By the bye
A few favourite 2025 April Fooleries
A small salute for the individuals and businesses in the horticulture industry who embrace the playful spirit of April Fools’ Day and provide us all with a much needed laugh.
Business
Back to bare roots: Perennial plants
To address the issue of plastic, the industry has introduced recycled, recyclable plant pots, wool or coir but some, such as Peter Nyssen, have switched to selling field grown, bare root perennials – we asked them for details.
Plants
David Austin to launch new rose at RHS Chelsea
To be revealed on Press Day at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the new David Austin rose has been over a decade in the making.
Business
New dawn for funeral flowers
One compostable arrangement at a time, the co-founder of The Farewell Flowers Directory Gill Hodgson, explains how they are on a mission to change the world of funeral flowers.
Gill Hodgson
Plants
Hydrangea Groundbreaker® BlushTM
Available in the UK this year, the world’s first ground cover, Hydrangea Groundbreaker® BlushTM.
Plants
HTA New Plant Awards 2025: Call for entries
Exhibitors of the upcoming HTA National Plant Show are invited to enter the HTA New Plant Awards 2025, which is sponsored by the RHS.
Plants
English Sweet Peas debut at 2025 RHS Chelsea with Sweet Pea ‘Amy Dowden’
UK sweet pea grower, English Sweet Peas announces 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut, with launch of new Sweet Pea ‘Amy Dowden’
Products
She Grows Veg launches herb range
Heirloom vegetable seed company, She Grows Veg expand their seed range to include herbs.
Plants
Jekka McVicar launches Thymus Jekka’s Bee Happy
Organic grower of herbs, author and broadcaster, Jekka McVicar VMH, launches her 10th thyme variety, Thymus Jekka’s Bee Happy.
Plants
On the hunt for rare daffodils
In search for rare varieties that are under threat, the Royal Horticultural Society is looking to public to help in the search rare British daffodils feared lost to history and science.
Plants
Knoll Gardens launch Miscanthus Red Spear
Ornamental grass specialist, Knoll Gardens announces the launch of striking, Miscanthus Red Spear.
Plants
Frank P Matthews launches Pear Cornishgold™
To be unveiled at the 2025 Garden Press Event, Frank P Matthews launches a special new Pear variety, ‘Cornishgold™’.
Tourism
Scottish snowdrop season gets underway
Organised by Discover Scottish Gardens, the Scottish snowdrop season will see gardens across Scotland opening their gardens to celebrate spectacle of iconic flowers.
Plants
Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year Competition
Launching in February, Plant Heritage’s annual search for rare and unusual plants returns, with the winner announced at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025
Plants
Celebrating the start of the tulip season
Celebrated this weekend in Amsterdam, National Tulip Day hailed the start of the new tulip season.
Plants
David Austin Roses introduces four curated rose collections
David Austin® launches four curated collections designed to ensure growing roses is accessible to all.
Gardens
RHS gardening predictions for 2025
Based on member enquiries, the Royal Horticultural Society has published its gardening predictions for the new year, bringing hope for a revival of the front garden.
Business
Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025
For 2025, the Pantone Colour Institute selected PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a brown hue imbued with richness, suggesting of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee.
Business
Houseplants: seasonal saviours for the last-minute shopper
Around one in seven of all houseplants sold in the UK’s garden centres are purchased in December.
Research
Phytophthora ramorum sniffer dogs
Innovative project by Forest Research, successfully trains detection dogs to specifically identify the tree pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum
