Jamie Butterworth is a horticulturalist, garden designer and broadcaster who appears regularly on BBC Two's Gardeners' World. He is also part of the BBC's RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage team and features on ITV's Love Your Weekend. He founded Form Plants, a Surrey nursery, and has written two books including the Sunday Times bestseller What Grows Together.
From Wakefield to Wisley
Butterworth was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 1994. Watching Monty Don on Gardeners' World at age nine sparked his interest in plants. By 12, he had started his first vegetable garden.
At 16, he reached the final of BBC3's Young Gardener of the Year competition. He studied at Askham Bryan College in York before training at RHS Garden Wisley, where he completed a Diploma in Practical Horticulture with Distinction in 2015. At 21, he was appointed an RHS Ambassador, a role that includes encouraging young people to consider horticulture as a career. Other ambassadors in the programme have included Alan Titchmarsh and Mary Berry.
Show garden success
Butterworth has won multiple gold medals at Royal Horticultural Society events. His designs emphasise plantsmanship, with the plant selection serving as the main focus rather than hard structures. His wins include the Wedgwood Garden at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in 2019 (also Best in Show), the RHS Garden for a Greener Future at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2021, and the Place2Be Securing Tomorrow Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022.
The Place2Be garden was created for the children's mental health charity. Pupils at Viking Primary School in West London contributed ideas during the design process. After Chelsea, the garden was relocated to the school permanently, giving children a calm outdoor space for conversations and reflection.
In 2025, Butterworth worked with Monty Don and BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley on The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at Chelsea. The garden was designed with dogs in mind and later moved to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Broadcasting career
Butterworth is represented by The Soho Agency. He presents segments on Gardeners' World and contributes to the BBC's live Chelsea Flower Show broadcasts. He has described joining the Chelsea team as fulfilling a lifelong ambition.
His television work has made him a recognisable figure in British gardening. His approach combines practical advice with an emphasis on accessible planting techniques that suit gardeners at any level.
Books and writing
His first book was RHS 50 Plants You Can't Kill. His second, What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden, became a Sunday Times bestseller. The book offers simple planting 'recipes' for gardeners at any level. Butterworth has said he was inspired by Jamie Oliver's straightforward approach to cooking when writing it. Monty Don and Jo Whiley both endorsed the book.
Form Plants: nursery expansion
Butterworth founded Form Plants in 2020. The Surrey-based nursery supplies trees, hedging and other plants to landscape professionals and the public.
In early 2026, the business acquired Jacksons Nurseries to expand its growing capacity, particularly for perennials. The acquisition reflects the nursery's growth since its launch six years ago. Form Plants focuses on quality stock and serves both trade customers and home gardeners looking for well-grown specimens.
Current work
Butterworth's career spans design, broadcasting and retail horticulture. His show gardens have demonstrated his design skills at major RHS events, while his nursery business continues to expand. His books have reached a wide audience beyond the gardening community.
He remains active as an RHS Ambassador, promoting horticulture to younger audiences and supporting the next generation of gardeners and growers. His television appearances continue on Gardeners' World and at major flower shows throughout the year.
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