As gardeners in the UK, we don't know how lucky we are. Our long horticultural history has endowed us with parks, open gardens, societies, plant collections, and nurseries that are the envy of the world. Our access to top-quality, interesting plants is unrivalled. Far from being limited to garden centre chains, DIY stores, and supermarkets, we benefit from a thriving community of nurseries, professional growers, and plant enthusiasts who trade at organised plant fairs nationwide.
When you visit plant fairs, you gain access to several nurseries in one spot. Many of them will have won awards at shows such as Chelsea or hold national plant collections - think of plant fairs as outdoor department stores showcasing the finest plants, often in beautiful surroundings. Many small nurseries aren’t open to the public, so this is a unique opportunity to find out what they grow. You’ll get to speak to the owners about the plants they specialise in, where to plant them when you get home, and how to care for them long-term. You may also be introduced to varieties you've never heard of before and come away with many exciting additions to your garden. If you mainly shop at garden centres, the range and quality you’ll find at plant fairs will be a revelation - this is how my addiction to plants went up a notch!
Plant fairs are great places to buy rare and unusual plants. This is the stand of Jacques Amand International, a specialist in plants that form bulbs, corms, and tubers.
You won't find mass-produced, imported plants marked up to eyewatering prices at a plant fair. Buying directly from the experts is a breath of fresh air in a world where you can never be sure what you're looking at or getting for your money. Often, nurseries will be joined by organisations that preserve and share garden plants, as well as purveyors of garden tools, plant supports and garden sundries. I attend more than sixty plant fairs and markets yearly in the West, South and East of England, and I never return home without at least one plant. You can find all the details of the events Dan Cooper Garden exhibits on my Events Page.
Plant fairs are not just for experienced gardeners and plant collectors; they warmly welcome everyone interested in gardening. If you're a novice, desperate to discover what will grow successfully in your garden, you'll soon find that nurserypeople love nothing better than sharing their knowledge and helping you choose the best plants. And if you're already a proficient gardener keen to expand your horizons, your interest will be indulged, and your craving for the new, different or exotic will be satisfied. In addition to the plant fair, there will typically be a garden to explore and refreshments to keep your energy levels up, so it’s worth taking your time and enjoying the experience.
My top tips for visiting a plant fair
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Do your research. Most plant fair dates are advertised early in the New Year. I’ve listed some of the best places to find them at the end of this article. The main season runs from April to September, but there are specialist events for snowdrops, hellebores, spring flowering bulbs, and alpines in February and March, as well as fairs showcasing bulbs and fungi in October. January is a month for organised seed swaps and potato days. You’ll find that specialist growers attend shows when their plants are looking their loveliest or at the best time for planting them. If there’s a specific plant you’d like to purchase, I always recommend contacting the nursery a few days in advance to check availability and make sure they have it with them on the day. Many plant fairs welcome dogs on leads and are easily accessible, but always check the details before setting off.
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Dress for the weather. With a few exceptions, plant fairs are held in the open air and frequently on grass. There is likely to be very little shelter in a downpour. Keep an eye on the weather, and if rain is forecast, dress appropriately. Suitable footwear is a must, and a sun hat if it’s bright. Always check the event’s social media accounts before setting off, just in case of last-minute cancellations, road diversions or parking issues.
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Arrive early for the greatest choice. Plant fair organisers will hate me for suggesting this, but turn up early to bag the most exciting or scarce plants. It's common for lengthy queues to form before the official start time, and some plant fairs even offer timed tickets to manage the flow of plant hunters. If it’s a rare or large plant, nurseries may only bring one or two of a kind, which will be eagerly snapped up - you'll need to be fast to snap these up. If this isn’t important to you, or you prefer a more relaxed shopping experience, turn up 1-1.5 hours after the event opens, and the initial frenzy should have died down. There will still be plenty to choose from. Experienced plant fairgoers will do a quick circuit of all the stalls on arrival to assess who has what and make purchases on their second lap. Don’t blow your entire budget on the first plants that catch your eye!
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Prepare for incoming plants. Having been caught out many times, I always keep sheets of plastic, old carrier bags and cardboard boxes in my car to protect the floors and seats from wet pots and flailing branches. Shallow cardboard boxes are perfect for popping behind the driver and passenger seats to keep plants upright on their way home. Heights can be deceiving - what looks like a sensibly sized specimen can transform into an ungainly giant once it’s inside your car! Damage can be done by manhandling plants in and out of vehicles, so take care of the plant and your back. Exhibitors are generally discouraged from dispensing plastic bags - help them out by taking your own or using a trolley. Some events offer plant crèches and wheelbarrow-to-car services to make your life easier. This is a good option, especially in warm weather, when leaving plants in a hot car is inadvisable.
