Seawilding by Ryan McMahon will capture the spirit of Scotland’s west coast landscape, with a saltwater pool planted with seagrass, the UK’s only native ocean plant. This will be the first RHS Chelsea garden to be partially relocated to the ocean floor. The garden exclusively features plants native to the west coast of Scotland, such as globeflower, a wildflower of the Scottish wet meadows, and string sedge.
Amidst the ongoing climate crisis, The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden by Zoe Claymore will evoke the verdant wilderness of the rainforests that once swathed the British west coast. Reflecting a trend towards naturalistic planting and regenerative gardening, the planting utilises native shade-loving plants to boost local wildlife. Lichened silver birch trees, dense ferns, and foxgloves will feature throughout, while a striking two-metre moss wall will provide a lush backdrop for a tumbling waterfall.
A soft, countryside-inspired palette of plants features in The SongBird Survival Garden by Nicola Oakey which highlights how gardeners can support the UK’s declining songbird population. Bird-friendly planting such as arctic bramble, grasses and yew hedges provide food, nesting material and shelter for songbirds whose population has declined by 50% in just two generations.
The Hospitalfield Arts Garden, a new addition to the show garden category, joins the homage to British landscapes with a dramatic dune topography and coastal planting inspired by the east coast of Scotland. Designed by Nigel Dunnett, who returns to RHS Chelsea for the first time since 2017, the garden features planting established in sand to demonstrate how mineral materials can be used as a growing medium to encourage more diverse plants.
From biodiversity to neurodiversity, The ADHD Foundation Garden designed by Kate Terry wraps up the All About Plants line up and is set to celebrate the uniqueness of people. A layered sensory space, the garden will feature uncommon plant varieties as well as popular plants fashioned in an unusual way to reflect the beauty of diversity.
Helena Pettit, Director of Shows, Commercial and Innovation said: “RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always an exciting opportunity for designers to offer a different perspective on garden design, and it’s lovely to see designers bring these British Isle landscapes to life across the garden categories. These designs are a wonderful example of how gardeners from all walks of life can look closer to home for beautiful and sustainable gardening inspiration.”
The gardens in the All About Plants category have a particular focus on unusual and specialist plants. The gardens in this category and The Hospitalfield Arts Garden are supported by Project Giving Back, a grant-giving charity that supports gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 20-24 May 2025 and tickets are available online at rhs.org.uk/Chelsea.
