RHS Show Medals                               

The Missing Collector Garden Wins Silver Gilt at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

A celebration of lost horticultural stories, living plant heritage, and the power of collaboration

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 welcomed one of its most thought‑provoking exhibits in recent years: The Missing Collector Garden, an evocative and richly planted space created to honour the forgotten horticulturists whose work shaped Britain’s cultivated plant diversity. Designed and delivered by the Plant Design Collective in partnership with Plant Heritage, the garden invited visitors to reflect on the individuals whose passion for plants has been lost to time — yet whose legacy lives on in the National Plant Collections that safeguard the nation’s horticultural heritage.

The garden was awarded a Silver Gilt medal, recognising its exceptional design quality, botanical depth, and powerful storytelling.

The Plant Heritage Missing Collector Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 / RHS 

A garden built on living history

The Missing Collector Garden was conceived as a tribute to the yet unnamed plant collectors who, in the future, could gather, grow, document and preserve plants that now form the backbone of British horticulture. The design blended contemporary planting with archival references of current collectors, creating a space where past and present met through texture, form and narrative.

The Missing Collector Garden - Plant Heritage

Central to the garden was the striking “grown chair” — a sculptural living seat formed from trained and shaped woody plants. This living artwork symbolised the presence of the collector: a figure who is absent, yet whose influence is unmistakably woven into the garden. The chair became one of the show’s most photographed features, embodying the theme of absence, memory and botanical legacy.

The role of Thalictrum — a plant of delicacy, depth and heritage

A highlight of the garden was the inclusion of plants from the National Collection of Thalictrum, supplied by Nicholas Guntrip-Hook, National Collection Holder. The airy, cloud‑like presence of Thalictrum brought movement, elegance and botanical authenticity to the planting scheme. Its fine foliage and soft, floating inflorescences provided contrast to the structural elements of the garden, while its conservation significance reinforced the narrative of safeguarding rare and overlooked plants.

Several species and cultivars were selected for their architectural lightness and historical relevance, demonstrating the breadth of the genus and its value within living collections. Their inclusion strengthened the garden’s message: that National Plant Collections are not static archives, but dynamic, living contributions to horticultural knowledge. A notable inclusion was that of T. morisonii subsp. mediterraneum, which drew interest from RHS Director of Science, Alistair Griffiths, in reference to ensuring we are studying and picking plants that are more adaptable to future climates and shows.

Guntrip-Hook Gardens speaks on the 'Our Plant Stories' podcast

Collaboration at the heart of the project

The Missing Collector Garden was the result of close collaboration between:

• Plant Heritage, the charity dedicated to conserving the UK’s cultivated plant diversity

• The Plant Design Collective, whose designers shaped the garden’s narrative and aesthetic

• National Collection Holders, including Nicholas Guntrip, who provided plants, expertise and historical insight

This partnership ensured that the garden was not only visually compelling but also scientifically grounded, historically informed and deeply connected to the living network of plant conservationists across the UK.

Why the garden was created

The exhibit aimed to raise awareness of the importance of cultivated plant conservation at a time when many historic varieties and species face decline. By spotlighting the “missing collectors” the garden encouraged visitors to consider the human stories behind the plants they love, and the ongoing work required to protect them.

It also highlighted the role of National Plant Collections as custodians of genetic diversity, horticultural knowledge and cultural heritage. Through its design, planting and interpretation, the garden demonstrated how these collections underpin the future of gardening, research and conservation. Furthermore the garden demonstrated that anyone, regardless of experience, can become a National Collection holder, and especially use collecting as a way to learn more about botany.

A standout feature of Chelsea 2026

With its atmospheric planting, sculptural living chair, and thoughtful narrative, The Missing Collector Garden became one of the most talked‑about exhibits at Chelsea. Judges praised its clarity of concept, horticultural excellence and emotional resonance, awarding it a Silver Gilt medal — a testament to the skill, dedication and collaborative spirit of all behind the project.

