RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 - Floral Creations Review
- Su Whale
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ten keen competitors; some very experienced, some showing for the first time, were exhibiting at Chelsea this year aiming for the coveted title of ‘Chelsea Florist of the Year’ 2025.
The brief was, well, brief, ‘Texture’ was all they had to go on, but it certainly produced a thought provoking and very varied response.
Gold and Chelsea Florist of the Year
‘Seed’ Guan Guan Studios, Shanghai
A beautiful and skilful design depicting a seedling bursting out of its shell. The outer casing was made using traditional Chinese lantern making techniques before being covered with wool. From its centre bursts a vibrant palette of colour, including Gloriosa, Asclepias, Alchemilla and sweet peas. Perfectly balanced by the hawthorn branch rising above it, this was a worthy winner.
Gold
‘Botanical Bliss – a Tapestry of Texture’ Elizabeth Newcombe
The second of the two golds was picked up by the very talented Lizzie Newcombe with an exquisitely constructed hand-tied, her signature design. Based on a framework of dried artichoke seedheads, with an outstanding choice of florals, the arrangement left no doubt as to Lizzie’s technical ability and artistry.
Silver-Gilt
‘Lunar Texture’ Jade Loftus Floral Design
A structured design drawing its inspiration from the textures seen on the moon’s surface, combined with the colours of the Northern Lights. Delicate and beautifully constructed, all of the test tubes are held together with a network of biodegradable cable ties.
‘The Wild Nest’ North and Flower
Who knew that a kitchen fruit bowl should provide inspiration for a floral competition piece? This was the starting point for this all-round design by Sarah Hinchliffe, celebrating the colours and textures of British grown flowers.
‘Love our Rivers’ Layla Robinson
A first time competitor at Chelsea, Layla used the wild banks of the river Wye as a homage to our waterways. Made completely made out of dried materials, this design is destined to be displayed at other venues during the course of the year.
‘Transition’ Plantology Floral Creations
Jill Winton is an experienced competitor, and she used her design to illustrate plants and flowers in various stages of their growth cycle. The mechanics are neatly hidden under the cork bark, the flowers supported by long lengths of willow.
‘Silk Yarn’ Mariusz Cwik
Very cleverly staged, this striking exhibit depicts the silk production cycle, looking at the relationship between flora, fauna and ourselves. A reminder that real silk comes at a cost.
Silver
‘Moon in Bloom’ Fierceblooms
Kathryn Cronin’s delicate willow and moss crescent moon, decorated with roses, clematis and foxgloves, celebrates the Celtic festival of Beltane and the accompanying lunar cycle.
‘Deep Breaths’ Georgia Lester
The flowers tumbling out of this design are shown off against a sky-blue background made from studio ‘waste’ saved from the compost heap.
Bronze
‘Through the Veil’ Flowerphul
Inspired by the sehra, a floral veil worn by south Asian grooms, this design incorporated British grown flowers, on a base of sari material, bringing two cultures together.
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Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over twenty-five years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.
