10 top plant varieties with the RHS Award of Garden Merit

With so many brilliant PBR varieties on our portfolio, it’s no surprise that some have been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit. From our floriferous Nepeta to a vibrant Yucca, here are the latest PFE varieties with the AGM.

1. Brachyglottis Walberton’s® Silver Dormouse (WALBRACH)

Intense silvery foliage – far more so than Sunshine or Dunedin. The leaves on this variety are white on the underside, and Walberton’s® Silver Dormouse keeps its leaves all the way to the ground – no bare bottoms here!

Brachyglottis Walberton’s® Silver Dormouse works well as a shrub or a patio plant, reaching a height of 90cm and a width of 120cm. A knock-out variety with a fantastic supply chain.

2. Helleborus Walberton’s® Rosemary (WALHERO) 

A world-first: H. niger x H. orientalis! An outstanding variety from a long-term breeding programme, Helleborus Walberton’s® Rosemary is a real beauty. Expect large mid-pink blooms that darken to ruby, atop handsomely divided leaves.

Buds emerge before Christmas, and Helleborus Walberton’s® Rosemary continues flowering right until April. A real hard working plant that flies off the shelves.

3. Euphorbia martinii Ascot Rainbow

We may be biased, but this is the best variegated Euphorbia! Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow packs a serious punch, with foliage that is both blue-green and creamy-yellow. And when temperatures drop, Ascot Rainbow blushes pink.

Extremely stable, this neat, bushy Euphorbia really earns its keep in any setting. Elite stock available from a range of wholesale suppliers.

4. Euphorbia x pasteuri Honeypot

Perfect for tropical planting schemes, Euphorbia Honeypot looks exotic but is winter hardy in the UK. With its large foliage, Honeypot makes a brilliant, bushy plant. It’s also easy to propagate, offering a good cutting yield. With scented flowers in early summer, this is one Euphorbia not to miss.

5. Nepeta grandiflora Summer Magic

Multi award-winning, this Nepeta grandiflora is continuously free-flowering from May right through to September. No need to cut back! Nepeta Summer Magic boasts vibrant lavender blooms, which pollinators adore but cats aren’t tempted by.

With a compact and sturdy habit, this variety performs beautifully, even in poor weather. A cracking plant with a long garden centre shelf life.

6. Spiraea japonica Walberton’s® Magic Carpet (WALBUMA) 

A truly fantastic golden Spiraea with a lovely compact habit. Vibrant foliage tinged with red fades to a golden yellow, topped with pink flowers. Walberton’s® Magic Carpet is extremely cold hardy and disease resistant.

Flowering between May and June, and with a neat spread of 50cm when mature, this is another variety that flies off the shelves. Supplied by a huge range of wholesale suppliers.

7. Crocosmia Walberton’s® Miss Scarlet

Growing to a height of 65cm, this Crocosmia is a tough, reliable bloomer. Free-flowering with strong, outward-facing flowers and a long season. The blooms are bright crimson, with an orange eye.

8. Crocosmia Walberton’s® Bright Eyes (WALBREYES)

Brilliant bicolour flowers – bright orange with a scarlet red eye that stand up and face forward! Compact, tidy foliage above upright, forward-facing flowers. Reaches around 60cm, flowering from summer into autumn.

9. Crocosmia Walberton’s® Yellow

Large vibrant yellow blooms above compact, upright foliage. Reaching a height of 65cm, this Crocosmia is a fantastic accompaniment for Crocosmia Walbertons® Bright Eyes and Walberton’s® Miss Scarlet.

10. Yucca Walberton’s® Bright Star (WALBRISTAR) 

Last but certainly not least, Yucca Walberton’s® Bright Star offers bright, broad leaves with a gold band along each side. In cool temperatures or drought, the leaves become tinged with a pretty pale pink. The tight rosette of leaves is really eye-catching, especially in premium containers.

Awarded a 5 star review by Which? Gardening, and Best New Plant at IPM Essen 2009. This variety performs year after year, remaining one of the most popular in our portfolio.

If you’re interested in growing or supplying any of these varieties, or exploring the rest of our varied portfolio, do get in touch. We’d be delighted to help.