For many in the trade, the most interesting benefit of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the discovery of new plants that may spark a sales trend. It’s happened before with alliums, verbascum , iris and penstemon.

News has begun to filter through of some of the novelties we can expect at this month’s show (which opens on 19 May).

Fernando Gonzalez, returning to Chelsea Flower Show with a garden in the ‘Fresh’ category for sponsor, The Pure Land Foundation, promises two new introductions – an Arctic blackberry ‘Arom'arctic® Systrar® Rubus arcticus’, a very dainty Rubus species for the integrated containers in the gardens sparkling white marble-like boundary walls, and a newly-bred robust foxglove cross, Digitalis Illumination Series ‘Apricot’(pictured left).

The Pure Land Foundation was established by Bruno Wang, a London based Chinese business man, philanthropist and patron of the arts, to realise his charitable objectives.  Pure Land in Buddhism is the realm of higher consciousness, peace and harmony and upon seeing the preliminary garden sketches Mr Wang felt an immediate synergy with Fernando’s design, with its air of serenity and Eastern elements., Although not a Buddhist garden, it has the contemplative feel of a space to relax, unwind and even to meditate. The garden will feature a matrix of grasses and warm-coloured perennials.

Chelsea regulars and 19-times Gold medal winners Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants will show four newcomers amongst a collection of  favourites and crowd pleasers – Pyracantha 'Golden Paradise', Rehmannia ‘Magic Dragon’, Antirrhinum ‘Pretty in Pink’ and the late comer to the party, Verbascum ‘Firedance’, with its intense dusky red flowers that will make a bold statement in any garden.