Jamie is a multi-award-winning garden designer who has been racking up accolades since 2016. An award winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a staple presence at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, his work is renowned for its creative flair and deep-rooted commitment to naturalistic, sustainable gardening. This year, Jamie’s feature garden, Hedgerow to Home, was a true showstopper. We were lucky enough to sit down with him for a chat about his journey, how to bring his designs into our own gardens (even in pots!), and gather a few of his top gardening tips.
So, grab a cuppa, or something fizzy, and settle in!
From Art to Window Boxes
Before Jamie ever laid out a show garden, he began his career in an entirely different world, fine art. After graduating, he started work in a boatyard, something he loved and enjoyed day to day, until a pivotal conversation with his (potential) future self gave him a wake-up call. The very next day, Jamie left the boatyard and took a leap into horticulture, and we're all so glad he did.
He started small, creating window boxes in Sloane Square and offering a "perennial pots" service for London’s courtyards and businesses. His big break came at RHS Chelsea when he left his business card in the displays he’d created across Sloane Square, and it worked. From there, Jamie’s design career blossomed (pun entirely intended).
The Wild Garden Promise
Jamie’s gardens are united by a central ethos: wilding. His recent RHS Malvern gardens showcase resilient plants, recycled containers, and a celebration of wild spaces. The idea? Gardens don’t need to be prim, pristine, or pampered. They should be alive, a little messy, and full of soul.
And the best part? You can bring this vibe home, even in pots.
How to Bring the Hedgerow Home (in a Pot!)
Jamie explains "There's a reason hedgerows thrive, without molly coddling or interference and that's because there is such a dense ecology that builds a resilience and this can so easily be replicated at home. His" advice: “Go for a walk. See what’s growing in the hedgerows near your home or in your neighbours' gardens, what thrives there will likely thrive in your garden too.”
Look for plants like:
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Erigeron karvinskianus – prolific, daisy-like self-seeder that spills beautifully over pot edges
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Foxglove (Digitalis) – a cottage garden favourite that re-seeds reliably
Even plants like hawthorn and gorse can thrive in containers, bringing beauty and wildlife into small garden spaces. Hedgerow plants are hardy, low-maintenance, and naturally suited to British gardens, perfect for today’s trend toward "lazy gardening". We're seeing more and more gardens at shows like RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Malvern take a wilder, flowing, transient design over the modern contemporary garden. The drive of this being more and more people wanting to make a difference in the space they've got. People are wanting to make their gardens better for wildlife and better for themselves to.
Pots with Purpose
If you’ve got a generous garden, you might wonder: How do I use pots without them feeling lost?
Jamie’s advice, “Think of pots as destinations in your garden’s journey.”
Use them to create focal points in your garden, add height or structure an elevate favourite low-growing flowers.
Instead of leaving your lawn untouched for No Mow May, consider designing intentional wild spaces, perhaps a winding path through tall grasses and wildflower that leads to a terracotta pot brimming with blooms.
Jamie’s Favourite
We asked Jamie for one , just one, thing he would plant in a pot if he had to choose and he couldn't! (It is a hard question, our bad!) Jamie loves mixing texture and scent in his pots. A couple of his top picks were
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Rose and fennel – the soft waft of fennel pairs beautifully with the structured blooms of a rose. With pops of colour from the roses throughout, it is a gorgeous combination for a large part.
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Rosemary - Always performs in a pot, smells amazing, is perennial and you can cook with it!
Growing with children? Jamie recommends "foolproof favourites like sweet peas and nasturtiums, they're easy to grow, hard to kill, and endlessly rewarding".
Jamie’s Top Tip
“Just give it a go.”
Look around you what’s thriving nearby? Start with that. Gardening is about experimenting, learning, and growing (literally!). Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, the most important thing is to start.
Ready to bring a little hedgerow to home into your own space? With Jamie’s advice, your pots and garden might just become your new favourite wild escape.
Check Jamie out at @jamielanglandsgardens or www.jamielanglands.com
