With Floral Fantasia in full bloom, Miracle-Gro is pleased to share an update on how the garden at RHS Hyde Hall continues to flourish; with Miracle-Gro’s sponsorship of the 2025-2026 season thriving throughout what has been a particularly harsh and hot summer.
Throughout the summer, gardening enthusiasts and visitors to RHS Hyde Hall have been able to enjoy the Floral Fantasia Garden, praising its varied floral displays of traditional and exciting new plant varieties, with many grown using Miracle-Gro’s peat-free compost.
Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Director at Evergreen Garden Care said: “After a particularly challenging summer, with four heatwaves and nationwide drought warnings, we’re more pleased than ever that our peat-free range of compost and plant food show how Miracle-Gro products bring gardens to life.
We’ve received countless comments from visitors to the garden, exclaiming how the gardens are looking more vibrant than ever, and we hope this will inspire confidence in gardeners that they can achieve similar results in their own garden. At Evergreen Garden Care, we’re fundamentally aligned to the work at the Floral Fantasia garden, celebrating innovation with a pioneering spirit, helping the industry to grow and evolve”
The only independent UK trial grounds for bedding plants and perennials has garnered specific acclaim, for its Begonia Trial, which has become one of the highlights of this season in particular. With more than 400 plants taking centre stage in a dazzling summer display, the containers in the trial are grown in 100% Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost, with Miracle-Gro compost dug into the beds at the time of planting and the plants regularly fed using the appropriate feed from the Miracle-Gro range.
Running from early June through to September, the showcase brings together 105 cultivars in two distinct formats: 51 varieties thriving in raised beds within the trial garden, and 54 container-grown entries arranged around the perimeter. With 162 begonias in pots and 255 in-ground specimens, the trial offers visitors a comprehensive look at the versatility and vibrancy of this much-loved seasonal plant.
The trial has impressed judges and visitors alike states Michael Smith, Chairperson of the Floral Fantasia Working Group. Speaking on the partnership, Michael commented: “It’s been such a relief that we can move forward with the garden thanks to Miracle-Gro to make the garden the centre of excellence with seasonal planting. One of the exciting things about Floral Fantasia this year is showing the public that you can grow in Peat-free compost, and that’s where we want to keep going.
This year, the Begonias are performing really strong and look fantastic in both the beds and the containers, so we’re all really proud of what we’ve achieved and looking forward to what phase two of the garden holds.”
Spanning a breath-taking spectrum of colours, from soft creams and delicate apricots to fiery scarlets, deep pinks, and rich cherry reds, the trial represents some of the most notable and diverse begonia collections in horticulture, including the Nonstop, Illumination, Bossa Nova, and Funky series.
Elaine Gotts, R&D Scientist and LRS Coordinator at Evergreen Garden Care, stated “This season at Floral Fantasia has been an invaluable opportunity to continue learning about how plants respond to growing in peat-free composts under testing conditions such as exposed sites, clay soil, and prolonged drought.
By adapting the feeding regimes and trialling different approaches, the Trials team have been able to demonstrate that even in a hot, dry summer, vibrant and resilient displays are possible. It’s been rewarding to see how Miracle-Gro’s peat-free solutions can support both experienced gardeners and those new to peat-free growing, giving them confidence that success is achievable whatever the season brings.”
Meanwhile Ian Le Gros, Curator and Head of Site at RHS Hyde Hall commented: “With all the plans for the site, and the Floral Fantasia garden in particular, we couldn’t do it without support of our partners including Miracle-Gro.
We’re now able to plan and do more in one season, including reforming the garden, and putting in new structures, to carry the garden forward for the next five years which is a fantastic result for us.”
Bringing Floral Fantasia to life
Sponsoring Floral Fantasia aligns perfectly with Miracle-Gro’s campaign, Bringing Gardens to Life. More than just growing vibrant blooms, lush lawns, and bountiful produce, the campaign champions the broader benefits of spending time in the garden—whether through planting, playing, or simply relaxing outdoors. By supporting Floral Fantasia, Miracle-Gro is helping to create an inspiring, accessible space that encourages people of all ages and abilities to reconnect with nature and discover the wellbeing boost that gardening brings, at same time as showcasing the great performance of Miracle Gro peat-free compost.
This partnership offers a living embodiment of the campaign’s message: that gardens are not only spaces for growth, but also for joy, creativity, and connection. From the immersive plant trials to the colourful displays designed to spark imagination, Floral Fantasia provides the ideal backdrop to demonstrate how Miracle-Gro sustainable, peat free compost mixes help transform everyday gardens into vibrant, life-enhancing spaces.
The transition to peat-free gardening is one that the Miracle-Gro brand has helped drive since going completely peat-free in 2023. Miracle-Gro's years of research and investment in R&D and manufacturing to deliver exceptional quality and growing performance of peat-free compost ensures that gardeners can be confident that they will get great growing results in their own garden, whatever they are growing.
