Thompson & Morgan Gardening Blog

T&M is proud to announce that four of our new flowering plants have been shortlisted for the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2023 award and will be judged at the show on 22nd May. All plants are available to view in the floral marquee during the event!

T&M’s Shortlisted Plant of the Year Varieties

Hydrangea serrata ‘Euphoria Pink’

The first Hydrangea serrata that’s all about stunning foliage AND flowers!

The striking tricolour foliage of this handsome Hydrangea flushes vibrant pink, white and green each spring. As the pink fades, unique lacecap-style blooms burst from pale pink buds into two-tone red flowers with pale centres.

Ideal for pots, containers & borders

This easy to grow shrub is ideal for moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in sun or shade and is hardy down to -20C.

The latest in Hydrangea breeding

‘Euphoria Pink’ was discovered in a long-term Japanese breeding programme with rooted cuttings sent to Osco Garden BV in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. Van Son & Koot Nursery BV from Kaatsheuvel / Netherlands rooted cuttings under license and prepared the plants for the show.

Exhibited in partnership with Stonebarn Landscapes, stand GPF090, and Mr. Nagasaki T. from Japan representing Osco Garden BV, Aalsmeer/Netherlands.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Euphoria Pink’

Flowers: June to September
Height and spread: 120cm.

1 x 13cm Potted Plant
Code: KF1217
£19.99

3 x 13cm Potted Plants
Code: KF4999
£29.99

1 x 3-Litre Potted Plant
Code: KF1218
£29.99

2 x 3-Litre Potted Plants
Code: KF5000
£49.99

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Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’

African Lily

Larger and longer-lasting blooms produced in profusion!

‘Black Jack’ offers bigger flowers and more blooms through the season. This amazing Agapanthus produces 10 times as many florets per flowerhead for a flowering season twice as long as its competitors.

The “must have” Agapanthus for a striking display

Easy to grow and heat tolerant, ‘Black Jack’ boasts strong vigour and a striking presence in borders and containers. Large flowerheads are filled with black buds that open to deep black-purple striped blooms – these fade to deep purple and take on a dazzling metallic sheen with age.

A unique variety from 20 years of breeding

De Wet Plant Breeders, South Africa, set out to produce disease resistant, vigorous, heat-tolerant and multi-flowering cultivars and a black cultivar was always high on the wish list. 17 years into the program, they finally got “the one”! ‘Black Jack’ is a unique Agapanthus that’s the result of years of dedicated hybridised breeding.

Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’ is exhibited in partnership with Sparsholt College, stand GPA008.

Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’

Flowers: July to September
Height: 80cm. Spread: 70cm

1 x 9cm Potted Plant
Code: KF2470
£14.99

3 x 9cm Potted Plants
Code: KF4998
£27.99

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Tradescantia andersoniana JS® ‘Brainstorm’ PBR

Spider Lily

A breakthrough in breeding!

Tradescantia ‘JS® Brainstorm’ produces masses of blooms with a high flower count per flower head for an eye-catching display. Dark purple buds open to reveal large magenta-purple blooms with prominent bright golden anthers with fluffy filaments.

The longest-flowering Tradescantia – enjoy flowers for 6 months!

Flowering continuously over an astonishing six months from June to November, ‘JS® Brainstorm’ blooms for two months longer than most other Tradescantia.

Selected from a long-term Tradescantia breeding programme

‘JS® Brainstorm’ was initially selected for its purple foliage and subsequently for its large flowers, number of flowers per umbel and long flowering period. This easy-care perennial is versatile, low-maintenance and hardy to -30C.

Tradescantia ‘JS® Brainstorm’ is exhibited in partnership with Hare Spring Cottage Plants, stand GPD065.

Tradescantia andersoniana JS® ‘Brainstorm’ PBR

Flowers: June to November
Height: 50cm. Spread: 40cm

1 x 9cm Potted Plant
Code: KF0834
£12.99

3 x 9cm Potted Plants
Code: KF1572
£24.99

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Weigela ‘Camouflage’

Weigela florida

Vivid variegation plus bright red blooms!

‘Camouflage’ is a stunning compact Weigela with variegated bright green and dark black/green foliage. These petite plants become smothered with bright ruby-red funnel-shaped flowers borne on aching stems in May and June, attracting pollinators to the garden.

Sensational for small spaces

Weigela ‘Camouflage’ is a deciduous, low-maintenance, fully hardy shrub that’s perfect for small gardens and container growing. Grow in a sunny or semi-shaded position, in any well-drained soil.

From T&M’s own breeding programme

Our Weigela breeding programme began in 2008 with the aim of producing compact plants with fabulous, coloured foliage, which are ideal for any size of garden. The programme continued until 2018, when selections were made from stock in the field and ‘Camouflage’ is the first in a series with variegated foliage.

Weigela ‘Camouflage’ is exhibited in partnership with Stonebarn Landscapes, stand GPF090.

