The Hort Report: 28th March 2025
Rare plants fair, BBC Gardeners' World Live line-up, and more!
Here’s your weekly Hort Report - the round-up of industry news, retail insights, home gardener gossip, influencer spotlights, social media news, and so much more.
Grab a hot drink, and catch up on the latest below…
NEWS FLASH
BBC Gardeners' World Live line-up update
I’ll be appearing in Saturday and Sunday sessions at the BBC Gardeners' World Live Theatre, sponsored by British Garden Centres!
Hosted by Nicki Chapman, the Theatre also features gardening experts Monty Don, Adam Frost, Frances Tophill, Nick Bailey, and Rachel de Thame. Best of all, you can book seats for free!
Find out more here.
INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT
Steve Guinness
There’s much more to lego than sharp-cornered building blocks! Steve Guinness is behind @thebrickconsultant’s Instagram, with the aim of teaching creativity through inspiring and unusual Lego finds.
Visit @thebrickconsultant on Instagram.
SOCIAL NEWS
Nominate Your Community Space with Robert Dyas!
If you know a local space that could be transformed into a community garden, now’s your chance to put it forward. Whether it's a charity project, sensory garden, or shared green space, Robert Dyas wants to hear from you.
A panel of judges will shortlist entries based on how the space will benefit mental and physical wellbeing, with the winner announced on 27th June. The winning project will receive over £2,500 worth of gardening equipment, including a summerhouse, raised planters, a lawnmower, garden tools, and more!
Watch the video above to find out more.
PRODUCT NEWS
LivingPillars™ by Scotscape
LivingPillars™ are innovative green installations that transform street lighting columns into biodiversity-boosting structures. These solar-powered pillars feature re-circulating irrigation and are a sustainable solution for adding greenery in urban spaces where traditional planting isn’t possible. They can also support bird and insect boxes, reinforcing the importance of urban wildlife.
A 2019 air quality trial in Victoria, London, conducted with Greenwich University, found that LivingPillars™ help reduce pollution caused by the street canyon effect, where pollutants become trapped at street level.
Find out more here.
HOME GARDENER PLANT OF THE WEEK
Senecio leucanthemifolius var. falcifolius (Bolle) G.Kunkel
Okay, so this isn’t a plant that you could easily grow in your home garden, but it’s definitely one to look out for if you’re ever in the Canaries!
The Peorrera is a small, fleshy plant known for its striking purple leaves and bright yellow flowers, which contrast beautifully against the white sand of the dunes. Its flowers have a scent reminiscent of chamomile. This annual plant grows between 5 and 15 cm tall, with oblong or narrow, lobed, succulent leaves that range from bright green to deep purple. It produces dense clusters of yellow flowers from January to April, with each flower head featuring up to eight small, petal-like structures.
Native to the sandy and rocky habitats of the eastern Canary Islands, it can be found in areas such as Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Graciosa, and Montaña Clara. Due to the fragility of its ecosystem, visitors are encouraged to admire the plant without collecting seeds or disturbing the habitat, taking care to avoid trampling young seedlings in the dunes.
BOOK
The Permaculture Garden: A Practical Approach to Year-round Harvests by Huw Richards
The Permaculture Garden by Huw Richards is a practical guide to creating a thriving, sustainable, and productive garden inspired by nature’s patterns. It provides insights into designing a space that works harmoniously with the environment, considering factors such as climate, landshape, and available resources. The book emphasises growing a diverse mix of plants - including fruit trees, flowers, vegetables, and herbs - for a resilient and ecologically balanced garden that supports soil health and local wildlife.
Buy it here.
WHAT TO DO NOW
Bristol Rare Plants and Orchids Fair
This year’s fair will feature vendors from across the UK, showcasing and selling unusual and rare varieties. On Saturday 5th April 2025, join the fair at Central Church (by Cabot Circus) from 10am to 5pm. This year will feature a larger venue with full disabled access, talks and demonstrations, and food (just in case you get hungry from all that plant shopping)! Tickets are just £3, and you can buy them online or on the day.
Find out more here.
QVC PRODUCT PICK
YouGarden Ranunculus Mixed Bulbs x150
Add a splash of colour to your garden with YouGarden’s Ranunculus Mixed Bulbs. These eye-catching perennials burst into bloom between May and July, producing an abundance of multi-layered petals in a stunning range of shades. Best planted in pots or sunny borders, their rose-like flowers stand out beautifully against the lush, serrated green foliage. With their tall, sturdy stems, they also make excellent cut flowers!
Buy it here.