We all have our old faithfuls: those tried and tested plants that have served us for years and will feature in our gardens for decades to come. Yet there’s often an urge to try something new, either out of necessity or for sheer enjoyment.
One driver for change is the warming climate and the need for cultivars that can cope with long dry spells or wetter weather. Another is the increasing need for compact plants for smaller spaces. There are also growers who strive for displays of flowers that are bigger, more colourful and floriferous than the previous year and eagerly await new introductions that will help them achieve their goal. Among those with an insight into what we’ll be growing in the years to come are companies like Ball Horticultural, which has been at the forefront of plant research, breeding, production and marketing for more than a century and keeps a close eye on developments across six continents.
Every summer it shows off the latest cultivars that will be available for the gardening public the following year at its trial grounds in Oxfordshire and invites visitors from across the horticultural industry to vote for their favourites. Other ways to discover the up and coming cultivars is to keep a close eye on competitions such as Rose of the
