Last updated: May 14, 2026 by Thompson & Morgan Horticulture Team
We are delighted to announce that two of our newest plants have been shortlisted for the prestigious RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award 2026. This honor recognizes the very best in breeding, performance and garden appeal. Read on to find out more about the innovative plants that caught the eye of the judges…
In the meantime, take a look at all our award-winning plants and flowers.
1. Cercis ‘Blue Lagoon’: The world’s first color breakthrough
Celsius ‘Blue Lagoon’ has stunning silver-blue leaves
Image: T&M’s Cercis ‘Blue Lagoon’
Cercis ‘Blue Lagoon’ is the first Cercis to feature gray-blue leaves. Traditionally known for its green, yellow, or purple leaves, this unusual variety brings cool, bright hues never before seen in this genus.
Why it’s perfect for your garden:
Unique foliage: Heart-shaped, silvery-blue leaves create drama throughout the season and contrast beautifully with the rich red of young stems. Spring highlight: Before the leaves unfurl, the bare stems are studded with butterfly-like pink flowers, providing essential nectar for hungry pollinators. Architectural appeal: reaching a final height of 2.5 meters, its graceful, upright form makes it a stunning focal point in modern borders or large containers. Low-maintenance: This resilient shrub can tolerate heat and sunlight, making it perfect for busy gardeners looking for big results with minimal effort.
“With Cercis ‘Blue Lagoon’ we are introducing something truly unique,” says Thompson & Morgan horticulture expert Gavin Shaw. “It’s rare to see an entirely new color breakthrough in such a well-known genus.”
2. Evolving double-flowered clematis “Mochi”
Clematis “Mochi” has evolved from single bloom to double bloom
Image: T&M’s Clematis ‘Mochi’
If you’re looking for a plant that will last longer, Clematis ‘Mochi’ is a great choice. This variety is famous for its unique ‘bloom change’, which gives it a dynamic appearance that changes as the season progresses.
Key benefits for gardeners:
Ever-changing flowers: Delicately brushed blooms begin as elegant single blooms and develop over time into intricate, sophisticated double blooms. Excellent flowering period: ‘Mochi’ constantly evolves over 120 days, keeping your garden bursting with color for months. Versatile and compact: Its tidy habit makes it an ideal candidate as a star performer in vertical plantings, small gardens, or patio containers.
Gavin Shaw says the variety reflects modern changes in gardening. “Gardeners are looking for plants that can provide more plants throughout the year, and this is a great example of a dynamic, evolving plant.”
T&M has been at the forefront of horticultural innovation since 1855 and is continually committed to bringing distinctive and valuable varieties to your garden. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels to see if these special plants win top prizes in the run-up to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Lead image: Celsius ‘Blue Lagoon’ flowering in spring
Thompson & Morgan’s horticulture team produces a wealth of content about gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalog was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest mail order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and operating an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products money can buy.
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