Agapanthus
Agapanthus

Advancing agapanthus
Pennard Plants in Somerset specialises in South African plants and brought agapanthus to Chelsea. The nursery lists more than 55 species and varieties of this elegant African lily. Visitors will be able to discover new colours, hardier cultivars and dwarf types suitable for small gardens. Agapanthus from Pennard cost from £5-10, depending on the variety and pot size. Chris and Mike recommend two dwarf varieties: the lovely blue A. 'Ethel's Joy' (above), exclusive to Pennard, and A. 'Silver Baby' with white flowers and just a hint of blue.

Filus Blue
Filus Blue

Feel the heat with new chillies
With the current interest in vegetable gardening and healthy eating, veggie exhibits were of particular interest at Chelsea 2007. Susan Redmayne of W Robinson & Son is the fifth generation of Robinsons (her grandfather was the son). She has watched the revival of vegetable growing and healthy eating with interest and she always knows if a TV chef recommends something, even if she hasn't seen the show. Horseradish chips are just one such novelty. For newcomers to vegetable gardening, Sue recommends nutritious spinach, which crops for 18 months on a cut-and-come-again basis. At the show, the company featured the latest chilli peppers that have just been given the Award of Garden Merit following growing trials at Wisley last year: look out for Capsicum annuum 'Tricolor Variegatum' and Capsicum annuum 'Filus Blue' (above).

Albizia julibrissin
Albizia julibrissin

First taste of chocolate tree
It's not every day that new varieties of tree are offered for sale, particularly when they are as desirable as this one. Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' was found as a seedling in Japan in 1990, and this small tree is widely grown in America but is new to the UK. With feathery, reddish brown foliage, it will thrive in a sheltered position, or as a patio plant when young. It will be available from July this year (£11.99 for a plant in a 3-litre pot), and featured on the Hilliers stand at Chelsea. Gold medal winners at Chelsea every year since 1945, Hilliers continued the tradition this year by winning Gold again. As Britain's largest tree nursery, they went back to basics with a theme of 'planting with trees', demonstrating how gardeners can incorporate trees into their own gardens, with particular emphasis on trees with compact root systems near buildings.

Panicum amarum
Panicum amarum

Hello to American bluegrass
Grasses are definitely in favour with gardeners these days - drought resistant, elegant and architectural, whether planted in the garden or containers. Neil Lucas from Knoll Gardens in Dorset introduced Panicum amarum 'Dewey Blue' (above) at Chelsea. American horticulturist Rick Darke selected this variety - the parent species grows on sand dunes. 'Dewey Blue' makes about 1.2-1.5m (4-5ft) and thrives in a dry, sunny spot. The list price is £12, but supplies are scarce for 2007. Two rare sedges will also appear - Carex spissa and Carex 'Grayassina' - alongside tender, evergreen Muhlenbergia dumosa that has arching, bamboo-like stems.

Suppliers' details