Weigela ‘Camouflage’ flower detail

Weigela ‘Camouflage’

Flowers: May to June
Height and spread: 60cm

1 x 9cm Potted Plant
Code: KF0321
£12.99

3 x 9cm Potted Plants
Code: KF5161
£27.99

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RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2023

The RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year award celebrates the new and exciting plants launched at the show and the prestige of winning is recognised worldwide. RHS Chelsea is the ideal global platform for the launch of new plants, which often go on to be bestsellers!

The judges will be looking for the winning criteria, which includes the following:

Innovation

The plant must be genuinely new and offer significant benefits within those features. This will outweigh a new colour on an existing plant for example.

Appeal

Will the plant stand the test of time? It will need to sustain its popularity to secure a place with those of true significance.

Excellence and impact

Judges (and gardeners) will be looking for the “wow” factor.

The judging panel is comprised of industry experts with a wealth of knowledge and passion who come together, volunteering their time, to make the incredibly tough decision on the winning plant.

New 2023 Flowering Plants Range

The plants featured are only a small selection of the new flowering plants on offer and the full range is available to browse and buy online.

 

 

To enter, simply follow the instructions below. You can increase your chance of winning by completing all the entry methods.

Win a pair of pre-planted hanging baskets from Thompson & Morgan

Thank you for entering and good luck!

One lucky winner will receive a gorgeous pair of Tutti Frutti Pre-Planted Hanging Baskets from T&M. Completely garden ready, all you need to do is remove them from the box and hang! These hassle-free pre-planted baskets contain a carefully curated mix of vibrant blooms for a long season of colour. Browse our full range of pre-planted hanging baskets for inspiration.

8 brilliant benefits of hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are a popular way to flank an entrance, brighten up a blank wall or jazz up a boring fence. But there are so many more benefits to growing your favourite blooms in baskets:

1. Saves space: You don’t need a huge garden to enjoy a blaze of colour, texture and scent. Making the most of the vertical space keeps your lawn or patio free for other things.
2. Adds kerb appeal: Colourfully cascading flowers create instant impact and help your home stand out from the crowd.
3. Easy access: Planting, weeding and watering are so much easier when you don’t have to crawl on your hands and knees! Deadheading the spent blooms is less of a chore too.
4. Prevents pests: Slugs and snails are far less likely to attack your favourite blooms if they’re suspended off the ground. It will also keep cats, rabbits and other animals off your precious plants.
5. Less weeding: Densely-packed hanging baskets get fewer weeds than beds and borders. Being at eye-level makes them easier to pluck out if they do appear.
6. More sun exposure: If your garden is too shady for some flowers, there’s often a wall or fence that gets the sun for a bit longer than everywhere else.
7. Shows off special plants: Trailing plants are shown to particular advantage in a hanging basket. But many other plants can also be showcased more effectively at eye-level where you can enjoy their delicate petals, colours and scents.
8. Keeps it fresh: Choose a completely new colour theme for your baskets each year to keep things interesting. And you don’t have to stick to flowers. Try unusual foliage plants, juicy fruits or even vegetables.

For more advice on how to plant hanging baskets, see our step-by-step guide. And to learn everything you need to know about hanging baskets, our helpful hub page is a fantastic resource.

 

Terms & conditions

1. This competition is open to UK mainland residents aged 18 or over.
2. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
3. The promoter is Thompson & Morgan – A division of Branded Garden Products Limited.
4. The Competition opens at midday on the 6th April 2023, and closes at midday on the 24th April 2023. Entries received after that date and time will not be considered.
5. Employees or agents of Thompson & Morgan and related brands – Branded Garden Products Limited, their families or other persons connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.
6. To Enter: choose from the methods available, including sharing an email address for great offers, visiting the Thompson & Morgan Facebook page or liking Thompson & Morgan on Twitter.
7. These are all extra voluntary options, and are not mandatory conditions of entry.
8. If you have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Competition, please email us at blog@thompson-morgan.com. Do not email us to enter; only email if you have difficulties using the online entry form above.
9. There will be one winner randomly selected who will receive:
   2 X 10in (25cm) Pre-Planted ‘Tutti Fruitti’ Baskets
10. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.
11. The winner will be chosen from a random draw of correct entries.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 3 working days of the closing date by blog@thompson-morgan.com. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of being notified, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and Thompson & Morgan shall be entitled to select another winner.
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19. All entries must be made by the entrant themselves. Bulk entries made from trade, consumer groups or third parties will not be accepted. Incomplete or illegible entries, entries by macros or other automated means (including systems which can be programmed to enter), and entries which do not satisfy the requirements of these terms and conditions in full will be disqualified and will not be counted. If it becomes apparent that an entrant is using a computer(s) to circumvent this condition by, for example, the use of ‘script’, ‘brute force’, masking their identity by manipulating IP addresses, using identities other than their own or any other automated means in order to increase that entrant’s entries into the promotion in a way that is not consistent with the spirit of the giveaway, that entrant’s entries will be disqualified and any Prize award will be void.
20. Thompson & Morgan reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control. The decision of Thompson & Morgan in all matters under its control is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
21. Thompson & Morgan reserves the right to disqualify entries if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent entry has occurred.
22. Thompson & Morgan shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
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