The seven RHS Expert Groups (formerly RHS Plant Committees) provide an invaluable source of horticultural expertise. Group members come from all corners of horticulture – amateur, professional and commercial – and voluntarily commit their time to act as our ambassadors, helping us to promote plant excellence, extend our regional, national and international networks, and share their passion for plants.
What our RHS Expert Groups do
- Give talks, cultural demonstrations and advice at shows, public events and community projects around the country
- Propose plants for RHS Trials and contribute to trials forum expertise
- Provide advice to gardens on collections and planting plans
- Assist the RHS in its rolling review and round-table assessment of RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) plants
- Ratify all recommendations for RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from trials forums and round-table assessments
- Assess plants for award at group meetings
- Nominations and decisions on RHS annual awards to plants and people
- Participate in show judging panels at RHS Horticultural Competitions
- Enable strong links with RHS Partner Gardens, Plant Societies, National Collection holders, gardening clubs and other associations
- Promote careers in horticulture to people of all ages and welcome students and horticulturists to their meetings and events
- Support RHS initiatives such as Campaign for School Gardening, New Shoots, Britain in Bloom, Grow Your Own
RHS Expert Group Annual Awards
The RHS Expert Group Annual Awards were created to recognise those who are making an outstanding contribution within their plant group.
Meet the RHS Expert Groups
RHS Bulb Expert Group
The RHS Bulb Expert Group evolved in 2013 from the Daffodil and Tulip Committee (formed 1884) and its wider remit now covers bulbs and other subterranean plants across all seasons, including corms, tubers and rhizomes. Its members also contribute to the production of the Daffodil, Snowdrop and Tulip Yearbook and help to organise and judge relevant plants at regional horticultural shows and competitions. The group has strong links internationally, particularly in Holland, and representatives of the RHS Lily Group also sit in this group. The RHS is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for daffodils and lilies.
RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Expert Group
The RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Expert Group was formed in 1858 and is the oldest Expert Group. Its members also assist with the scheduling and judging of fruit, vegetable and herb classes at horticultural competitions and shows, and participate in cultivar identification at various locations around the country. They contribute expertise to RHS applications and campaigns, and membership includes representatives from the RHS Fruit Group.
RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group
The RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group, formed in 1859 as the Floral Committee and renamed in 2005, has a huge remit covering hardy herbaceous perennials such as chrysanthemums, carnations and pinks, delphiniums and grasses. It works collaboratively with the Tender Ornamental Expert Group on the assessment of seasonal bedding plants, both in formal trials and within the rolling review of AGMs. The RHS is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for delphiniums, dahlias and Dianthus.
RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group
The RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group was formed in 1936 and known as the Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee, comprising an equal number of experts representing the RHS, Alpine Garden Society and the Scottish Rock Garden Club. From 2024, this limit has been lifted to ensure the group’s membership continues to reflect the best relevant expertise regardless of geography or society affiliation, and the group was renamed. As well as meetings, the group attends shows and events all over the UK, judging and assessing a wide range of rock gardens and alpine plants for the RHS Plant Awards, including the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
RHS Orchid Expert Group
The RHS Orchid Expert Group was formed in 1889 and holds meetings around the country, working with local orchid societies and assessing more than 200 plants for RHS Plant Awards every year. The group has strong international links, and its members represent the committee and the RHS at events all over the world. The group assists in the planning and delivery of the annual RHS Orchid Show and The Orchid Review Yearbook publication. The RHS is also the International Cultivar Registration Authority for orchid hybrids.
The Orchid Review newsletter
Did you know that you can sign up via email to get the latest news from the world of orchids, including introductions, breeding advice, updates and scientific findings?
RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group
Formed in 1963 and renamed in 2005, the RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group comprises experts in growing tender plants from around the world, which, in temperate climates, are normally grown under protection. Its annual programme of events includes talks and demonstrations at a variety of flower shows, and it works collaboratively with the Herbaceous Expert Group on the assessment of seasonal bedding plants, both in formal trials and within its rolling review of the AGM list.
RHS Woody Expert Group
The RHS Woody Expert Group was formed in 1859 as part of the Floral Committee and renamed in 2005. It is the source of expertise for hardy trees and shrubs, which includes old hybrid and species roses as well as hardy climbing plants. The group makes study visits to many gardens with important collections. It has strong links with the International Dendrology Society and other relevant societies, and membership includes representatives from the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group. The RHS is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for clematis, conifers and rhododendrons.
For more information on RHS Expert Groups, please email [email protected].
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