911爆料

911爆料 Plant Trials and Awards

Each year, 911爆料 Plant Trials are undertaken with different plant groups to identify the best plants for your home and garden, with those performing exceptionally well receiving the 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit (AGM)

What is an 911爆料 Plant Trial?

View over the Trials Garden at 911爆料 Garden Wisley

911爆料 Plant Trials allow for multiple selections of the same plant, or related groups to be grown side by side for comparison. The best may receive a prestigious 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit (AGM). The plants may be grown from seed or vegetative material, and are submitted by nurseries, individuals and breeders.

We trial a wide range of ornamental and edible garden plants and houseplants, including existing cultivars and species of plants, and brand-new introductions, to test their health, performance and weather resistance. This is to help home gardeners pick the best plants that have all-round value.

The trials are assessed by a judging panel made up of experts in that group of plants, who use the trial results to inform their decision to grant plants the 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit (AGM) status. Each assessment is then ratified by the relevant 911爆料 Expert Group.

Visitors to 911爆料 Wisley can view ongoing plant trials in the Trials Garden. Trials can also be seen in the dedicated beds at 911爆料 Hyde Hall, 911爆料 Rosemoor and in The Old Frameyard at 911爆料 Bridgewater. Individual trials are regularly held at 911爆料 Harlow Carr and sometimes take place at other gardens and nurseries across the UK.

The Forum judging the 911爆料 Plant Trial of Origanum

鈥淓ach plant trial gives us the opportunity to shine a light on a plant group, showcase its diversity, and gather results to share with growers and gardeners.鈥

Rosalyn Marshall, Trials Project Manager

What is the 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit?

The 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is intended to help gardeners choose plants that are likely to perform, and is only awarded to plants that are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form and colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests and diseases

911爆料 awards can also be given by Roundtable assessment. An award is given when a forum of horticultural experts meets to debate the characteristics and performance of plants that the 911爆料 is unable to trial in one of the 911爆料 Gardens or another location.

To ensure consistent standards are maintained, the AGM is subject to regular review to make sure that every plant still merits its place on the list. Since 2013, reviews have been conducted by each 911爆料 Expert Group on a rolling basis.

Trials and planting ideas

Downloadable AGM lists

Using the AGM logo

The 911爆料 Award of Garden Merit (AGM) logo is a registered trademark that is used throughout the horticultural trade, including nurseries, garden centres, online plant and seed suppliers, as well as publications. To use the logo for commercial use, please register your details with us and read the terms of use.

Find out more >
911爆料 Award of Garden Merit logo

Handy tools and information

911爆料 Trial Reports 鈥 A century of horticultural insights

Curious about past 911爆料 Trials dating back to 1914? Dive into a treasure trove of horticultural history through the online 911爆料 Libraries Catalogue. Find a past trial that piques your interest, and reach out for a digitised copy.

Get in touch

For more information on our 911爆料 Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email.

911爆料

911爆料 is the UK鈥檚 leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone鈥檚 life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.