Malvern’s 2022 Master Grower was Pheasant Acre Plants, a specialist in cultivating gladioli and dahlias, along with tulips and other spring bulbs, and the winner of 10 consecutive Gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
This established family business, run by Robert Evans and established in 2007, operates from nursery premises near Bridgend in South Wales.
The story behind Pheasant Acre Plants
Initially the company specialised in gladioli corms and received many awards for its gladioli displays at flower shows, first exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2010. Of this time Robert said: “Growing all these varieties of different plants – there’s something different about all of them...
“With the gladiolus, it’s planting them in the spring and seeing them break through the surface of the soil in a matter of weeks.”
He explained his favourite variety of gladioli to grow is Gladiolus ‘Prince of Orange’, as “its bright, vibrant orange sets any garden alight!”
Extending the range of plants
Pheasant Acre’s range was extended to spring-flowering daffodils and tulips – and later alliums. In 2012 the growing area at the nursery was substantially increased, which enabled production to increase and the range to be extended to include dahlias supplied as tubers, plug-plants and pot-grown plants.
Robert said his favourite variety was Dahlia ‘Clearview Debby’ because “the shape of the bloom, petal and colouring all make it stand out.”
The 2022 Master Grower display
The Master Grower Pheasant Acre Plants exhibited in the Floral Marquee contained a dazzling display of tulips with many different shapes and colours.
Tulipa ‘African King’ was a glorious, multi-coloured triumph that is one of nursery owner Rob Evans’ favourites. Its deep blackcurrant-coloured centres fade to soft purplish-white at the top of the petals.
At the other end of the colour spectrum was Tulipa ‘Fireworks’, a lily-flowered bloom with incredibly vibrant red and yellow patterned petals.
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