The Chelsea Flower Show: A Complete Floral Guide
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the world's most prestigious horticultural event, held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. This florist guide focuses on the spectacular flowers and plants that make Chelsea the ultimate celebration of botanical beauty and floral artistry.
History and Floral Significance
First held in 1913, the Chelsea Flower Show has been the launching pad for some of the world's most beloved flowers and plants. Over the decades, Chelsea has introduced the public to revolutionary rose varieties, spectacular new perennials, exotic orchids, and rare specimens that have transformed British gardens.
The show has witnessed the debut of countless award-winning roses, including legendary varieties like 'Graham Thomas', 'Gertrude Jekyll', and 'Lady Emma Hamilton'. David Austin Roses, Harkness Roses, and other renowned breeders have used Chelsea as the stage for unveiling their latest creations, with Gold medal-winning roses often becoming instant bestsellers that define garden trends for decades.
Chelsea has also championed seasonal specialties. The late May timing means visitors experience the absolute peak of spring flowering, with the last of the tulips, the height of alliums, the first flush of roses, spectacular delphiniums, lupins, peonies, and irises all performing together in a floral symphony impossible to replicate at any other time or place. This unique moment in the gardening calendar creates displays of breathtaking color intensity and variety.
The show has been instrumental in popularizing specific flowers and planting styles. The cottage garden movement, prairie-style planting, tropical exotics, ornamental grasses, and naturalistic perennial meadows have all gained momentum through Chelsea displays. Individual plants have become garden center staples after winning hearts at Chelsea—think of Verbena bonariensis, Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant', or Salvia 'Amistad', all popularized through their starring roles in Chelsea gardens.
When to Experience Peak Floral Display
Timing: Late May (typically the third week) is carefully chosen to coincide with the absolute zenith of spring flowering when the greatest diversity of plants can be displayed in perfect bloom simultaneously.
Best days for flowers: Tuesday and Wednesday (members' days) offer flowers at their absolute freshest and most pristine. By Friday and Saturday, some blooms may be past their peak, though exhibitors work tirelessly to maintain displays.
Daily freshness: Visit early morning (8:00 AM) to see flowers with morning dew still glistening, blooms newly opened, and fragrances at their most potent before foot traffic and warm afternoon temperatures affect displays.
The Spectacular Floral Displays
Show Garden Flowers
Show gardens are horticultural masterpieces where flowers are the stars. Designers orchestrate complex planting schemes featuring:
Roses: The undisputed queens of Chelsea. Show gardens feature hundreds of rose varieties—climbing roses trained over arches and pergolas, shrub roses in billowing drifts, standard roses providing focal points, and ground-cover roses cascading over walls. You'll see David Austin's English roses in soft pastels, Harkness's vibrant modern varieties, old-fashioned damasks and albas, and rare heritage varieties. The concentration of roses in bloom creates an intoxicating fragrance that permeates entire sections of the showground.
Perennials: The backbone of Chelsea planting schemes. Expect to see:
Towering delphiniums in electric blues, pure whites, and deep purples
Stately lupins in rainbow colors
Magnificent peonies, both herbaceous and tree varieties, in every shade from white through pink to deep crimson
Irises of all types—bearded, Siberian, Japanese—in countless color combinations
Alliums providing architectural purple globes rising above plantings
Geraniums (cranesbills) in soft colors creating romantic ground-level displays
Salvias offering blues, purples, and reds throughout gardens
Nepetas (catmints) with their aromatic blue flowers
Oriental poppies in fiery oranges and reds
Late Spring Bulbs: The finale of bulb season features:
Last spectacular tulips, especially late-flowering varieties and lily-flowered types
Camassias with their starry blue or white spikes
Ornamental onions (Alliums) in numerous species from softball-sized 'Globemaster' to delicate Allium cristophii
Early Summer Treasures:
Foxgloves (Digitalis) towering with their tubular flowers
Early clematis varieties beginning their spectacular show
Aquilegias (columbines) in delicate color combinations
Euphorbias with their acid-yellow bracts
Foliage Plants: Chelsea showcases how flowers are enhanced by stunning foliage:
Hostas with variegated and textured leaves
Ferns providing lacy green backdrops
Heucheras with purple, bronze, and lime foliage
Ornamental grasses adding movement and texture
The Great Pavilion: A Floral Paradise
The massive marquee is essentially a cathedral of flowers, with the most extraordinary concentration of blooms you'll ever experience. The combined fragrance of thousands of flowers creates an almost overwhelming sensory experience.
