Five themed greenhouses include fruit and rare orchids
Landscape architecture and garden design practice Longview Design has created a 200 sq m stand for Lancashire-based greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanics for this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held on 23-27 May.
The stand comprises five handmade greenhouses and glass houses, each with a different 
theme. These include a bronze glasshouse filled with a selection of rare orchids, a white glasshouse dedicated to the growing of fruit and vegetables, and a huge Victorian glasshouse filled with tropical and subtropical species.
Hartley Botanic has revealed that the planting themes are a celebration of the plants most popular with consumers and gardeners alike. The planting theme of the Victorian Grand Lodge, for instance, reflects a 300% rise in the sales of airplants, cacti, succulents and tropical plants over the past five years. The Lodge also reflects the most recent trend for exotic-looking, large-foliage houseplants such as Ficus Lyrata and Cheese plants, the health benefits of which are well documented.
The Grange greenhouse, meanwhile, will be full aubergines, chillies and peppers to reflect the recent resurgence in the ‘Grow Your Own’ (GYO) trend. A recent 25% uplift in GYO-related sales may in part be due to supermarket food shortages at the beginning of the year.
Exotic and hardy plants are used along the edges of paths between installations. The stand has been built by The Outdoor Room, part of Longview Design, and filled with plants from Burford Garden Company.
Find more details about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at www.rhs.org.uk.
