Ashwood Nurseries to exhibit hellebores at Chelsea

An exquisite anemone form of Helleborus hybridus Ashwood Evolution Group (available 2020)

Ashwood Nurseries is planning to exhibit hellebores at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, the first time ever that these beautiful Spring-flowering herbaceous plants have been shown as a single exhibit at this prestigious event. Nursery owner John Massey VMH and Ashwood’s hellebore breeder Kevin Belcher are masterminding the project, aiming to show off the diversity and beauty of hellebores in a natural setting.

Owner John Massey and grower Kevin Belcher are masterminding the project

This will be our fourth visit to Chelsea: in 1996 a lewisia exhibit won a Gold medal followed by another in 2005 for hydrangeas. In 2016 an hepatica exhibit scooped a Gold medal as well as The Diamond Jubilee Award for the best exhibit in The Great Pavilion.

Ashwood’s 2018 exhibit aims to showcase our world-renowned  Helleborus x hybridus Ashwood Garden Hybrids, widely regarded as some of the best hellebores ever produced, as well as a cross-section of species. The natural habitat of hellebores will be evoked by creating a semi-woodland landscape using Quercus suber  (Cork Oak) and a selection of Corylopsis spp.

There will be a special focus on the Helleborus x hybridus Ashwood Evolution Group. Plants in this group are exclusive to Ashwood Nurseries, and have been developed as a result of hybridising our finest golden yellow hellebores. The Evolution Group encompasses all golden yellows as well as shades of amber, peach and apricot, some beautifully veined or delicately spotted. Nectaries vary from golden yellow to red and some are also enhanced by a red flush. The Evolution Group, as its name suggests, is evolving all the time and we are hoping that some exciting new colours and forms will be revealed at Chelsea. Plants of new introductions should be available to buy in 2020.

Kevin shows off a selection of Ashwood Garden Hybrids

Plants earmarked by Kevin for flowering at Chelsea have been placed in a cold store to fool them into thinking they are experiencing a prolonged winter dormancy. The timing of bringing these plants out from their slumbers and the subsequent care of them are crucial factors in persuading them to flower in time for the show.

Helleborus vesicarius will be the first to be brought out, well ahead of the others, and these will be allowed to flower just a little later than their normal season to give them chance to develop their distinctive seed pods in time for Chelsea.

None of this would be possible without the support of ‘Team Ashwood’. Jill Pearce assists with hellebore production while Ashwood growers Mike Brookes, Steven Lampitt  and retired grower Philip Baulk will help John and Kevin to build the stand.

In addition, a small army of dedicated staff led by Karrina Gilbert are working hard ‘behind the scenes’ ensuring that the logistical nightmare of exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show goes without a hitch.

Stand GPA/130 Great Pavilion | RHS Chelsea Flower Show | May 22nd-26th inc. Read more

Discover more about Helleborus x hybridus Ashwood Evolution Group