Iconic gardener Alan Titchmarsh has a couple of garden regulars that he could happily do without. Speaking to Stephanie Mahon on the Talking Gardens podcast, he didn’t hesitate to share his disdain, saying: “Pampas grass.”
He objects to this plant not just for its infamous connotations with suburban adventures but also because it “looks like a collection of feathered dusters sticking out of a mountain of grass”.
If you ever decide to dig it up, it’s quite the undertaking, as he pointed out: “If you ever want to get rid of it, you’ve got a real task ahead of you.”
His dislike continues to large flowered gladioli, despite admitting they can look “very good in church.”
It’s specifically the showier varieties that fail to win him over. However, he confessed that he has a soft spot for the more demure gladiolus Byzantine, which can be found growing naturally in Cornwall hedgerows, reports the Express.
While Alan’s old pal Beth Chatto may have been partial to pampas grass, he would joke with her: “You keep it in your garden, Beth, and I’ll be happy.”
Chatto is remembered for having introduced the “Unusual Plants” section at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Alan also aired his concerns about the increasing extravagance of exhibits at Chelsea, noting: “I begin to worry when gardens start to cost six figure sums, a quarter of a million and more to make a garden for a week.”
He has shifted his focus to smaller, more intimate events like the Royal Windsor Flower Show, where the talents of horticulturalists shine. Reflecting on his first visit, he said: “When I went there first, the weather was lovely, which is always a plus.”
He praised the idyllic setting of the Windsor event, noting: “Windsor Great Park is the most beautiful landscape and it was a classic village fête atmosphere for all the right reasons.”
Discussing its appeal, he observed that although less grand in scale compared to shows like Chelsea, saying: “Beautifully done but friendly. Lots of different growers there, with little stands … it’s a bit like portrait miniatures. You don’t always need enormous great, massive paintings to impress.
“It’s so intrinsically British and it’s what we all remember from flower shows as a child. The skills are there, but so too is the friendliness.”
Ultimately, he believes these smaller-scale gatherings possess a special allure: “I think often on a small scale, you get the charm, the magic that is lost on the grander scale.”