MORE than a million plants are on display at the Chelsea Flower Show — everything from common flowers to one of the world’s rarest climbers. Only one specimen of the New Zealand plant Tecomanthe speciosa has been found in the wild but a cutting from it has allowed it to be seen at the exclusive London show.

The only wild specimen that is known to exist is on the remote Kermadec Island, 20 miles off New Zealand. All the rest have been eaten by goats introduced by settlers.

Along with other rare species, the plant forms part of the Garden of Well Being at the show, where a New Zealand forest has been recreated, although most of the stock was cultivated in Britain. Apart from the show gardens, the 160,000 visitors to Chelsea over the event’s five days can see thousands of different plants in the covered pavilion.

The Queen, wearing a lime green jacket and green skirt with a pink and white floral pattern, was one of the first to visit the pavilions, which this year have been extended and merged so that all floral displays are under one roof. Sir Richard Carpale, chairman of the Royal Horticultural Society, which organises the show, said that in the past some exhibitors believed their entries had been “hidden away”.

“All that’s gone now,” he said. “Everyone is under one roof, and everyone is happy.”

For many, the floral displays are the highlight of the show. Sir Richard added: “I think the core of the flower show will always be the exhibitors in the floral hall.

“Some of these gardeners are geniuses. The displays there are astonishing. The growers are perfectionists and, if I look back on 2004, I will remember the sights and smells of that floral hall.”

Several new flowers are introduced this year, including the New Scotland Yard rose to mark the 175th anniversary of the creation of the Metropolitan Police. Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the rose was a “wonderful” way to mark the formation of the modern police force.

David Austin Roses, one of the exhibitors, launched six new rose varieties at the show’s Gala Day for royalty, celebrities and the press.

Explore Gardens

• Chelsea Flower Show

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

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