RHS Chelsea 2021 Autumn Delights

RHS Chelsea 2021 was substantially different to previous years. Yes, we had Virtual Chelsea in 2020 and another virtual show in May 2021, but they both took place in late spring. This Chelsea Flower Show was an early autumn event.

The combination of September and a Sunday opening made this a double first for me and many others who visited on the last day.

The extended run was to allow for easier social distancing, but did add extra pressures on both trade exhibitors and the gardens. It can be hard enough keeping flowers looking good for the usual Monday to Saturday. The extra day, especially at the time of year when many of the plants would naturally begin to slow down – or drop fruit in the case of the fruit trees – required a lot of planning from the garden designers. But well done! Because they succeeded in producing a glorious autumnal display of flowers, fruit and foliage, set off by some rather lovely stone work in the hard landscaping.

And if it seemed odd not to be volunteering, it did give me a different perspective, being purely a ‘visitor’, albeit one in the industry. And that change of approach is always useful.

Before we get onto the photos, I would like to say how much we enjoyed the music on Sunday. It is one of the pleasures of RHS shows to be treated to musicians and singers you may know but also may not know. We were treated to West End Musical Choir, Stone Jets and The Femmes and can recommend all three, very different styles, as worth a listen to.

RHS Chelsea 2021 – Glorious Flowers and More

Photos to ogle, envy, enjoy – the glory of a flower show in full bloom, from the entrance gates, to the cafes, as well as filling trade stands and show gardens.

Indeed a shout out is needed for the trade stand, charity and educational exhibitors. Their displays can be found in the Great Pavilion and around the Show. Most are judged, which is why you will see certificates on the stands and why they are easily mistaken for a garden!

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 – the Great Pavilion

There’s always so much to see in the Great Pavilion; it really deserves a separate visit. A whole day to really find out all the fascinating facts in the Discovery Zone, discuss the various merits of the Plant of the Year and Sustainable Product of the Year finalists.

Plant of the Year 2021

From a shortlist of 18 finalists, three plants are chosen.
First place went to Cercis canadensis Eternal Flame, with vibrant leaf colour throughout the year its going to be a popular garden choice.

Second place was taken by Allium ‘Lavender Bubbles’, with a compact habit making it good for containers and smaller spaces.

Third place was won by an intergeneric hybrid, × Semponium ‘Sienna’. It’s parents are two different genus, Sempervivum and Aeonium.

Sustainable Product of the Year 2021

This was won by the item which first caught my eye because of its colour. Ocean plastic plant pots are made from discarded rope and fishing nets.
There were ten finalists and, as with the plants, the full list is on the RHS website. I’m just going to mention that there was another product made from recycled ocean plastic waste, also in a delicious sea green.

Elsewhere in the Great Pavilion, we loved the floral elephants, orchids, the blaze of chrysanthemums and salvias plus the vegetable displays.
And I was rather taken with Sparsholt Colleges display for Gilbert White’s 301st anniversary. His gardening Kalendar is a fascinating insight into weather conditions in the mid 18th century.

And onto the Gardens

Listed in alphabetical order in their categories to enable you to easily find out more about those that take your particular fancy.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 – Show Gardens

The category that usually gets the most mentions, these are the largest gardens at Chelsea. There were fewer of them this year, but the standard was as good as ever. Salvia uliginosa, blue bog sage, was one of the most used plants at RHS Chelsea 2021, and made a subtle contrast in form and colour to massed dahlias and rudbeckia

Bodmin Jail: 60° East – A Garden Between Continents
Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden – using Salvia uliginosa to excellent effect, this was awarded Best Show Garden.
The Florence Nightingale Garden: A Celebration of Modern-Day Nursing – 200 years since her birth, this is a courtyard garden for a hospital where visitors, staff and patients can relax.
The M&G Garden
The Trailfinders 50th Anniversary Garden – remembering their first overland trips to Kathmandu in 1970 (
The Yeo Valley Organic Garden

RHS Chelsea 2021 – Feature Gardens

The Feature Gardens are basically those with RHS involvement and oftenhave an educational theme.

