Heritage

Three generations with a passion for plants

Alan Bloom (1906-2005) was one of the great British plantsmen of the twentieth century. A gardener from the age of 16, he bought Bressingham Hall, Norfolk in 1946 and founded a world-renowned gardening dynasty that today spans three generations.

The development of Blooms Nurseries Ltd. during the 1950s saw many award-winning new perennial plant introductions into the UK. In 1953, Alan started work on the Dell Garden which today features 47 island beds, planted with over 5000 different plants.

A new variety of Bloom

In 1962, Alan Blooms sons - Robert and Adrian joined their father, adding a retail and mail order business in 1964. By the time Alan passed the reins to his sons in 1970, Blooms of Bressingham was a well-established gardening name with well-known plant introductions to their credit and many Gold Medals for garden exhibits at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show in London. Plants such as Crocosmia 'Lucifer' and Achillea 'Moonshine' were introduced by Blooms and are still among the top sellers today.

Trend-setting garden design

Adrian's name soon became associated with yet another new style of gardening, reflecting his interest in conifer and heather gardens. His garden at Foggy Bottom, adjacent to the Dell Gardens is famous for all-year round color and interest. It is regularly featured on TV and in magazines worldwide. Adrian is continually innovating and has recently completed a new garden named Adrian’s Wood, which lies between the Dell and Foggy Bottom gardens, expanding the Bressingham Gardens to 16 acres. With Adrian's sons, the third generation of Blooms retains its involvement with the business of creating and growing plants through Blooms Nurseries Ltd.

Inspiring and Innovative

In the UK, Blooms of Bressingham Plant Centres continue to grow and modernize. The complete redevelopment of the original plant Centre at Bressingham is the next major project to be completed. Although the plant centres are no longer owned by the Blooms family, Adrian Bloom still retains links with the new business. The next few years will see the introduction of a new wave of garden inspiration and trend-setting developments that reflect the continuing passion for plants that started almost 100 years ago.

A wonderful day out

The Bressingham Gardens, which include the Dell Garden, Foggy Bottom and Adrian’s Wood are open to the public and are adjacent to the original Blooms of Bressingham Plant Centre at Bressingham. Also in the same location is Alan Bloom's magnificent collection of Steam Engines, the second largest collection in Europe. The 11 kilometres of working railway provide a choice of rides and there's even a steam-driven roundabout. A new Dad's Army collection has been launched with a trip down memory lane to the famous Warmington On Sea. Together, the 5 attractions make a wonderful day out for all the family.