Specialist Nursery Exhibits:
Rose Specialists: Exhibitors like David Austin Roses, Peter Beales Roses, and Harkness Roses create displays featuring dozens or even hundreds of varieties. You'll see:
New introductions making their world debut
Rare heritage varieties preserved by specialist growers
Climbing roses at their peak, trained over elegant structures
Roses arranged by color, creating breathtaking monochromatic displays
Fragrant varieties positioned to maximize their scent
Peony Growers: Specialist nurseries showcase tree peonies and herbaceous peonies in varieties you've never imagined. Massive blooms in coral, yellow, pink, white, and even near-black create stunning displays.
Iris Specialists: Bearded irises in every conceivable color combination—some with dramatic ruffles, others with contrasting beards, many with incredible fragrance.
Alpine and Rock Garden Plants: Miniature treasures displayed in carefully constructed landscapes, featuring tiny but perfectly formed flowers like:
Saxifrages in carpeting blooms
Gentians in intense blues
Alpine phlox in vivid colors
Sempervivums and other succulents
Clematis Specialists: Enormous displays of clematis varieties, from large-flowered hybrids to delicate species, trained up structures to show their full glory.
Orchid Displays: Extraordinary arrangements featuring:
Phalaenopsis in cascading arrangements
Cymbidiums in spectacular colors
Rare species orchids
Award-winning hybrids
Perennial Specialists: Nurseries create landscapes featuring:
Salvias in every shade of blue, purple, and red
Hardy geraniums in complementary drifts
Penstemons in jewel tones
Hemerocallis (daylilies) in both classic and modern varieties
Pelargonium Growers: Victorian-style displays of scented-leaf geraniums, regal pelargoniums, and trailing ivy-leaved varieties in extraordinary colors.
Auricula Displays: Traditional "theatre" presentations of these collectible primulas, arranged in tiers showing their perfect symmetry and incredible color patterns.
Carnation and Dianthus Specialists: Border carnations, pinks, and dianthus varieties in colors and patterns you've never seen, many intensely fragrant.
Floral Artistry and Floristry
Beyond growing exhibits, Chelsea features spectacular floristry installations:
Interpretive Floral Displays: Top florists create ambitious installations that might include:
Living walls constructed entirely from flowering plants
Suspended floral chandeliers
Architectural structures adorned with flowers
Abstract floral sculptures
Floral interpretations of themes like seasons, elements, or emotions
Cut Flower Arrangements: Traditional floristry at its finest, featuring:
Massive arrangements showcasing seasonal British-grown flowers
Exotic tropical flowers in dramatic designs
Delicate spring flowers in elegant compositions
Rose arrangements demonstrating the versatility of different varieties
Innovative Techniques: Florists demonstrate cutting-edge approaches, incorporating unusual materials, unexpected color combinations, and new technical methods.
Flowers to Look For
Must-See Flowering Plants at Chelsea
Roses (hundreds of varieties):
Look for: New David Austin releases, fragrant varieties, unusual colors like coral and peach
Where: Throughout show gardens, in the Great Pavilion rose exhibits, and for sale from specialist nurseries
Peonies (50+ varieties):
Look for: Tree peonies with dinner-plate blooms, fragrant herbaceous varieties, coral and yellow specimens
Where: Specialist exhibits, perennial displays, and incorporated into show gardens
Delphiniums (numerous cultivars):
Look for: 'Belladonna' types, 'Pacific Giants', and rare colors like pink
Where: Show gardens providing height and structure, cottage garden displays
Irises (bearded, Siberian, Japanese):
Look for: Dramatic color combinations, ruffled varieties, fragrant specimens
Where: Specialist iris exhibits, rock gardens, waterside plantings
Alliums (ornamental onions):
Look for: Giant 'Globemaster', star-shaped Allium cristophii, burgundy varieties
Where: Throughout show gardens providing architectural elements
Lupins:
Look for: 'Gallery' series in mixed colors, bicolors, unusual shades
Where: Cottage-style gardens, perennial meadows
Foxgloves (Digitalis):
Look for: Apricot varieties, pure whites, spotted throats
Where: Woodland-style plantings, cottage gardens
Geraniums (Hardy Cranesbills):
Look for: 'Rozanne' (blue), 'Patricia' (magenta), 'Elke' (double pink)
Where: Ground-level plantings throughout show gardens
Salvias:
