Apply to design a show garden at an RHS Flower Show / RHS

Garden applications

Creating a garden at an RHS Show is often a garden designer鈥檚 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 application deadlines have passed or if you are interested in the following year, please sign up to the relevant mailing list below.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025

Applications are now closed for 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 鈥� classical, contemporary or conceptual.

Applications are now closed for 2025

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

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025

Applications are now closed for 2025

Show Gardens are offered in three different sizes: Option A: 100sqm and larger; Option B: 50鈥�99sqm; and Option C: 24鈥�49sqm. With an open theme, Show Gardens allow talented designers to turn unique artistic plans into a feast for the eyes.

Applications are now closed for 2025

This brand new category challenges designers to create spaces that stimulate curiosity and invites visitors to engage with the space on multiple levels. Sparking a sense of wonder and exploration, Gardens of Curiosity encourages visitors to observe, question and connect with their surroundings, whether in a conceptual or traditional way.

Applications are now closed for 2025

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 section of the Festival are welcome from local community gardening groups, horticultural societies, allotment associations, keen gardeners and budding garden designers.

Applications are now closed for 2025

The Pocket Planting category is a mentored category open to garden designers, community groups, charities and keen gardeners, both professional and amateur. The Pocket Planting category presents a fantastic opportunity to gain experience designing to a brief and staging an exhibit at an RHS Show on an achievable scale.

Applications for 2025 are open

Planted Show Features cover any planted designs that do not fit with existing planting or design categories available across the Festival.

Examples may include border planting, container planting, planted water features, bench planting, volunteer and community gardens and more.

If you would like to discuss an idea for an artistic installation or an interactive or planted show feature before applying, please get in touch with the Deputy Show Manager at [email protected].

Reducing environmental impact of gardens (529 kB pdf)

RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025

Applications are now closed for 2025

A Show Garden demonstrates the best of horticulture and excellence in garden design and innovative landscaping. These gardens offer the ability to create the extraordinary, generate wonder and excitement and make a lasting impact. There are opportunities to stage immersive and walk through gardens and designers are encouraged to explore these possibilities.

Size: The minimum size is 25m². There is no maximum size.

Applications are now closed for 2025

RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse offers young designers and contractors a wonderful opportunity to kick-start their careers in the exciting and rewarding horticultural and design industry. The Young Designer category is open in applicants who will be aged 30 or younger in the year of 2025.

Size: The minimum size is 64sqm. There is no maximum size.

Applications are now closed for 2025

This competition is a wonderful opportunity for designers, plantspeople and contractors to kick-start their new careers in the exciting and rewarding horticultural design industry. The competition is open to those aged 31 or over in the year of 2025 and who have not exhibited in any Garden category at any RHS Shows previously. Applicants are not required to have any formal qualification/training in the industry. There is an RHS Grant available to help fund each finalist.

Size: The minimum size is 25sqm. There is no maximum size.

Applications are now closed for 2025

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.

鈥�Size: 6 x 4m and totalling 24sqm.

Applications have now closed for 2025

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.

Size: The size of the design area is: (external) 7.2x2m; (internal) 7x1.8m; total 12sqm. The structure will be a raised bed.

Top tips for designers (898 kB pdf)

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026

Applications are now open for 2026

Creating a garden at an RHS Show is a fantastic way to showcase your skills while engaging with an enthusiastic audience. We are looking for original, bold ideas and designs; our open brief allows for maximum flexibility, enabling the creation of unique spaces that captivate and inspire, supporting innovation and the celebration of plants.

Our supportive team is on hand to guide you through the process, and grants are available in all categories.

If you would like to apply for a 2026 Show Garden or have any questions about designing a garden in the future, please contact Charlie Gwynne.

Applications are now open for 2026

NEW to RHS Malvern: Blooming Borders is a planting design category that offers opportunities for garden designers, plants people, horticulturists and landscapers to kick-start, or further, their careers in the horticultural industry while gaining exposure and experience of exhibiting at an RHS Show.

Located at the entrance to the Show Garden area, the borders create a stunning, expansive planted walkway, becoming a captivating feature in the Festival鈥檚 highest footfall area. This collaborative space promises to leave a lasting impression on all who visit.

Factsheet

If you would like to create a 2026 Blooming Border or have any questions about designing a border in the future, please contact Charlie Gwynne.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

Applications for 2026 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鈥檚 most prestigious flower show.

Applications for 2026 are now open

Small Show Gardens (under 149sqm) combine contemporary and traditional visions of the home garden, and still pack a punch. Whether is it high innovation or celebration of tradition, these gardens offer the opportunity to create a space to inspire the gardener in all of us.

Applications for 2026 are now open

All 91茄子 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.

Applications for 2026 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 Badminton Flower Show 2026

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RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026

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