RHS COP26 Garden – ways we can make changes in our gardens to help combat climate change.
RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden – showcasing part of the tree planting initiative for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022
The BBC One Show and RHS Garden of Hope – loved the beautiful steam-bent wooden sculpture by Charlie Whinney, which winds and flows through the garden.

one show, rhs chelsea flowers show 2021, feature gardens

RHS Chelsea 2021 – Sanctuary Gardens

As you’d expect, these gardens showcase the restorative power of gardens and gardening.
The Psalm 23 Garden
Finding Our Way: an NHS Tribute Garden
Finnish Soul Garden
The Boodles Secret Garden
The Calm of Bangkok
The Parsley Box Garden – One for the over 60s – a challenge to the outdated stereotypes of ageing.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 – Artisan Gardens

These smaller gardens are often easier for visitors to relate to; being on a more domestic scale. There were only two this year, but they were among my favourite gardens.

Guide Dogs’ 90th Anniversary Garden –
From dark planting representing the isolation of sight loss, a steel sculpture shows the journey to a better life with a canine companion. I learned that the first guide dogs were German Shepherds and their owners were veterans blinded in the First World War. We had a lovely chat with Siobhan and were allowed to stroke her black Labrador Marty as she’d removed his harness. A treat indeed as guide dogs when in working harness should not be made a fuss of.
The Blue Diamond Forge Garden – a mix of edible herbs, medicinal plants and wildflowers set around a blacksmith’s forge.

blue diamond forge, rhs chelsea flowers show 2021, artisan gardens

guide dogs 50th anniversary garden, rhs chelsea flowers show 2021, artisan gardens

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 – Smaller Gardens

Small Space Gardening ideas for precious urban green spaces from Balcony Gardens and Container Gardens.

Balcony Gardens

Although an inspiration to those with tiny garden spaces, I do hope the heavyweight items aren’t added to second story balconies before checking with a structural surveyor, garden consultant or at least the landlord. The designers were all new-to-Chelsea.
Arcadia
Balcony of Blooms
Green Sky Pocket Garden
Sky Sanctuary
The Landform Balcony Garden

Container Gardens

Plenty of ideas here for those who need to take their gardens with them when they move. Arguably aimed at renters, there were a huge range of concepts from soothing green forests to clean the air to vibrant containers packing a fun punch.

A Tranquil Space in the City
Pop Street Garden
The Hot Tin Roof Garden
The IBC Pocket Forest
The Stolen Soul Garden

rhs chelsea flowers show 2021, container gardens

‘Best of’ and Peoples Choice awards

Best Show Garden
Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden
Designed by Peter Chmiel with Chin-Jung Chen

Best Construction Award (Show Garden)
The Trailfinders’ 50th Anniversary Garden
Built by Stewart Landscape Construction

Best Sanctuary Garden
Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden
Designed by Sarah Eberle

Best Artisan Garden
The Blue Diamond Forge Garden
Designed by The Blue Diamond Group Team

Best Construction Award (Artisan/Sanctuary Garden)
Bible Society: The Psalm 23 Garden
Built by Landform Consultants Ltd

The People’s Choice Best Show Garden
The Yeo Valley Organic Garden
Designed by Tom Massey, supported by Sarah Mead

The People’s Choice Best Sanctuary/Artisan Garden
The Parsley Box Garden
Designed by Alan Williams

And finally…

The autumn delights of RHS Chelsea 2021 certainly made for a different experience.

And for those of you who would like to compare it with earlier years, check out some of the blog links below or why not download our eBook “RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012-16”

For further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.

If you would like help with learning more about your garden and gardening, why not ask about our bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden. We can help you learn gardening basics, and also show you how to plan an ornamental border or kitchen garden