Celebrating exceptional outstanding plants with a new or improved feature, the winner of the 2025 RHS Plant of the Year Award is the Philadelphus Petite Perfume, bred by Alan Postill, exhibited by Sparsholt College and supplied by Hillier Nurseries Ltd.

The first truly pink-flowered Philadelphus, the fragranced flowers of which are deep pink, fading to pale with dark pink centres. Compact, this unique mock orange’s is easy to grow, requires no pruning and is ideal for any garden. Preferring full sun to light shade, this deciduous shrub is fully hardy in the UK. Grows to 150 (h) x 150cm (s).

Runner-up

In joint second place was Hosta ‘Silly string’, bred by Hans Hansen (Walter’s Gardens), exhibited by Sienna Hosta and supplied by Fairweather’s Nursery. A hosta with narrow blue leaves with intensely wavy margins. Vigorous and fast-growing, it forms a cascading mound of foliage with pale purple flower spikes in summer. Grows to 35(h) x 70cm (s).

Joint second place: Salvia Tropicolour Sunrise (‘Tropog021’). Bred by La Rolando Uría and Francisco Lozano, exhibited by Middleton Nurseries. A salvia that requires no deadheading. Vibrant orange-red petals with coppery yellow calyces, and deep green leaves with purple undersides – a unique colour combination in the salvia market. Grows to 70 (h) x 60cm.