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unusual facts about Royal Horticultural Society



Alpine Garden Society

Sir William Lawrence, who was at the time the treasurer of the Royal Horticultural Society, first suggested creating a "rock garden society" in June 1929.

Buddleja 'Miss Ruby'

During the Buddleja cultivar Euro-trial held by the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley, England, 'Miss Ruby' was voted the most attractive cultivar of the 97 on display in the 2008 public poll, and later accorded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (record 9299) in 2012.

Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor'

Reputedly cloned from a plant found growing in a small ravine on Dartmoor near Yelverton by a retired American gardener by the name of Hayles, the shrub was introduced to commerce in 1973 and accorded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (record 678) in 1993 (reaffirmed 2010).

Buddleja davidii 'Fascination'

The cultivar was hybridized with 'West Hill' and B. davidii var. nanhoensis 'Alba' to create the popular 'Pink Delight', which was accorded the RHS Award of Garden Merit, and 'Summer Beauty' by Horticultural Research International at Boskoop in the Netherlands.

Daphne bholua

D. bholua 'Darjeeling' — this was developed at the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Wisley in the late 1970s; it has a vigorous upright habit and produces white to pale pink buds and flowers, 5 to 15 per infloresescence, between November and January.

Donald Wyman

He received the George Robert White Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (1970), the Veitch Memorial Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society (1969) and the Medal of Honor from the Garden Club of America (1965).

Jasminum humile

Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which 'Revolutum' (syn. J. reevesii Hort.) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Joe Swift

Swift is a regular presenter and designer on the BBC's Gardeners' World, co-presenter on the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners' World Live, Hampton Court, RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, BBC's Small Town Gardens, and design judge on BBC's Gardener of the Year.

John Pilkington Hudson

His honours included an associateship of honour of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture in 1948, presidency of the former Horticultural Educational Association, founder membership and honorary fellowship of the UK Institute of Horticulture, a 1975 CBE for services to horticulture, and in 1976 the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Lonicera fragrantissima

It was brought to the attention of western gardeners by Scottish plant hunter Robert Fortune, who was plant hunting in China for the Royal Horticultural Society.

Mordecai Cubitt Cooke

He received the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1902 and the Linnean Medal from the Linnean Society of London in 1903.

Neighbourhoods Green

Since 2003 the partnership has expanded to include National Housing Federation, Groundwork, The Wildlife Trusts, Landscape Institute, Green Flag Award, Royal Horticultural Society, Natural England and CABE.

Southwark Park

The bandstand dates from 1884 and was originally sited in the Royal Horticultural Society grounds at South Kensington.

Viburnum tinus

In south-east Britain Viburnum tinus is the principal host of the viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni), the country's "number one pest species" according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

Will Ingwersen

Will was a past president of Horticultural Trades Association, and Vice-president of both the Alpine Garden Society and the Royal Horticultural Society.


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