Understoreys - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Funderstoreys) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Funderstoreys) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/understoreys/primary_image.webp?v=3db19ee8-b57d-41ec-b1d9-fe82c2bf801b) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2026) Showground Installation Understoreys ============== Designed by Jacopo Ducato Ruggeri At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2026 Category Showground Installation Photo: Royal Horticultural Society About this garden The story ----------- Drawing on the Greek myth of Persephone - the queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring - Understoreys unfolds around the All About Plants gardens, threading between them and intensifying the experience of each. A savannah-like structure of small trees, low shrubs and geophytes, set on subtle earth mounds, bridges the gardens and carries visitors through this triangular space. Dark burgundy and purple tones, with occasional flashes of red, are set against pale flowering and silvery foliage. The spined stems of *Zanthoxylum piperitum* and the leathery leaves of *Cistus* contrast with the softness of *Artemisia arborescens* and *Davidia*, creating a measured tension. Geophytes placed along the paths draw visitors downward - visually, spatially and through scent - slowing movement and structuring rhythm. A connective tissue between the underworld and the surface, bulbs, tubers and geophytes embody Persephone in nature, helping us harness the power of their cyclical lives in our gardens. The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Jacopo Ducato Ruggeri](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/jacopo-ducato-ruggeri/profile_photo.webp) Jacopo Ducato Ruggeri Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/jacopo-ducato-ruggeri) ### Wider Team 2 - [ ![Tom Pilgrim](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/tom-pilgrim/profile_photo.webp?v=8aace005-3c2e-4d42-8959-fea1a899975f) Tom Pilgrim Planting Team ](https://gardensdb.com/people/tom-pilgrim) - [ ![Sophie Knittle](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/sophie-knittle/profile_photo.webp) Sophie Knittle Planting Team Lead ](https://gardensdb.com/people/sophie-knittle) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/f943e9c9-174e-4ad7-b9ec-a34e1aa7bc9d/conversions/A72CCFAE-78E6-4522-B9C3-A881E405FFFF_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3c063650-8181-4dc1-9f7e-9f38a196e089/conversions/C0ACF421-7DE4-4702-AF8E-131C775B6730_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3e0d0c99-7d5b-4eeb-aafc-c5325737ed43/conversions/E6FF6580-9992-482D-8324-9DC73CAA00EE-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5ff78f48-df26-4bdd-8bdd-a9d0a48772fe/conversions/5E40BB8A-6DE8-45C5-ABA6-B75EAAC8936A-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ae86e836-f827-4195-83ee-c1e49db449cf/conversions/1AD5A3AF-41E8-46C2-B401-1ABF3D3DFBAF-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/00ff386f-0cf7-4492-8644-a3f1dccc523c/conversions/14405E53-D76A-49FB-BD90-FBAFC85BC9B9_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/39a971fe-7487-4283-a744-11f870be3342/conversions/FA88998D-6D22-46D7-9D75-23074C1ED54D_1_105_c-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a5462e85-5978-424d-b0b1-989ff0221dca/conversions/DF989081-56F2-4CEA-AD96-68E212BD332A_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/480a6dcd-1b34-43b9-a0a7-fb414769f91c/conversions/46513907-2EE2-4292-BDFD-0A5A2A53F250_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/582f750f-57ae-4725-ac2d-e7a920babab2/conversions/8B62FCFD-F9FB-4BF9-8BB0-9BEEEBDD5F0D_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d8d12369-b5db-49dd-824a-ffe58599a0b8/conversions/13582666-ED42-45AE-BC75-28ACE4C6A428_1_105_c-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d325595f-9125-4214-9caa-fb3b26ee6474/conversions/B3B0A40B-1E6E-494A-BC7B-280576D4071F_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ceaf688a-7386-4701-8c27-7d1e9a9f0d35/conversions/ABDDAB3D-27E8-4581-8B35-43D67E4BEAE4_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/76065d6e-0fad-4639-bb52-56fb2c363e92/conversions/1BF003C5-BB27-4257-9EF6-0E713662EB99_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d712c92a-b6f5-4ebf-a70e-c93c49470dcb/conversions/6967E04A-3DC1-4BBC-9837-B8EB0D597DEE_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/00fc8043-a9d4-406c-a112-578e2d4a5409/conversions/40DA8859-02E5-4387-BCAE-2B89A6DE4C80_1_102_o-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/55a8659e-72cc-481d-b7a9-2c0a4b032633/conversions/E8565284-2892-4E47-8A88-9052E9A178EE-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a8fb41cb-79e8-4285-bbb0-38bbdd3ca0b6/conversions/AFDECFDC-A887-4A49-A042-3101A388E4C0_1_105_c-gallery.webp) Show 1 more Show less ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![Range Rover](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/range-rover/logo.webp?v=c95b2da9-7cae-4783-8825-ee50e8e6f4ce) Range Rover ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/range-rover) ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. Browse - [ All gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charities ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) Contribute - [ Add a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) - [ Suggest a correction ](https://gardensdb.com/help) About - [ What is GardensDB? ](https://gardensdb.com/help) - [ Contact ](https://gardensdb.com/help) - [ Help & FAQs ](https://gardensdb.com/help) © 2026 GardensDB. A community-driven catalogue.