Royal Horticultural Society - RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2008

North Wales based Dibleys, leading breeders and growers of Streptocarpus, other Gesneriads and Foliage Begonia, will be debuting three new Streptocarpus for RHS Chelsea 2008.

There will be approximately 250 streptocarpus and begonia plants on the stand in the floral pavilion but Streptocarpus 'Alissa' may prove to be the star! The first commercial yellow Streptocarpus ever seen at Chelsea, this variety has been bred on the nursery and is the result of over eleven years of specific breeding to achieve this colour. Yellow is a recessive gene in S

treptocarpus so this has been the holy grail of Streptocarpus breeding for many years.

The other two new plants are Streptocarpus ‘Rebecca’ and Streptocarpus ‘Targa’ (pictured left.) The former is a pale lavender with purple veining over three of the five neatly upturned petals, it grows as a medium sized strep’ and was bred by Lynne bringing the total number of Streptocarpus that she has bred and introduced to 44.

The prestigious Award of Garden Merit has been awarded to 18 plants. Streptocarpus ‘Targa’ is a good sized plant for the windowsill with deep purple velvety flowers and Chelsea Flower Show will be the first opportunity for the public to see this German bred plant.

Streptocarpus ‘Rebecca’

Lynne and her Father Rex Dibley have received over 70 Royal Horticultural Society Gold medals in the last 20 years. The Chelsea medal tally is 18 Gold medals and 3 Anthony Huxley Trophies.

Traditionally Lynne’s displays have been quite naturalistic but this year sponsorship by German ceramic company Scheurich has inspired her to use coloured glazed pots in a more creative way. 170 ceramic pots of various size, shape and colour will influence the whole feel for the exhibit. Lynne will also use aluminium as a backdrop in areas to add contrast to the very modern Scheurich designs and with the highly colourful plants the result will be more than vibrant!

Lynne has recently returned from her 4th plant hunting and photographic expedition to Zulu Natal in South Africa. She has been taking photographs for the reprint on her father’s best selling Streptocarpus book which will be on sale from the stand at Chelsea Flower Show.