Suttons Takes 2nd Place at RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
Image: Suttons
Devon-based nursery Suttons has claimed second place in the prestigious RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award 2026, with its entry Hydrangea paniculata GROUNDBREAKER RUBY ('Lc No27'), exhibited by Hare Spring Cottage Plants, bred by Alex Schoemaker, and supplied by Suttons.
The award recognises a genuinely innovative new plant. The first hydrangea of its kind to form a true spreading, groundcover habit, Groundbreaker Ruby produces flowers that open white before deepening to rich ruby tones, remaining smothered in colour-changing blooms for up to 100 days. As practical as it is beautiful, it offers a low-maintenance way to add structure and colour to borders, beds and containers alike.
Gavin Shaw, horticultural expert at Suttons, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded second place for our outstanding new hydrangea variety, Groundbreaker Ruby. Renowned for its exceptionally long flowering period of over 100 days, this striking hydrangea is both easy to grow and highly versatile, thriving beautifully in garden borders as well as patio containers."
The result continues an impressive run of form for Suttons, which has now secured three top positions in the RHS Plant of the Year Award over the past decade alone. Founded in 1806, the company has been at the forefront of gardening innovation for more than two centuries and holds a Royal Warrant — a mark of its enduring reputation for quality and excellence.