After hundreds of readers took part in an unofficial online vote at hortweek.com, these plants have emerged as the favourites, with official awards to be presented on 17 June.
RHUBARB
Chelsea Flower Show best in show winner Hosta 'Red Ninja' made just third in the herbaceous list, according to HortWeek readers. which Allensmore's 'Rhubarb and Custard' foxglove won. Another well-known rhubarb plant, Hebe 'Rhubarb and Custard' from Bransford, which won best in show with a foxglove ('Apple Blossom') in 2024, came second in perennials.
TREES
Frank P Matthews took the top three places in trees. The Tenbury Wells nursery is a multiple winner at the NPS (four times since 2015), including best in show in 2025 with Prunus 'Japanese Lantern'.
WINNERS 2021-24
2024: Digitalis purpurea 'Apple Blossom' — A stunning foxglove variety bred by Maarten van der Sar and supplied by The Bransford Webbs Plant Company.
2023: Curcuma 'Skyline' — A striking tropical houseplant with torch-like pink and yellow bracts, exhibited by Profitplant BV.
2022: Impatiens walleriana 'Glimmer Appleblossom' — A downy-mildew-resistant double busy lizzie introduced by Ball Colegrave.
2021: Allium 'Lavender Bubbles' — A compact, heavy-blooming ornamental onion entered by Fairweather's Nursery.
JAVADO
Top in both shrubs and annuals, according to HortWeek readers, Javado is a multiple winner in past years at Chelsea. Profitplant and Javado dominate in indoor plants, although a houseplant (Curcuma 'Skyline') has only won best in show once at NPS in the last decade. One stand out is an orchid with the unlikely name of 'Middlesbrough', while Aeonium 'Pink Witch' looks magic.
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