AGS Harlow Carr Show 2025 – Updated

The JourneyWe set off towards Harlow Carr on Thursday morning last week.  The trees were lit with autumn colour, and we had a pleasant journey as far as Nottingham, where we spent time with some of Helen’s family before starting out north again the following day.

I always try to visit the garden at RHS Harlow Carr the day before the show, or the day after; I am too busy during the show to venture outside the building it is housed in.  This year, Sunday wasn’t an option; we had to get back on Saturday night, which meant a 260 mile drive after spending all day on my feet, carrying plants around.

The Alpine House

So on Friday afternoon we had a quick walk around parts of the garden, despite the dull, cold weather.  As always, our first stop was the alpine house.  The troughs around the outside of the house are always a show piece – I particularly liked this one, planted with Sempervivum.

Inside the house, the star for me was the lovely Pelargonium ionidiflorum, readily available from Aberconwy, and the Campanula squeezing from a crevice between two big rocks – I am not going to attempt to guess the species.

Rock Garden

Below the alpine house, there is now a large rock garden, made from waterworn limestone salvaged from other locations in the garden.  This was under construction last year when I visited, but looks a lot better now, with the beds filled and planted.

Symphyotrichum ericoides var prostratum

One of the most striking plants on the new rock garden was this prostrate form of the former Aster ericoides, which Pottertons nursery have sold for years, and which makes a wonderful plant for growing over a rock, with a carpet of white flowers at this time of year.

Between the rock garden and the kitchen garden, there is a crab-apple hedge which was loaded with fruit.

Vitis coignetiae

After a very brief entry into the Harrogate Arms, where we queued for ages to order, and then left quickly after they refused to accept cash, we reached the more congenial Bettys Tea House takeaway counter at the bottom of the hill near the stream, where the glorious red Vitis coignetiae clambers all over an oak tree.

Leucanthemella serotina

Nearby, the white garden is home to a bank of six foot high Leucanthemella serotina, a favourite of mine, but which I may have lost in this hot dry summer; certainly it hasn’t flowered this autumn.

Symphyotrichum ericoides Henriette

Opposite, there was a mass of dainty pink daisies, produced by a different form of Symphyotrichum ericoides.

Herbaceous Border

My favourite part of the gardens is the long herbaceous borders, which were being extended last year when we visited, but still looked magnificent in the autumn sunshine.  This year, the overcast conditions meant that the borders were not quite so dramatic, but some plants and colours still had punch, particularly Rudbeckia triloba Prairie Glow.

Maples

The colour of some of the Japanese maples seemed enhanced by the dull weather.

Hesperantha coccinea Oregon Sunset

This Hesperantha (Schizostylis) cultivar is often shown as almost magenta, but here it didn’t seem an unusual colour at all.

Eryngium

The dead seedheads of an Eryngium provided interesting patterns and texture.

AGS Harlow Carr Show 2025

Let’s fast forward over a great evening meal, comfortable bed, and nourishing breakfast.  By the next morning the two little rooms at the top of the education centre were packed with plants.

As at the two previous autumn shows, the display was dominated by the exhibits of Bob and Rannveig Wallis, who amassed 32 first points (i.e. winning pots), to add to the 42 points they got at Hexham, and 26 at Loughborough.  That’s 100 points in three shows !  Here are their (winning) entries in the classes for:

• three large pans of bulbous plants
• three large pans of cyclamen
• three large pans of rock plants.

Six small pans of Rock Plants

Bob and Rannveig staged an exceptional six-pan entry in the small pan class.  This consisted of:

• Allium callimischon subsp haemostictum
• A lovely Crocus goulimyi var leucanthus which won a separate award
• Oxalis perdicaria ‘Cetrino’, with flowers open in the sunshine
• Cyclamen maritimum
• Cyclamen mirabile
• Cyclamen graecum subsp candicum which also won a separate award.

Crocus goulimyi var leucanthus

This pan of Crocus goulimyi var leucanthus from Bob and Rannveig’s six-pan entry won the Rosemary Cox Trophy for the best bulbous plant in a small pot.

Cyclamen graecum subsp candicum

The Cyclamen graecum subsp candicum from the same exhibit by Bob and Rannveig went one better and won the Mr & Mrs W H Nortcliffe Memorial Trophy for the best plant in the 19cm pot sections.

Oxalis massoniana

Turning now to some of the things which I photographed early on in the show, in case they went over, John Bunn showed a nice clump of the South African Oxalis massoniana.  I have never managed to succeed with this, or Oxalis perdicaria, but since someone told me they need to stay at least slightly damp in the summer, I may have another go.

Crocus goulimyi

Of course, the genus I seek out above all for early photos is Crocus.  There were several pots of Crocus goulimyi on display; the large pot is from Alan Furness, the 19cm pot is from Bob and Rannveig.

Crocus kotschyanus

Bob and Rannveig also had Crocus kotschyanus…

Crocus niveus

…and Crocus niveus, which received a Certificate of Merit.

Crocus tournefortii

Bob Worsley exhibited a fine pan of Crocus tournefortii, with its long branching stigmas.

Crocus gilanicus

But my favourite crocus, completely overlooked by the judges, was the tiny but beautiful Crocus gilanicus exhibited by John Bunn.

Cyclamen mirabile

In the Novice section, the Harrogate Salver for the section aggregate went to Oliver Cheney, the AGS Social Media manager, who had driven up from London.

Miniature Gardens

But the West Riding Plate for the best exhibit in the Novice section went to Catherine Burns for this miniature garden.  I loved the autumn colour in it.

