Every spring, Royal Horticultural Society grounds in heart of London become stage for finest horticultural innovations at Royal Horticultural Society, during the Chelsea Flower Show. Among event highlights, "Plant of the Year" prize recognises most remarkable new plants, selected for originality, garden merits and appeal to gardeners. Our team visited the show to see finalists and winners of the 2026 edition. Let’s discover the results!
Plant of the Year 2026: Hosta 'Red Ninja'
This is a genuine little revolution in world of hostas! World's first red-variegated hosta, Hosta 'Red Ninja' was one of stars of Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Its large leaves show an intense crimson-red centre edged with dark green, a colouring unprecedented in this genus until now dominated by shades of green, blue and cream. Even more surprising, this spectacular hue does not fade after spring but persists through much of season. In late summer, delicate lavender flowers rise above foliage, adding to elegance of this compact perennial (35 cm height, about 50 cm spread) yet exceptional plant.
Another trait appreciated by judges: unlike many hostas, its colouring intensifies with a few hours of gentle sun.
Red hostas have long been breeder's dream and, for first time, a true red hosta whose colouring appears durable has been achieved. Jury was right: this is a genetic advance visible at a glance.
Our view: a bold creation likely to quickly win over collectors and enthusiasts of unusual foliage.
Second place: Hydrangea paniculata 'Groundbreaker Ruby'
Innovation also features in this hydrangea that breaks the mould. 'Groundbreaker Ruby' belongs to first series of Hydrangea paniculata that are truly groundcover. An unprecedented trait for panicle hydrangeas, usually upright. Its low, spreading habit forms a dense carpet about 40 cm high, covered for nearly 100 days with flowers that develop from white through pink to ruby red.
Easy to grow, undemanding in maintenance and particularly suited to small gardens, borders, banks or pot culture, it opens new uses for panicle hydrangeas. Our view: a plant set for a long-lasting career!
Third place: Hydrangea 'Velvet Night Red Lace'
A true drama queen of Chelsea Flower Show 2026, Hydrangea 'Velvet Night Red Lace' pairs almost velvety, near-black red foliage with lacy, bright carmine-red flowers. Result of long breeding work on more than 12,000 seedlings, 'Velvet Night Red Lace' stands out for a striking contrast rarely seen among hydrangeas. Its flat, delicately sculpted inflorescences shine against a dark, glossy foliage mass, offering a novel play of contrasts in hydrangeas.
Even out of flower, its dark foliage retains strong ornamental interest, providing presence in borders as well as in containers. A variety that perfectly illustrates current enthusiasm for coloured foliage and plants with high visual impact.
Our view: it has immediate theatrical appeal that makes stars on social media as well as in show gardens.
Team favourites
Beyond official winners, several new plants particularly caught our eye under the Grand Pavilion.
Anisodontea 'Carnival Lights Candy Apple' lit up the Grand Pavilion with its bright raspberry-red flowering, a colour still rare in anisodonteas. Its large, satiny flowers, finely veined, stand out against soft green, slightly velvety foliage. Its relaxed, bushy habit, covered in buds and blooms, promises a very long flowering season.
Prunus 'Sumaura Fugenzo' impressed with its absolutely irresistible display! We were won over by its pendulous clusters of very double flowers, with delicately crumpled petals. Initially cream with greenish tint, they develop to soft pink then deeper tones, evoking little pom-poms suspended from the branches. A variety both romantic and refined.
Clematis 'Minamo-no-Yousei' ranks among most beautiful new introductions seen this year. Its large star-shaped flowers, dusted with lavender, pink and silver, are enhanced by an untidy, almost anemone-like centre. A delicate, sophisticated bloom of great elegance. Japanese breeders continue to produce clematis of incredible finesse!
Antirrhinum 'Shiryu Kiss' reinvents snapdragon with generous flowering in a gradient of bright pinks. On the same spikes mix candy-pink, bubblegum-pink and fuchsia, all lit by a cream-white throat. A fresh, luminous variety that brings lightness to borders.
Other finalists
Among other new introductions noted by the jury were Dicentra 'Passion Hearts', clematis 'Nurse Queen', Euphorbia × martini 'Walberton's Little Treasure', Pittosporum 'Green Mound', as well as several promising roses such as 'Amirose' or 'Watford Forever'.
What the 2026 shortlist reveals
As every year, these selections reflect dynamism of international horticultural innovation and offer a good preview of plants likely to make an impact in gardens over coming seasons. According to our promesse de fleurs experts, there is some distancing from race for ever-bigger or more spectacular flowers. Breeders now seem to seek plants distinguished by foliage colour or novel habits, more versatile and interesting over extended periods. This is a trend observed for several years at Chelsea Flower Show and fits well with evolution of contemporary gardens.
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