Hillier at 150: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014
Hillier Nurseries, the most successful exhibitor in the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year with a magnificent Garden Exhibit at the heart of the Great Pavilion sponsored by specialist insurer, Beazley.
Hoping to secure a 69th consecutive Chelsea Gold Medal, the design will reference some of the most significant elements of Hillier’s 150 year history recounted in the new book “Hillier: The Plants, The People, The Passion” by Jean Hillier: Hillier’s favourite plants, trees and previous award-winning Chelsea planting schemes, famous plant introductions and the world-famous Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.
Rhododendrons & Azaleas
For Hillier Nurseries, Chelsea means rhododendrons and azaleas, the mainstay of the Hillier Chelsea exhibit. This year, Hillier will bring rhododendrons and azaleas together in “a riotous celebration of colour” to echo the days of The Great Marquee. Back at the nursery, rhododendrons and azaleas in the shade of pine trees in the Sir Harold Gardens back onto Hillier’s Chelsea plant preparation area, giving them a special association for Hillier with Chelsea-time.
Valley of Japanese Maples
There will be a Valley of Japanese Maples inspired by Acer Valley, one of the original and most spectacular features of the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at any time of year. Hillier’s large specimen maples are one of the highlights of a Hillier exhibit and in 2008, a glade of acers was one of the most popular elements of Hillier’s Gardening for the Time of your Life exhibit.
Green & White Garden
A serene Green & White Garden will be one of the highlights of the Hillier Chelsea Exhibit, a tribute by a Great British Nursery to the quintessential Englishness of White Gardens, the best known being Sissinghurst in Kent. Hillier’s 1999 ‘Green Garden’ stunned visitors with its white and green planting combinations, and the colour scheme lends itself so many Hillier Chelsea favourites such as cornus, viburnum, prunus and betula varieties. The Hillier Hardy Plants Nursery has made ‘The White Garden’ a major theme for their wholesale plant collections this year.
Hillier Plants
In their 2014 Exhibit, Hillier Nurseries will showcase some of the hundreds of plants the nursery has successfully bred or introduced to commercial horticulture over the past 150 years. Many, such as gardening favourites Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’, Choisya dewittena ‘Aztec Gold’ and digitalis ‘Serendipity’, made their debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Small Garden Inspiration
Back in the days of Sir Harold Hillier, the nursery was known as ‘Growers of the World’s Widest Range of Trees and Shrubs’. Today Hillier offers one of the finest ranges of hardy plants for modern gardens, and Andrew McIndoe (Hillier Managing Director & Chelsea designer) has chosen to include a small garden in the design. Says Andy: “I believe this is something all visitors can relate to and I want it to demonstrate how to use Hillier plants to create a stunning small garden for all seasons.”