The Perennial Tradition

Heritage | Bressingham Gardens | Blooms of Bressingham Plants

Blooms of Bressingham has been recognized as a leader in identifying and selecting the finest of herbaceous perennials for more than 80 years.

During that time, the father and son team of Alan and Adrian Bloom have been responsible for introducing over 200 perennial cultivars, which includes selections from other breeders. Remarkably, about 80 to 100 of these are still available worldwide. Among these are garden favorites Achillea ‘Moonshine’ and ‘Anthea’, Astilbe ‘Sprite’ (1994 PPA Perennial Plant of the Year), Bergenia ‘Bressingham White’ and ‘Bressingham Ruby’, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Dianthus ‘Oakington’, Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’, ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Rozanne’, Lavandula ‘Blue Cushion’, Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’, and Phlox ‘Oakington Blue Eyes’, ‘Eva Cullum’ and ‘Franz Schubert’.

Alan (1906-2005) and Adrian Bloom are two of Great Britain’s most prominent horticulturists and nurserymen. Both received the Royal Horticulture Society’s prestigious Victoria Medal of Honour for their many contributions to the world of plants. During Alan’s lifetime, he and Adrian were the only father and son to hold this award simultaneously.

Beyond the plant introductions – perennials for Alan Bloom, perennials and conifers for Adrian Bloom – the two plantsmen have inspired gardening with innovative ideas. Alan’s experimentation with island beds pioneered a new style of gardening with perennials that opened the way for their widespread popularity today. One of Adrian’s passions has always been to promote the wider use of plants, and particularly perennials in small homeowner’s gardens. In the 1980s he developed the front garden makeover concept in the U.K., planting gardens in a single day. Today he oversees the Bressingham Gardens and is creating demonstration gardens on a larger scale in North America and internationally.