Blue Diamond Garden Centres has again been awarded a coveted Gold Medal at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, following last year’s outstanding success when the company received its first-ever Gold Medal, alongside the prestigious ‘Tree of the Show’ accolade for the exceptional Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’.
Judges were once again impressed by the ambitious garden exhibit, ‘Blue Diamond Garden Centres: An Immersive Walk-Through our Home-Grown Collection’, created by multi-award-winning designer Peter Dowle and his team at Leaf Creative, Blue Diamond’s Customer Garden Design Service. Blue Diamond collaborated with the team last year to achieve their previous Chelsea success.
The exhibit showcases the breadth, quality and relevance of plants grown directly within Blue Diamond’s nurseries, while also addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing today’s gardeners. It remains the only fully immersive, walk-through garden exhibit within the Great Pavilion.
Alan Roper, Blue Diamond Chief Executive Officer, said: “It’s incredible to see our garden brought so masterfully to life through such meticulous craftsmanship, hard work, and dedication. Thank you to everyone involved - what an amazing team effort”.
RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award
Blue Diamond also achieved success in the RHS Chelsea ‘Plant of the Year Award’, with their entrant, Hydrangea Velvet Night® ‘Red Lace’, receiving third place.
Bred by Botanic Experience, introduced by Van Son & Koot BV and available exclusively at Blue Diamond Garden Centres, this hydrangea produces a truly distinctive combination of near-black, dark red foliage and vibrant red lace cap flowers — an unprecedented pairing in hydrangeas.
Thriving in moist, well-drained soil in partial shade, it offers season-long visual impact, with dramatic foliage providing interest beyond flowering. Ideal for borders or containers, it is both eye-catching and versatile, setting a new benchmark for ornamental hydrangeas.
New and Exclusive Roses
Blue Diamond Garden Centres also launched three new and exclusive roses, all bred by Rosen Tantau, at the Show.
Rosa ‘Diddly Squat Farm Rosé Rose’, christened by Lisa Hogan, co-founder of Diddly Squat Farm Shop, was launched to celebrate a new and exclusive partnership between Diddly Squat Farm and Blue Diamond.
Lisa Hogan said: “It’s been my absolute pleasure getting to know the Blue Diamond Team, while working on the ‘Diddly Squat Farm Rosé Rose’, it really is the colour of a delicious glass of rosé on a summer’s day. Blue Diamond are passionate about plants as we are, and I look forward to learning a lot more from them as we continue to work together”.
Blue Diamond also unveiled Rosa ‘Loving Arms’ on behalf of Hospice UK, Blue Diamond’s Charity Partner for 2026, and Rosa ‘Rhubarb ‘N’ Custard’, named by competition winner Gillian Hayes.
Mike Clarke, Senior New Business Executive for Hospice UK, said: “It was an honour to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to help launch the truly stunning ‘Loving Arms’ rose."
Mike attended the event alongside Hospice UK’s celebrity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford, who gave a heartfelt speech highlighting how hospice care touches almost everyone — whether directly or through friends and family.
Mike said: “It means a great deal that Blue Diamond are supporting Hospice UK this year. The impact this will have across Hospice UK and the wider hospice community will be significant”.
He also shared a personal example from a colleague, Lucy, who already has the rose in her garden in memory of her father and says it will serve as a beautiful reminder of him each time it blooms. Mike noted that everyone will have their own reason for purchasing the rose — whether in memory of a loved one or simply because it is a striking and beautiful plant.
Mike concluded by thanking the team at Blue Diamond Garden Centres for the opportunity and their generous support.
