​Summer Colour, Coronation Style – Plants Named After the Royal Family

Image: His Majesty King Charles III holding a newly planted tree. Credit: Gift a Tree

Did you know you could have the royal family planted in your garden? Well, not them exactly, but the plants named after them! These plants are popular picks for gardens across the UK, especially for gardeners who are feeling particularly patriotic.

Naming flowers after the royals is an old tradition that started with Queen Victoria Lobelia in the 18th century. Now, they have a whole selection of namesake blooms, from roses and clematis to dahlias and gladioli!

To celebrate the coronation in style, why not commemorate this special occasion the only way we know how – in our gardens. Here are just a few coronation-fitting plants you can grow in your displays this year.

Image: Top left, Rose Queen Elizabeth. Top right, Clematis Prince William. Bottom left, Clematis Princess Diana. Bottom right, Clematis Princess Kate. 


Rose Queen Elizabeth - Created in the 1950s in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth the Second, Rose Queen Elizabeth is a reliable floribunda rose that will grow an abundance of large, lightly fragrant, regal double blooms in vivid pink shades throughout the season. Hardy and robust, Queen Elizabeth Rose has excellent disease resistance and can thrive even in seemingly inhospitable locations making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all levels of expertise.

Clematis Princess Diana – This is an eye-catching Clematis, that provides beautiful vivid red-pink Tulip-shaped flowers. These hardy flowers are a great addition to any garden, flowering from August through to October.

Clematis Prince William - Prince William is an attractive Clematis climber that produces striking purple-red flowers. A hardy plant that’s great for adding a splash of vivid colour to fencing, walls or even grown within patio containers.

Clematis Princess Kate - Another beautiful Clematis that produces white reflexed petals with an outer regal purple hue accompanied by dark purple centres. Ideal for gardens of any size thanks to its climbing habit.

Image: Top left, Clematis Prince Charles. Top right, Clematis Elizabeth. Bottom left, Lobelia Queen Victoria. Bottom right, Dahlia Diana's Memory. 

Dahlia Diana’s Memory – This impressive dahlia produces creamy pink flowers with a golden yellow centre and pinky-lavender petal tips.

Clematis Prince Charles - Reliable and heavy flowering, this pale violet clematis will look superb throughout summer! Ideal for training up a trellis, wall, or pergola for an impressive display.

Clematis Elizabeth - Clematis Elizabeth is a vigorous, dense climber that’s often referred to as the 'mile a minute' Clematis thanks to its rapid growth rate. This Clematis produces a mass of large, single-flowered blush pink blooms from late spring to early summer.

Lobelia Queen Victoria - A spectacular perennial with luxurious and almost black foliage that compliments the vibrant red flowers nicely. The scarlet blooms on this Cardinal Flower bring a welcome splash of late summer colour when many flowers have already faded. A winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, too!

Image: Top left, Rose Duke of Edinburgh. Top right, Gladioli Princess Margaret Rose. Bottom left, Agapanthus Queen Mum. Bottom right, Rose Princess Anne.

Duke of Edinburgh Rose - A double-flowering bright fuchsia pink rose that will look superb in the summer garden. Ideal for cut flower displays in gardens of any size - its medium-size habit makes it easy to grow anywhere.

Agapanthus Queen Mum - 'Queen Mum' will grow to heights around 100-120cm with ease. Unlike other Agapanthus, this variety will produce more stems and therefore more gorgeous blue and white funnel-shaped flowers for an abundant long-lasting display.

Gladioli Princess Margaret Rose – Gladioli Princess Margaret Rose is traditionally tall and full flowering, producing huge yellow flowers fringed with orange. Princess Margaret Rose will provide your garden with fiery summer hues and seem to exude warmth when accompanied by other yellow and orange flowers.

Rose Princess Anne (shrub) - A rich pink, double-petalled rose is produced with Rose Princess Anne. A fragrant option for a shrub-friendly border, especially if you’d like the option to pick the blooms too.


A Display Fit for A King

Image: RHS Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration. Credit: RHS 

King Charles’s favourite plants to grow for summer If you’re planning on visiting this year’s RHS Chelsea flower show, look out for the RHS Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration. Designed by Dave Green, this garden was created to both celebrate His Majesty King Charles III, as well as paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. A mixture of the King’s and the late Queen’s favourite flowers have been chosen, all in shades of purple, blue, light pink, and white.

Here are a few blooms chosen from the garden that you can grow this summer!

Rose Olivia Rose Austin
Magnolia Heaven Scent
Lupins
Geranium phaeum
Camassia leichtlinii
Delphiniums
Silver birch trees