RHS flower shows
RHS Chelsea Flower Show x Armadillo Sun
In 2026, I was asked to design the planting scheme for the Armadillo Sun trade stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
While Caroline and the team at Armadillo Sun have exhibited at Chelsea for several years, they had never quite achieved the elusive 5-star award for their stand. The planting therefore needed not only to look exceptional, but also to elevate the overall atmosphere and presentation of the space.
Creating a planting scheme for RHS Chelsea brings a very particular challenge. The plants need to look their absolute best for one specific week in May, performing immediately while still feeling believable as part of a real garden setting.
At the same time, the planting needed to support, rather than overwhelm, the contemporary outdoor furniture displayed on the stand.
This scheme was designed to bring a relaxed contemporary cottage-garden feel to the space, combining soft movement, layered textures and a rich seasonal palette.
The intention was to soften the structure of the stand, complement the furniture and create an inviting garden setting that felt both abundant and cohesive.
The Planting Palette
The scheme brings together a carefully balanced mix of structural shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses to create rhythm and flow throughout the stand. The planting focuses on:
Layered planting to create the feeling of generous, lush borders
Interesting textures, shapes and forms to complement the fabrics and furniture on display
Soft naturalistic movement through grasses and relaxed planting forms
Planting designed to feel familiar and achievable, allowing visitors to easily imagine the furniture within their own gardens A gentle palette of greens, whites and blues, lifted with subtle accents of orange.
Featured Plants
A selection of the key plants used within the scheme includes:
Alchemilla mollis
Erigeron karvinskianus
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’
Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’
Salvia ‘Prentis’
Salvia ‘Melen’
Thalictrum Ankium
Trachleospermum jasminoides
Anemone sylvestris
Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’
Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’
About Sally Hart Garden Design
Sally Hart Garden Design creates bespoke gardens that are both beautiful and functional, helping clients make the most of their outdoor space through thoughtful design and carefully considered planting.
This is the fourth RHS show I have been involved with, and the first where I have been fully responsible for the planting design.
Based in Guildford, Surrey, I work across Surrey, London and the Home Counties.
In 2021 the Chelsea Flower Show was held in September, for the only time in its history. I helped RHS Gold Medallist, Sarah Edwards of No30 Design Studio, build her Chelsea Container Garden A new, and unjudged, category to show that even with just containers anyone can have a garden. The IBC Pocket Forest, repurposed IBC containers to plant up a forest, complete with wildlife pond, that could be used in any garden, courtyard, school or strong balcony.
Working on the build of an RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, has given me such great experience on the detail of construction, plant choices and meticulous preparation that can be used in all my garden design projects.
In 2022 Chelsea was back in its usual May slot. I was thrilled to help RHS multi award winning designer, Pollyanna Wilkinson on her Mothers For Mothers garden that explored maternal mental health. A beautifully designed and elegantly planted garden that, rightly so, won the People’s Choice Awards
In Summer 2022 at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, I was back helping Pollyanna Wilkinson with her wonderfully reimagined rose garden in celebration of the Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
