Huge Success At HTA National Plant Show 2025

20/06/2025

Bringing new tree varieties to market is always equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking as you await to hear what everyone thinks and what an incredible way to find out the public love your trees as much as you do by award recognition. This year we have released 4 varieties of tree in both the ornamental and edible categories across a number of events including at the HTA National Plant Show 2025 and the feedback and reception has been outstanding.

February 2025, saw Pear ‘Cornish Gold’ revealed to the press and media at the Garden Press Event in London. This new tree stems from a sole 300 year old tree happily living and producing bountiful crops in Devon. The tree received recognition at the GPE event and this week received Gold in the HTA New Plant Awards.

Rainbow Apple made its debut at BBC Gardener’s World Live in Birmingham and the public were bowled over by the uniqueness of this new apple tree. With its stripy skin, stripy bark, variegated leaves and crisp tart (non-browning skin), not only were the public taken with the apple tree but a panel of expert judges also awarded Rainbow Apple the best edible plant in the “Hot off the Potting Bench” Awards for the show. Rainbow Apple of course came to HTA National Plant Show and was awarded Silver in the New Plant Awards.

We’re simply ziggy about our 3rd release which is as unique as they come Cercis candasesis ‘Zig Zag®’ is one of two released at the HTA National Plant Show. It’s zig zag branches and trunk is a work of art and the entire tree works hard to deliver all year round, its seasonal interest makes it perfect for modern gardens and a worthy winner of Gold at The New Plant Awards.

Whilst we’re proud of all of our new tree varieties, nothing has hit the market quite like the Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’. Winning Best in Category for Trees, a Gold medal and Best in Show on its first day of release, the tree went on to win the People’s Choice award to. Judges described the Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern ™’ as outstanding, describing the colour change quality and size of the blooms as unlike anything they’ve seen before.

The team at Frank P Matthews are incredibly proud of all of the new tree varieties and whilst that’s all for 2025, we can’t wait to bring even more innovative and spectacular trees to you next year.