The award for Best Plant Display at the HTA National Plant Show went to Lovania Nurseries for an inspirational display of alpines.

Bransford Webbs Plant Company, Channel Island Plants and Pentland Plants were all highly commended.

Among the features of Lovania’s display was a dining table with an alpine centre piece complete with place settings consisting of garden trowels and forks for cutlery. Lighting around the edge of the table helped to provide added effect. Along with a water feature, a planted chest of drawers and alpine cupcakes, the display had many features which could be easily replicated in a garden centre setting, providing cross selling opportunities.

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company took an innovative approach to promoting their new series of ‘wine and champagne’ inspired Hebes by using wine crates and bottles with bespoke hebe name labels on them.

Channel Island Plants produced a stunning display of plants which couldn’t fail to catch the eye. Like a living catalogue, the impact of the colour in hanging baskets and containers was dramatic.

Theming their display on the Commonwealth Games Pentland Plants effectively demonstrated how to tie in with national and international events to appeal to customers. Their turf path through the display was marked out as a running track, helping to pull the theme together with flag bunting providing a colourful edging.

Agrumi, Kirton Farm Nurseries, Wyevale Plants, Key Essentials, Gedney Bulbs, RHS, ProfitPlant, Green Team, Peter Eastwood Plants, HSK Gardening and Leisure, Allensmore Nurseries, Frank P Matthews and Plant Selfies were all praised for their displays.

The judges for 2014 were Ian Boardman from IBBIS UK Ltd, Mike Wyatt from Garden Trade News and Marcus Cousins from Aylett Nurseries.

Presenting the awards judge Ian Boardman comments “The standard of displays at the show was top notch with the quality of plants exceptional – all credit to British growers. There were plenty of show stoppers and great examples of inspirational merchandising that could easily be replicated within garden centres.”

He added: “The display from Lovania with such attention to detail, particularly in the table setting feature, was a worthy winner. A display such as this, even on a smaller scale, is sure to stop customers in their tracks and create a great talking point.”