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Take advantage of the expertise available. Nursery people and growers devote their lives to cultivating plants and deeply understand what conditions they need to grow well and how they associate with other plants. Take advantage by asking lots of questions and, importantly, keep an open mind. The plant you thought you wanted might not be the best option. The same goes for garden tools - explain what tasks you want to tackle and listen to what’s recommended. Take advantage of the opportunity to pick tools up and see how they feel in your hand - your final choice will be personal to you.
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Don’t haggle. No one ever made a fortune growing and selling plants on a small scale. If a price appears expensive, most nurseries will not be offended if you ask why. It could be down to how difficult it is to propagate, how long it takes to cultivate a saleable plant or how scarce it is. If you think about it, buying a beautiful, healthy plant that has been propagated and nurtured for several years for less than the price of a glass of wine in a pub is extraordinary. Exhibitors may offer multibuys or spontaneous discounts, in which case, take advantage of them.
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Ensure you get a label. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve returned home to find the plant I’d chosen had a large picture label on the display but none in the individual pot. Ask the exhibitor to write one for you, or take a picture of the show label and create your own as soon as you get home.
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Take cash and cards for payment. Although more and more nurseries take card payments, many still prefer cash. Take both if you can. Some plant fair venues have very weak phone signals, which diminish further when many people use them.
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Share your experiences on social media and by word of mouth. If you’ve had a great day and splurged on plants, post about it and tag the plant fair venue and nursery if they have a social media presence. Nurseries will love to know their plants have found a good home, and your positive experience might encourage others to visit a plant fair near them.
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Have a wander. Most plant fairs are held in the grounds of well-known gardens, not all of which are regularly open to the public. Take advantage, especially if you’ve paid for entry, and once you’ve chosen your plants, leave time for a stroll. If you want inspiration first, save your plant shopping until the end. Most venues have cafes and toilet facilities on site or make temporary arrangements for plant fairs.
Eager plant hunters queuing for the plant fair at Gilbert White's House in Selborne
Find a plant fair near you
The best single source of information about plant fairs is a blog called Pumpkin Beth. It takes a little time to navigate, but when you find the information you need, it’s comprehensive.
You can also visit the groups' websites that organise multiple plant fairs. Some are regional, others are national:
- Plant Fairs Roadshow - locations in the South East and London
- Rare Plant Fairs - locations in Wales, the West and Central England
- Plant Fairs - locations in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire
- Plant Hunters’ Fairs - locations in the Midlands and North West
- Alpine Garden Society - National
- Plant Heritage - National
- Hardy Plant Society - National
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Royal Horticultural Society - National
February is the best month to buy snowdrops as you can compare all the different varieties when in bloom.
What to buy and when
February - snowdrops, hellebores, narcissi, ferns, primulas, alpines, shrubs, climbers, conifers, seeds, summer flowering bulbs and tubers
March - narcissi, ferns, primulas, sweet peas, alpines, flowering perennials, grasses, shrubs, roses, clematis, climbers, summer-flowering bulbs and tubers
April - flowering perennials, hostas, ferns, grasses, shrubs, roses, climbers, vegetable plants, herb plants, annuals, summer flowering bulbs and tubers
May - roses, flowering perennials, hostas, ferns, grasses, shrubs, climbers, chrysanthemums, chilli plants, vegetable plants, herb plants, annuals
June - roses, flowering perennials, salvias, lavender, hardy orchids, exotics, succulents, chilli plants, vegetable plants, herb plants, annuals
July - dahlias, roses, flowering perennials, exotics, succulents
August - dahlias, flowering perennials, chrysanthemums, exotics, succulents, seeds for autumn sowing.
September - spring-flowering bulbs, autumn-flowering perennials, biennials, shrubs, carnivorous plants, exotics, succulents, seeds for autumn sowing
October - bearded irises, spring flowering bulbs and bulbs to force for Christmas, nerines, kaffir lilies, shrubs and trees
July at Chenies Manor in Buckinghamshire - one of the biggest independent plant fairs in the South of England.