Look for: Salvia nemorosa varieties, S. 'Amistad', S. patens, S. microphylla
Where: Contemporary gardens, Mediterranean-style plantings
Clematis:
Look for: Large-flowered hybrids, viticella varieties, early-flowering montana types
Where: Trained through roses, over arches, specialist exhibits
Tulips (late varieties):
Look for: Lily-flowered types, viridiflora varieties, late doubles
Where: Formal plantings, container displays
Aquilegias (Columbines):
Look for: 'Nora Barlow' doubles, bicolored varieties, long-spurred types
Where: Cottage gardens, woodland settings
Poppies (Oriental types):
Look for: Patty's Plum, salmon pinks, Princess Victoria Louise
Where: Perennial borders, cottage gardens
Fragrance Highlights
Chelsea is a feast for the nose as well as the eyes. Seek out:
Most Fragrant Flowers:
Roses: Especially David Austin varieties like 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'The Generous Gardener', and 'Lady Emma Hamilton'
Peonies: Particularly double pink varieties with classic rose scent
Lilacs: If any late varieties are included
Dianthus and Pinks: Clove-scented varieties
Sweet Rocket (Hesperis): Evening-scented
Scented-leaf Pelargoniums: Lemon, rose, peppermint, and other fragrances
Philadelphus (Mock Orange): If in bloom
Early honeysuckles: Sweet evening fragrance
Position yourself near fragrant displays when crowds thin to fully appreciate the perfumes.
Color Schemes and Combinations
Chelsea designers are masters of color theory. Study their combinations:
Monochromatic Gardens: All-white gardens, purple gardens, or hot-color gardens using flowers in related shades to create powerful statements.
Complementary Colors: Blue delphiniums with orange poppies, purple alliums with yellow euphorbias—colors opposite on the color wheel creating vibrant contrast.
Analogous Schemes: Harmonious combinations using neighboring colors—pinks, purples, and blues or yellows, oranges, and reds.
Subtle Gradations: Moving through shades from pale to deep, creating sophisticated effects.
Foliage as Color: Using silver, purple, lime, and variegated foliage to complement and enhance flower colors.
Plant Shopping Strategy
Thursday afternoon when plant sales begin offers the best selection. Here's how to shop for flowers:
Must-Buy Flowers:
Gold medal-winning roses: These sell out within hours
New plant introductions: Chelsea launches go on to be next year's bestsellers
Rare perennials: Varieties not available in garden centers
Award-winning pelargoniums: Stunning colors and patterns
Unusual clematis: Species and varieties you won't find elsewhere
Specialty irises: Particular colors or fragrant varieties
Shopping Tips:
Make notes throughout the day of plants you want, including exhibit numbers
Bring a trolley or wheeled bag
Arrive when sales open for best selection
Ask exhibitors about plant care requirements before buying
Consider delivery services for large orders
Buy extra plants as gifts—gardening friends will be thrilled
Saturday Afternoon Bargains: Plants at 50-75% off, but limited selection. You might score Gold medal roses for £5 instead of £25, but many popular varieties will be sold out.
Photography: Capturing Floral Beauty
Best Times for Flower Photography:
Early morning: Dew on petals, fresh blooms, soft light
Overcast conditions: Even lighting without harsh shadows
Late afternoon: Warm golden light
What to Photograph:
Individual flower portraits for plant identification later
Plant labels alongside flowers (you'll forget names otherwise)
Successful color combinations
Unusual flower forms or colors
Planting patterns and spacing
Flowers with attractive foliage companions
Close-ups showing petal detail and structure
Techniques:
Get down to flower level for intimate perspectives
Include foliage context to understand how plants work together
Photograph flowers in groups to see mass effect
Capture flowers from multiple angles
Take notes on your phone about what impressed you about specific plants
Flowers by Garden Style
Cottage Garden Style: Roses, delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves, peonies, hardy geraniums, campanulas, nepeta, aquilegias—all in profusion creating romantic, overflowing displays.
Contemporary/Modern Style: Architectural alliums, ornamental grasses, salvias, verbenas, penstemon, gaura, echinacea—used in naturalistic drifts with strong structural foliage.
Formal Style: Roses as standards and in beds, tulips in patterns, box-edged borders filled with seasonal flowers, elegant color schemes.
