Meet RHS Hampton Court’s 2023 Master Grower Calamazag – a family-run grower specialising in dianthus
Each year, extraordinary nurseries are selected as Master Growers, and feature at an RHS Show to shine a spotlight on exceptional specialist plant suppliers. This year, Calamazag have been chosen to bring their Master Grower display to the Floral Marquee.
A growing family
Regular visitors to RHS flower shows will recognise the name Calamazag. They are show veterans and have claimed countless top medals for their beautiful dianthus displays.
Owned and run by Benedicte and Stephen Jenkinson, Calamazag Nursery is an independent family-run plant nursery based on a small holding near Looe, East Cornwall.
The nursery dates back to the 1950s when Benedicte’s grandparents grew plants for the wholesale and cut flower markets. Under the third generation (and training the fourth!) the family business is thriving with a reputation for customer service, sustainable growing and of course, beautiful flowers.
Calamazag grows over a 1000 varieties of plants, including rockery plants, cottage garden perennials, succulents and kitchen garden plants however they specialise in dianthus and have built up one of the largest commercially available ranges in the country.
“Growing exciting plants in a sustainable and ecological way is what we are all about”
Sustainable growing
Calamazag is committed to sustainable, ecological plant growing. They are 100% peat-free and their plants are not grown using artificial lighting or heating. They say their methods make the growing process is a little slower, but believe that it makes for more naturally grown, happier, healthier plants.
There’s a programme of tree-planting and converting fields at the smallholding to meadow to provide plants for pollinators, encourage biodiversity and make a positive impact on the environment.
Benedicte says “Gardens are sanctuarys for our mental wellbeing and havens for wildlife. Plants play such a big role in our gardens, filling them with colour and life. Growing exciting plants in a sustainable and ecological way is what we are all about.”
Medal-winning show veterans
Benedicte and Stephen believe in engaging with their customers and have nurtured a strong online community, with growing advice and offers as well as keeping customers up to date with what’s going on at the nursery. Their attendance at flower shows not only builds their brand as world-class specialist growers, but also enables them to meet their customers and share advice and tips.
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