Gardens shift to Med planting

GARDENS could be shifting towards more Mediterranean planting, experts said, as the country swelters in a heatwave that is the sign of things to come.

- By EMILY BEAMENT PA Environment Correspondent

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival this week is featuring more plants that thrive in conditions more traditionally found in southern Europe, and measures to conserve water in the face of hotter and drier English summers as the climate changes.

The show, which runs from July 1-6, opens as temperatures are expected to soar above 30°C as the latest heatwave peaks.

Faith Carthy, RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival shows project manager, said: "As ever there's a huge variety of planting styles on show at Hampton this year but underpinning it all is a move towards a more Mediterranean-inspired planting palette that thrives under a sunny sky and in dry conditions.

"This includes the spectacular sea holly Big Blue, as well as gardener favourites salvia, agapanthus and kniphofia that are almost certainly at an all-time best this year.