In the Open section, there were four entries in the miniature garden section, from Carol Kellett, Georgina Instone, Catherine Burns, and the winning one, which received a Certificate of Merit, from Lawrence Peet.  It was good to see Lawrence back at a show after a couple of years’ absence.

Flower Arrangement

Next to the miniature gardens was this lovely flower arrangement from Fred and Pat Bundy.

Gaultheria mucronata ‘Snow White’

John Savage received a Certificate of Merit at the Loughborough Show for this Gaultheria, covered in white berries.  Here it was considered by the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group (JRGC) and received a Preliminary Commendation.

Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘Tessy’

Chris Lilley showed a fine group of three large saxifrages in the Open section, including this one.

Saxifraga fortunei alpina

In a smaller pot, Alan Newton’s Saxifraga fortunei alpina received a Preliminary Commendation from the RHS Expert Group.

Helichrysum frigidum

I really enjoyed John Bunn’s Helichrysum.  Surprisingly, it turns out to be something I have never photographed before.

Raoulia bryoides

Alan Furness won the class for plants new or rare in cultivation with this six year old specimen of Raoulia bryoides.  You have to appreciate the skill needed to grow it to this size.

Strumaria phonolitica

This Strumaria, which I brought myself, was runner-up to the Raoulia.  I don’t think I have ever seen it at a show before.  I sowed seed in 2015, and this is the first time I have ever had more than one flowerhead.  But it is probably dubiously hardy, coming from rocky ledges in Namibia, and if I can grow it, it certainly doesn’t require the skill necessary for the Raoulia.

Lachenalia maughanii

Bob and Rannveig Wallis’ plants included a neat three-pan exhibit of Lachenalia (formerly Polyxena) species, including my favourite, Lachenalia maughanii.  In my greenhouse it is a magnet for mealy bug.

Nerine humilis ex du Toits Kloof

I brought two pots of Nerine to the show for interest, though as I expected, neither was of interest to the judges.  The first is a clone of Nerine humilis from du Toits Kloof, which is distinctly redder than the most other clones.

Nerine pudica

The second was Nerine pudica, which I always struggle to get to flower.  All my summer-dry Nerine species seem to have enjoyed the hot summer.

Colchicum cupanii

Another plant from Bob and Rannveig, this time in the Open section – Colchicum cupani in great condition.

Allium callimischon subsp haemostictum

Ian Instone won the large pan class for one bulb with this onion.  There was debate over the dead flowers left on the exhibit (they give a red colouration which adds impact) and of the origin of the plant.

Ian entered another smaller pot of this in the class for a plant native to Asia, where it was marked as Not According to Schedule.  The species Allium callimischon is native to Crete and Turkey, and would be eligible for the second class, but the judges were adamant that the red-spotted subspecies haemostictum was only found in Crete, though many sources on the internet suggest otherwise.

Galanthus ‘Dryad Regina’

This lovely snowdrop from Anne Wright received a Certificate of Merit.  I apologise for the sparkly Christmas light effect.  Space constraints meant that my camera was pointing into the sun most of the day, and on some of the shots enough sunlit was shining into the lens to light up every speck of dust on the lens.  A schoolboy error, but I quite like the sparkle, so I haven’t tried to edit it out.

Galanthus peshmenii

Another beautiful autumn-flowering snowdrop from Anne Wright.

Three small pans of Autumn Narcissus

Anne Wright received a Certificate of Merit for her entry in the class for three small pans of bulbous plants.  This included

• The white-flowered Narcissus deficiens
• Narcissus x alleniae – a lovely pale green natural hybrid between Narcissus obsoletus and Narcissus viridiflorus
• Narcissus x perezlarae – the natural hybrid between Narcissus obsoletus and Narcissus cavanillesii. We have seen several pots of this this autumn – again it probably enjoyed the warm summer.

More stardust in the pictures I’m afraid.

Narcissus broussonetii

Another autumn Narcissus, which is exceptionally difficult to flower and again probably enjoyed the hot summer, was exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Cyclamen mirabile

Michael Wilson exhibited a fine Cyclamen mirabile in one of the foliage classes.

Cyclamen mirabile ‘Tilebarn Anne’

This is a selection of Cyclamen mirabile by the late Peter Moore that has plain silver leaves that should be flushed with pink when they first emerge.  This specimen was exhibited by Bob Worsley.

Cyclamen mirabile

My pick of all the pans of Cyclamen mirabile was this little one from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Cyclamen hederifolium

I really liked this small-leaved Cyclamen hederifolium from Michael Wilson.

Tommy Anderson showed another Cyclamen hederifolium with particularly vibrant magenta flowers.

Cyclamen graecum

Bob and Rannveig showed many pots and forms of Cyclamen graecum including a pretty little white one, and a larger deep pink one.

Cyclamen maritimum

Bob and Rannveig also had several pans of Cyclamen maritimum, from Rhodes and southern Turkey, including this pretty pale form, and the Farrer-winning specimen from last week (the Rhodes form) which received a Certificate of Merit here.

Hyacinthoides lingulata

With so many fine plants on the benches, it was not a surprise to see the Farrer medal go to Bob and Rannveig Wallis.  The plant which won the show was a large pan of Hyacinthoides lingulata, which bulks up easily in cultivation, but is hard to exhibit to this perfection.

Finally, I would like to thank Ian and Georgina Instone for organising the show, the RHS and its staff who make us so welcome, the judges, stewards, helpers, and nurseries.  And last but not least the exhibitors for producing such a fine display.

Congratulations to Bob and Rannveig for their huge contribution to this and the other shows this autumn, which has brought them the seasonal aggregate award for the Open section.