Mediterranean Style: Lavender, cistus, salvias, euphorbia, Mediterranean bulbs, silver foliage plants, with emphasis on drought-tolerant flowering plants.
Woodland Style: Shade-loving flowers including hellebores, epimediums, woodland geraniums, primulas, ferns, hostas, and delicate spring ephemerals.
Learning from the Experts
Talk to Exhibitors About:
How to grow specific flowers successfully
Soil requirements and aspect preferences
Companion planting suggestions
Pruning and maintenance needs
Where to source plants
Which varieties perform best in your region
Attend Floral Talks:
Rose specialists discussing new varieties
Perennial experts on plant combinations
Florists demonstrating techniques
Plant breeders explaining their work
Floral Trends to Watch
Recent Chelsea shows have highlighted:
Prairie-Style Planting: Using ornamental grasses with perennials like echinacea, rudbeckia, and salvia in naturalistic drifts mimicking North American prairies.
Climate-Adapted Flowers: Mediterranean and drought-tolerant plants including salvias, euphorbias, cistus, and other flowers suited to warmer, drier conditions.
Native Flowers: British wildflowers like foxgloves, field scabious, ox-eye daisies, and native geraniums incorporated into designed plantings.
Pollinator Plants: Flowers specifically chosen for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects—single flowers with accessible nectar and pollen.
Long-Flowering Perennials: Plants that bloom for months rather than weeks, extending the garden season.
Compact Varieties: Smaller cultivars of traditional flowers suitable for containers and small gardens.
Unusual Colors: Plant breeders introducing new colors—coral roses, black peonies, lime-green flowers, and unusual bicolors.
Creating Chelsea-Inspired Plantings at Home
Key Lessons:
Plant in Generous Groups: Chelsea designers plant perennials in groups of 3, 5, or more for impact. Single specimens rarely create the same effect.
Layer Heights: Tall flowers (delphiniums, foxgloves) at back, medium (roses, salvias) in middle, low (geraniums, nepeta) at front.
Extend Flowering: Combine early, mid, and late bloomers so something is always flowering.
Consider Foliage: Flowers are fleeting; foliage lasts months. Choose plants with attractive leaves.
Plan Color Schemes: Decide on a color palette before planting. Chelsea gardens succeed through disciplined color choices.
Think About Texture: Mix different flower forms—spiky (delphiniums, foxgloves), round (alliums, peonies), flat (achillea), and airy (verbena, gaura).
Include Fragrance: Position fragrant flowers near seating areas and paths where you'll appreciate them.
Seasonal Succession: Plan plantings so as spring flowers fade, summer flowers are ready to take over.
The Floral Experience
What makes Chelsea extraordinary is the sheer concentration and quality of flowers. Nowhere else will you see:
Thousands of roses in perfect bloom simultaneously
Rare plant varieties assembled from collections worldwide
Flowers grown specifically for this moment, timed to peak perfection
The absolute best examples of each species and variety
Expert combinations you can learn from and replicate
The atmosphere in peak flower areas—particularly the rose sections and peony displays—is intoxicating. The combined fragrances, intense colors, and visual beauty create an almost overwhelming sensory experience that stays with you long after you leave.
Flowers Throughout the Day
Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Flowers are fresh, many blooms have opened overnight, fragrances are strong, colors appear jewel-like in morning light.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Peak crowds, warm temperatures may affect some blooms, but flowers are spectacular in bright light. Some fragrant flowers smell strongest in warm afternoon sun.
Evening (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM): Softer light creates magical effects, crowds thin, evening-scented flowers like sweet rocket become more fragrant, roses release their perfume in cooling air.
Final Thoughts: The Flower Show Experience
Chelsea is ultimately about celebrating the beauty, diversity, and wonder of flowering plants. Whether you're admiring a Gold medal rose, discovering an unusual perennial, studying color combinations, or simply reveling in the visual feast, Chelsea reminds us why we garden—for the pure joy flowers bring.
Take time to really look at individual flowers. Notice petal texture, admire color gradations, inhale fragrances, observe how bees work different blooms. Chelsea moves at a frenetic pace, but the flowers themselves reward slow, attentive observation.
Bring home not just plants but inspiration—color ideas, planting combinations, knowledge about new varieties, and renewed enthusiasm for growing beautiful flowers. Chelsea's greatest gift is reminding us that gardens are fundamentally about flowers and the happiness they bring to our lives.