A living tribute

The Missing Collector Garden stands as a reminder that horticulture is built on generations of curiosity, care and quiet dedication. Through the combined efforts of designers, charities and National Collection Holders, the garden brought those forgotten stories back into the light — celebrating the collectors who shaped Britain’s botanical landscape, even if their names have been lost. The garden now lives on as it was donated to Chester Zoo, home to 5 plant collections of their own. 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden to be moved to Chester Zoo | Chester Zoo 

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2022 welcomed visitors to a striking botanical showcase dedicated to Ginkgo biloba — one of the world’s most extraordinary and enduring tree species. Presented as a fusion of science, history and contemporary garden design, the display invited audiences to explore the story of a plant that has survived unchanged for more than 200 million years.

Set against the historic backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, the exhibit highlighted the unique qualities that have made Ginkgo a symbol of resilience across cultures and centuries. Mature specimens with their unmistakable fan‑shaped leaves stood alongside carefully curated juvenile trees, demonstrating the species’ architectural purity and its ability to adapt gracefully to modern landscapes. The display’s design emphasised clarity and calm: clean lines, open space and a restrained planting palette allowed the sculptural form of Ginkgo to take centre stage.

Interpretive features guided visitors through the tree’s remarkable journey — from its origins in the age of dinosaurs to its rediscovery by botanists in East Asia, and its present‑day role as a valued ornamental tree in cities around the world. The exhibit explored Ginkgo’s cultural significance in China and Japan, its long history in traditional medicine, and its symbolic association with endurance, peace and renewal. Fossil imagery and educational panels illustrated how closely today’s Ginkgo mirrors its prehistoric ancestors, underscoring its status as a true “living fossil”.

The Hampton Court display also celebrated Ginkgo’s horticultural versatility. Visitors learned how the species thrives in a wide range of conditions, tolerates pollution, and offers exceptional autumn colour — making it an increasingly important choice for sustainable urban planting. The exhibit demonstrated how Ginkgo can be used in contemporary garden design, from statement specimens in formal settings to elegant, slow‑growing trees suited to smaller domestic gardens.

With its blend of scientific insight, horticultural expertise and artistic presentation, the Ginkgo display stood as one of the festival’s most contemplative and educational features. It invited visitors to pause, reflect and appreciate a species that bridges deep geological time with the modern world — a tree that has witnessed the rise and fall of ecosystems, civilisations and landscapes, yet continues to thrive with quiet strength and unmistakable beauty.

For many, the exhibit offered a rare opportunity to connect with a plant whose story is as profound as it is inspiring. Ginkgo remains a reminder of nature’s resilience, and at Hampton Court in 2022, it was celebrated with the dignity and wonder it deserves.

Guntrip-Hook Gardens supported Tony Davies and the National Plant Collection of Ginkgo, by designing the street scene, and helping to construct the wider display.

The Ginkgo display presented Ginkgo biloba as both an ancient survivor and a modern design plant, drawing visitors into the story of a species unchanged for more than 200 million years. Arranged within a calm, contemplative garden space, the exhibit contrasted the architectural poise of mature specimens with the fresh, delicate foliage of young trees. The fan‑shaped leaves — a hallmark of the species — were shown in their full seasonal progression, from translucent spring lime to deep midsummer green, catching the light and revealing the tree’s unmistakable ribbed venation.

Planting around the Ginkgo is deliberately restrained, using low, textural ground layers and subtle colour to emphasise the tree’s sculptural form. Interpretive panels explored its fossil lineage, cultural symbolism in East Asia, and long history in medicine and horticulture. A central feature highlighted Ginkgo’s resilience: its survival through mass extinctions, its rediscovery by early botanists, and its remarkable ability to thrive in modern urban environments.

The display invited visitors to slow down and appreciate Ginkgo as a living relic — a species that bridges prehistory and contemporary garden design. It celebrated the tree’s purity of line, its quiet strength, and its enduring place in both botanical science and landscape aesthetics. Learn more through the below link.

National collection of Ginkgo biloba & Cultivars www.npcginkgo.com