Modern heroes of horticulture - Jamie Butterworth
Jamie Butterworth is part of a new wave of horticulturists redefining what it means to be a plantsman in the modern world - blending craftsmanship, science, and storytelling. At just 30, he’s already a Chelsea gold-medal winner, nursery founder, broadcaster, and now, author.
Jamie’s love of gardening began in Wakefield, Yorkshire, when a chance viewing of Gardeners’ World at age nine sparked something enduring. By twelve, he’d turned his grandparents’ garden into his first experiment in planting, colour, and texture.
At sixteen, he reached the finals of BBC’s Young Gardener of the Year, a pivotal experience that introduced him to the horticultural community and sowed the seeds for what was to come. Training followed at Askham Bryan College and RHS Garden Wisley, where he earned distinction.
After graduating, Jamie joined Hortus Loci, eventually managing their show plant division and supplying many of the UK’s leading designers. Around the same time, he co-founded YoungHorts, a grassroots movement inspiring more young people to take up careers in horticulture. In 2016, he became one of the RHS’s youngest ever ambassadors.
In 2020, Jamie founded Form Plants in Surrey - a nursery specialising in trees, shrubs, and architectural plants for landscapers and designers. Under his leadership, it has quickly earned a reputation for quality, innovation, and forward-thinking horticulture. Form Plants isn’t just a business: it’s Jamie’s laboratory for experimentation. It’s where he tests planting combinations, nurtures new varieties, and continues his lifelong fascination with how plants grow together.
Few milestones carry the weight of Chelsea Flower Show - and for Jamie, it’s been both a proving ground and a platform. He’s been involved in over 15 show gardens, with multiple gold medals to his name, including The Place2Be - Securing Tomorrow garden in 2022. This year, he partnered with Monty Don to create the BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden, designed to celebrate the companionship between humans and dogs. The garden, complete with dog-friendly planting and playful features, has been later relocated to Battersea for public enjoyment.
Monty calls Jamie “one of our brightest and most exciting young gardeners,” and their collaboration brings together two generations united by a shared belief - that gardens should be joyful, inclusive, and full of life.
Jamie’s new book, "What Grows Together: Fail-safe plant combinations for every garden", distils years of practical experience into something refreshingly simple. Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s Five Ingredients, it offers gardeners tried-and-tested “recipes” for plant pairings that thrive together - whether in pots, borders, or shady corners. Each combination has been trialled and grown by Jamie himself, demonstrating his signature mix of precision and passion. Monty Don describes it as “invaluable” - a book that makes planting feel achievable, not intimidating.
From that first packet of seeds to building a respected nursery, Jamie’s career has been rooted in curiosity and generosity. Whether on television, in print, or on the nursery floor, he continues to make horticulture feel alive, relevant, and full of possibility. In an industry sometimes obsessed with perfection, Jamie Butterworth reminds us that gardening is about growth — of plants, of people, and of purpose.
