Garden and horticultural design

Creating a garden at an RHS Show is often a garden designer’s dream come true and a fantastic way of engaging with a switched-on and enthusiastic audience. RHS Shows provide a platform to convert an idea, message and skill into future commissions, conversations and employment.

At RHS Shows, we encourage creativity, innovation and a celebration of plants. We are looking for original, bold and brilliant ideas and garden designs. To find out more about what goes into creating an RHS Show Garden see our how-to guide for designers, featuring a range of videos and panel discussions to help get you started.

To discuss opportunities at any of the RHS Shows, please email [email protected] and we will be in touch. When applications deadlines have passed or you are interested in the following year, please sign up to the relevant mailing list below.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025

Show Gardens

Applications are open 2025

Show Gardens are a real treat for any visitor and are located at the heart of the Festival. RHS Malvern Spring Festival gives free rein to designers and encourages creative freedom in garden design by giving an open brief. Therefore, the gardens can be any shape or form, and any theme – classical, contemporary or conceptual.
 

Outdoor Living Spaces

Applications are closed for 2024

Incorporating a building structure, these Outdoor Living Spaces offer a truly adaptable space encompassing multi-functional areas for living, working and relaxing.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

Show Gardens
Applications for 2025 are now open

A Show Garden demonstrates the best of horticulture and excellence in garden design and innovative landscaping. The largest gardens at the show offer the opportunity to create the extraordinary, generate wonder and excitement and make a lasting impact at the world’s most prestigious flower show.
 
Sanctuary Gardens
Applications for 2025 are now open

Sanctuary Gardens combine contemporary and traditional visions of the home garden, harnessing the healing power, and serenity of nature. Offering a harbour from the hectic landscape of the modern world, these gardens show how design innovation and tradition combine to form spectacular real and conceptual gardens. Located in a prominent position on Royal Hospital Way or Ranelagh Gardens, these gardens offer the opportunity to create a space to inspire the gardener in all of us.
 
All About Plants
Applications for 2025 are now open

All About Plants celebrates the wonder and magic plants can bring to a garden. With a focus on unusual and specialist plants rather than hard landscaping, this category offers a different take on the story of a garden. By working closely with specialist nurseries, exploring different plant schemes and palettes these gardens can inspire the plant enthusiast in us all.
 
Balcony and Container Gardens
Applications for 2025 are now open

The Balcony and Container Gardens category is a mentored category open to designers who have not exhibited or been involved in the design of a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
 

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024

Show Gardens
Applications are now closed for 2024

Show Gardens are offered in three different sizes: Option A: 100sqm and larger; Option B: 50–99sqm; and Option C: 24–49sqm. With an open theme, Show Gardens allow talented designers to turn unique artistic plans into a feast for the eyes.
 
Get Started Gardens
Applications are now closed for 2024
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The Get Started Gardens category aims to inspire all who may be new to gardening. These gardens will showcase simple, low cost and achievable ideas using safe and reliable plants that are affordable and easy to look after, giving the wow factor we all strive for.
 
Installations
Applicationsfor 2024 are now open

In true festival style, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival hosts bold and vibrant installations created by installation artists and florists to give a sense of wonder and drama around the festival showground.
 
The RHS Allotment

Applications are now open for 2024

The RHS Allotment focuses on the renewed interest in edible gardening and community engagement, with an emphasis on planting, without the need for heavy construction. Applications to design and build an allotment plot in The RHS Allotment are welcome from local community gardening groups, horticultural societies, allotment associations, keen gardeners and budding garden designers.

Resilient Pocket Planting
Applications are now closed for 2024
 
Garden designers, community groups, charities and keen gardeners, both professional and amateur, are invited to design and plant a resilient pocket (bed) at the Festival. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience designing to a brief and staging an exhibit at an RHS Show on an achievable scale.
 

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2024

Show Gardens
Applications are now closed for 2024

Let your imagination run wild in this open category. Walk-through gardens are encouraged and there is no size limit. These gardens come with a promotional space next to the garden to continue to tell your story.

Size: Minimum 64sqm
 
Young Designer of the Year Competition
Applications are now closed for 2024


Open to those 30 and under with three to five applicants selected for each competition. Mentorship and RHS support and advice are offered throughout the process, and there is an RHS Grant available to help fund each finalist.
 
Career Changer of the Year Competition
Applications are now closed for 2024
 
The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Show Team are pleased to launch this brand new category for 2024. This Competition will be open to those aged 31 or over in the year of 2024 and have not exhibited in any Show Garden category at any RHS Shows previously. There is an RHS Grant available to help fund each finalist.
 
Terrace Gardens

Applications are now closed for 2024

This category seeks to explore how to maximise green space without compromising on practicality. We ask designers to propose beautiful planting options alongside clever design solutions and novel ideas for functional items. There is an RHS Grant available for successful applicants.

Long Borders

Applications are now closed for 2024
 
Long Borders provide an excellent opportunity for designers, community groups, horticultural students, or budding gardeners to create a planted border and be awarded an RHS medal. This category is a great first step into exhibiting at shows, a way to showcase creativity, inspire our visitors and share important messages. There is an RHS Grant available for successful applicants.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.