RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Plants in The ADHD Foundation Garden

The design includes a a diverse range of plants but with a bias towards umbellifers, symbolic of the Neurodiverse Umbrella

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris – climbing hydrangea

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

Normally grown as a climber, four of these beautiful hydrangeas will grow against the back wall. However, a fifth specimen is very special – a self-supporting Hydrangea petiolaris stands proudly on its own in the front of the garden. These plants represent the 1 in 5 people who are neurodivergent.

A star plant, this climbing hydrangea thrives in some of the most shady, inhospitable areas of the garden. Slow to establish, it will eventually romp along a wall or fence, clinging by aerial roots. Its almost heart-shaped, dark green leaves turn yellow in autumn, and masses of showy, lacy, white flowerheads appear in late spring and early summer.

Taxus baccata – English yew

The ever-dependable and beautiful yew trees are being grown in unusual topiary shapes.

Needle-like, dark green leaves on horizontal branches and fleshy, cup-shaped, bright-red autumn fruits on female plants. The dark green foliage of this slow-growing, evergreen conifer provides an excellent background for shrub and herbaceous borders. Broadly conical in shape, it's tolerant to dry shade, chalky and acid soils, and urban pollution. Yew also makes a fabulous, formal hedge.

Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata

“Visitors will see some more unusual plants; others will be more popular plants that might have been grown or fashioned in an uncommon way. This blend of planting reflects the garden’s theme of ‘thinking differently’.”

Katy Terry, garden designer

Umbellifers

Angelica archangelica
Angelica archangelica

Umbellifers are plants with umbel flowers – a form often described as ‘umbrella-shaped’. Commonly grouped under the ‘carrot’, ‘parsley’ or ‘celery’ family the official taxa is Apiaceae.
Several umbellifers feature in the garden as part of the themes of inclusivity and diversity.

Carpinus betulus – common hornbeam

Grown as a ‘swing tree’ – with a curved stem that almost defies gravity. This symbolises the uniqueness of neurodivergent people and the important role they play in society. It’s a substantial symbol and key element of the garden.

With vivid green catkins in March, followed by clusters of green fruit, and toothed mid-green leaves turning orange and gold in autumn, hornbeam is an excellent native tree for a large garden.

Carpinus betulus
Carpinus betulus

Plant lists are provided by the designer of the Garden as a guide to the plants they hope to use in the Garden based on the time of year, the location and the Client Brief. The plants that feature at the Show depends on a variety of factors such as weather during the growing season and availability. While the designers try to update lists where possible, the accuracy of the list cannot be guaranteed.

Read more

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.