and filled with roses that each tell part of the story. At 16m x 16m, it’s our most ambitious stand yet, but also our most personal.

Each May, a quiet corner of London becomes something extraordinary. The grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea are transformed into a living showcase of creativity, craftsmanship and horticultural passion. For us at David Austin^® Roses, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a defining moment in the year - the result of many months of growing, planning and collaboration. It’s a chance to share our work, celebrate what we love, and connect with visitors who are as passionate about gardens as we are.

We were delighted to be included in the show gardens at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live. The event celebrates the joys of summer gardening with a line-up of Gardeners’ World TV presenters and leading experts, alongside inspiring show gardens, a vibrant floral marquee, and a wide array of plants, shopping, and entertainment.

Every appearance at this prestigious event is many months in the planning, from selecting the theme and designing the stand, to meticulously preparing the selected roses and bringing it all together for one magical week each year. 

At this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show on 20th May 2024, David Austin ^® has revealed its new rose of the year in honour of iconic British potter Emma Bridgewater. A beguiling pink English shrub rose, her rosette form opens up to a crescendo of colours ranging from apricot and coral to mauve and lilac, nodding to the painterly nature of Emma Bridgewater’s collectible pottery, which have stolen the nation’s heart for decades

Approximately 60,000 petals from over 20 varieties of English roses, including those from the new rose we revealed at the show, Penelope Lively^®, will now become sustainable, biodegradable confetti sold on to benefit various UK cancer charities.

You may be familiar with Sue Kent as a regular presenter of Gardener’s World, but this year she also made her debut into the world of garden design too, securing a Silver Gilt Medal and much deserved People’s Choice Award for her #knollingwithdaisies garden design.