We catch up with some of the exhibitors in the plant pavilions to see what caused a stir at this year's show.

"Iris, iris, everywhere..."

There's no two ways about it: the flower that has caught the garden designers' eye this year is the bearded iris. But are they a hit with the public? "We've definitely had a successful show," says Anne Williams of French iris breeder Cayeux Iris. "We've had a lot of interest in irises such as the claret and buff coloured 'Torero', similar to the Iris 'Cable Car' used by Tom Stuart-Smith in his winning garden, but people are also keen on more subtle shades like the honey and cream-coloured 'Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise'. I think people like the luxurious look of irises; they're being braver in their choice of plants and these irises really do stand out in a crowd, whatever colour you choose."

"Everyone's drawn to this poppy"

Celebrating their 11th Gold Medal at Chelsea, the Hardy's Nursery stand is awash with cottage garden plants, but not always in the feminine pastel shades you'd expect. "People are getting more adventurous with their choices," says Rob Hardy. "They still have a nostalgia for herbaceous planting but they're always on the look-out for a new variety of an old favourite." So what would Rob choose as the one stand-out plant for this year? "If I had to pick one plant, it's got to be the 'Ladybird' poppy. It's got such an intense red colour, and the bold black spots really make something special. It's so easy to grow too - and that's always a bonus!"

"It's something a bit different - but not too different"

For David Constantine of Kobakoba, a tropical plants nursery, it's not always the weird and wonderful that appeals to people. "The large Impatiens sodenii has got people talking. It looks like a regular impatiens, but on a much grander scale. The pretty pink flowers are a draw, but it's really the sheer size of the plant that they love." This east African plant isn't completely hardy but, according to David, it is ideal for pots and patios. As he says, "As winters get milder, I think more people are being tempted to try tender plants that perhaps they wouldn't have had the confidence to try before."

"Anything in pink!"

Despite the prevalence of blues and purples in the show gardens outside, within the plant pavilions the 'oohs and aahs' are definitely reserved for anything pink, according to Ruth Gooch at Thorncroft Clematis Nursery. "We're displaying a new introduction to the UK called 'Ai-Nor'. It was bred in Estonia, where it's been around since the 1970s but it's the first time it's been seen here, and it's proved very popular with Chelsea visitors." Ruth puts the success of the plant down to its large flowers and delicate rose-pink colour which changes as the plant develops.

Style tips

From talking to the nusery owners in the plant pavilion, it seems that softer, meadow-style planting is back in fashion, but try adding a few bolder plants to bring a sense of luxury to your borders. Look for plants in shades of cream, coffee, peach and pink but contrast them with a splash of deep red or purple to keep things exciting.