New Season Plants from Hillier, Including RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Shortlisted Selections
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Every gardening season brings the promise of something different – a new colour to fall in love with, a longer-lasting display or a plant that fits more effortlessly into the way we garden today. This year’s introductions from Hillier Nurseries are no exception, with each variety selected for its performance, reliability and garden appeal. Launching from May 2026 at Hillier Garden Centres, these varieties have been carefully grown and trialled to ensure they thrive in UK conditions – with three also shortlisted for the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year award.
Rosa persica ‘Amirose’ (Korhulth 005)
Shortlisted for RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
Compact, floriferous and full of character, ‘Amirose’ is a standout new persica rose with a real garden presence. Its peach-toned buds gradually unfurl into soft pink blooms, each centred with a rich purple eye, creating a striking contrast that evolves as the flowers mature.
One of its most impressive qualities is its exceptionally long flowering window, delivering a continuous display of colour for well over five months. Its neat size makes it particularly versatile, working just as well in containers as it does at the front of a sunny border.
· Height and spread: 40cm high and 50cm across
· Aspect: Prefers full sun to light shade
· Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil
· Hardiness: To -18 ºC
Pittosporum tobira x heterophyllum ‘Green Mound’ (Jule1)
Shortlisted for RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
‘Green Mound’ is a refined new evergreen shrub, bred as a hybrid between P. tobira and P. heterophyllum, combining the strengths of both parent species into one reliable variety. Its naturally rounded shape and dense, glossy foliage provide structure throughout the year, while improved flowering adds valuable seasonal interest.
A standout feature is its prolific display of highly fragrant flowers, which open white and mature to soft yellow, lasting for around six weeks in spring. Developed by French breeder Frederic Julien, this sterile hybrid is particularly suited to modern gardens, whether used for informal hedging, low screening or as a statement shrub in its own right.
· Height and spread: 150cm high and 150cm across
· Aspect: Prefers full sun to light shade
· Soil type: Most free-draining soils
· Hardiness: To -12 ºC
Anisodontea ‘Candy Apple’
Shortlisted for RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
Bright, bold and built for summer, ‘Candy Apple’ delivers a vivid splash of deep red that holds its intensity across an impressively long flowering season. From late spring well into autumn, and even beyond in milder conditions, this variety keeps gardens looking lively.
Naturally suited to sunny, sheltered spots, it thrives in free-draining soils and shows good drought tolerance once established, making it a strong choice for contemporary planting or patio displays.
· Height and spread: 80cm high and 60cm across
· Aspect: Prefers full sun to light shade
· Soil type: Most free-draining soils
· Hardiness: To -5 ºC
Nepeta x hybrida ‘Serene Wild Orchid’
Breaking away from the traditional blue tones of nepeta, ‘Serene Wild Orchid’ introduces a clear pink flower that brings a softer, more contemporary feel to planting schemes. Bred by Dummen Orange, it combines this unusual colouring with a compact, well-branched habit and dense flower spikes.
Ideal for weaving through borders or softening edges, it also attracts pollinators and offers a long season of interest with minimal maintenance.
· Height and spread: 40cm high and 40cm across
· Aspect: Prefers full sun to light shade
· Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil
· Hardiness: To -10 ºC
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All new Hillier plants will be available at Hillier Garden Centres and online from May 2026.
To stay up to date with new releases, seasonal advice and exclusive offers, join the Hillier Gardening Club at www.hillier.co.uk.
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Editors notes
“To inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future” Hillier is one of the leading names in the horticultural industry, with 160 years of growing and retail experience.
Founded in 1864 by Edwin Hillier, the company remains a family-run nursery with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business as it continues to grow.
Not only is Hillier the largest producer of semi-mature trees in Europe and grower of over one million plants at its Hampshire nursery, but it also employs over 750 staff across its nursery, amenity trees and 22 garden centre divisions and is a flourishing multi-million pound company. It proudly holds the world record for the most consecutive gold medals awards at the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with 74 wins.
As one of the leading growers in the UK, Hillier is involved in many peat-free initiatives, including the RHS Peat-Free Fellowship, the largest peat-free collaborative research project globally. The company was amongst the first nurseries to become 100% peat-free across both its production nursery and retail garden centres, and all Hillier plants are grown in peat-free compost.
Recent successes for the company include the launch of its online shop, the substantial redevelopment of Hillier Garden Centre Newbury and the acquisition of the Rosebourne Garden Centre Group in November 2022, as well as sponsorship of BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, and the incredibly popular free ‘Hillier Gardening Club’ loyalty program which now has over half a million members.
Renowned for being a leading breeder of plants in the UK at its 100% peat-free nursery in Hampshire, each year Hillier introduces amazing new varieties. Many of these have become essentials in British gardens and the company continues with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day.
