Meet the life-giving plants of the Asthma + Lung UK garden at Chelsea Flower Show

We’re delighted to have our own garden at the world-renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, created to celebrate the power of breath and the urgent need for healthier lungs.

The garden, designed by Angus Thompson, draws on the Japanese aesthetic of yohaku no bi — “the beauty of empty space” -  a design philosophy that embraces simplicity, quietness, and clarity.

Lung-friendly plants, accessible, inclusive design, and sustainable features are core elements of the garden. Here are the key plants that make up this calm, tranquil ‘breathing space’ for people living with lung conditions.

Pine trees

Two striking structural pine trees are at the heart of the garden. Symbols of strength and resilience, they’re thought to have antioxidant and immune-boosting qualities. They’re also thought to help clean the air of toxic particulate matter (PM2.5), a leading cause of poor lung health.

Scleranthus uniflorus - Knawel Cushion or New Zealand Moss

This low-allergen plant forms a dense, moss-like carpet of tiny leaves and inconspicuous flowers. It invites visitors to touch with its tactile cushion-y texture.

Iris Ensata - Japanese water iris

The elegant Japanese water iris frames the central wildlife ponds and adds a pop of colour to the garden. Its vivid violet flowers point to the Asthma + Lung UK brand colours.

Boehmeria platanifolia - sycamore-leaf false nettle

A rare plant known for its striking, plate-sized leaves that add dramatic foliage texture to the garden. As its name suggests, its leaves are nettle shaped and it blooms with long white flower tassels in late summer.

Spiraea betulifolia – Birchleaf spirea

A plant native to the Japanese hillsides, it features white flowers in late spring to early summer, and dark green foliage turning to vibrant red, orange, and copper in autumn.

Sorbaria aitchisonii - narrow-leaved Himalayan sorbaria

This deciduous shrub can reach up to 10 metres in height with 40cm leaves and large cones of frothy white flowers in the summer. It flowers later in the season which means it will keep the garden looking visually interesting for longer.

Barrenwort 'Amber Queen'

The foliage of this evergreen plant is flushed red in the spring as new leaves emerge. The delicate sprays of flowers, which bloom from early to late spring, are bronze-yellow tipped with orange to hint at the Asthma + Lung UK brand colours.

Mukdenia karasuba Rossii - Mukdenia 'Karasuba'

A slow-spreading herbaceous perennial with rich green maple-like foliage that develops rich red tones in autumn. It produces pretty sprays of bell-shaped white flowers in spring.

Lamium orvala - Balm-leaved red deadnettle

An herbaceous perennial forming a clump of attractive, non-stinging heart-shaped leaves, with spikes of whorled pinkish-purple flowers growing up to 4cm in length in late spring and summer.

Rodgersia podophylla 'Braunlaub' - Rodgers' bronze-leaf

From damp, shady woodland in Japan, this perennial has large leaves that are rich dark brown in spring, turning green as they expand and then copper-tinted when mature. In late spring and early summer, creamy stems of star-shaped flowers bloom. 

Thalictrum 'Black Stockings'  - Meadow rue 'Black Stockings'

This striking herbaceous perennial stands out with its nearly-black stems growing up to 2 metres in length. Large sprays of fluffy, bright purplish-pink flowers bloom in mid to late summer

Primula pulverulenta - Mealy primrose

This moisture-loving perennial can grow up to a metre tall.  It has crinkled green leaves, tall, slender mealy-white stems and rich blooms of wine-red flowers. 

Notable plants

• Carex Kyoto
• Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum'
• Polygonatum odoratum
• Aruncus 'Misty Lace'
• Euphorbia arendsii
• Hydrangea aspera
• Pilea matsudae 'Taiwan Silver'
• Scleranthus uniflorus
• Bohmeria nivalis
• Euonymus planipes
• Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' 

A living legacy

Sustainability is a key feature of the garden, with sustainable materials and practices, including recycled oxygen cylinders repurposed as water spouts.

After the show is over, the garden will be relocated to the Breathing Space lung rehabilitation centre in Rotherham, supported by Asthma and Lung UK. There, it will become a permanent therapeutic space offering holistic support for people living with lung conditions.

See it for yourself

If you’re able to, come along in person and take a moment to breathe,

📍 RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
🗓️ 19 – 23 May 2026
🌿 Designed by Angus Thompson for Asthma + Lung UK
💚 Future Home: Rotherham Breathing Space