Mass planting of Verbena

From 2nd to 8th July, the Royal Horticultural Society’s largest flower festival will return to the grounds of Hampton Court Palace with some exciting new content.

Groups visiting the Surrey-based show can expect a special horticultural display from a gardening icon, a mass planting of Verbena bonariensis, and an immersive feature taking visitors on an explorative journey through time.

Highlights during your visit

For the first time, the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show will be celebrating an iconic figure of the horticultural world, welcoming influential landscape designer, nurseryman and author Piet Oudolf.

The Dutch designer will be bringing his naturalistic style to the show, creating a ‘whimsical walk through feature’.

Visitors will also be able to immerse themselves in a purple meadow of Verbena bonariensis.  Thousands of these delicate flowers will create a display of lilac, lavender and violet shades for visitors to wander through.

Additionally, the show will offer visitors a journey through time, exploring the evolution of plants on earth, via Evolve: Through the Roots of Time.

This experience will guide visitors through barren landscapes prior to the Cambrian era over 500 million years ago, to the lush tropical jungles of the Jurassic period, and into the present day where visitors will walk through a meadow of flowering plants which first appeared during the Cretaceous time.

Housed inside a dome structure and spilling out into the showground, the theatrical and educational experience will open curious minds to see how fossils were formed and seeds developed.

Further highlights will see the floral marquee complete with 85 specialist nurseries, plus the inspirational show gardens and annual Festival of Roses.

Group rates

Discounted group tickets are available for 20 or more people, as is free coach parking. The coach driver also gets in for free.

For further information visit www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt.

Pictured: An illustration of the expected mass planting of Verbena. (Photo credit: Anca Panait).

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