The garden designs helping Chelsea Flower Show 'move with the times'

The designer of a pleasure garden full of plants associated with love and romance has said his "super sexy" display aims to help Royal Chelsea Flower Show "move with the times".

Designed by James Whiting, Aphrodite's Hothouse, won a gold medal at this year's show.

His is one of many displays at the event aimed at exploring social themes and targeting new, younger audiences. Another thought-provoking garden that moved some "visitors to tears" is Enmeshed: Positive Pathways by Somerset-based artist Dimitris Koutroumpas, which combines recycled computer circuits with living fungi.

A RHS spokesperson said: "We are delighted to have gardens that highlight the voices of, and reach out to, different and new communities."

Whiting, the founder of Plants By There, hopes his pleasure-themed garden will open the event up to a different demographic.

"It's super sexy - lots of deep reds, pinks, velvety heart-shaped leaves," he said.

"We're using houseplants like anthuriums, orchids and hanging carnivorous plants like nepenthes to visually tell the story and to create different moods."

Whiting said he is using houseplants to appeal to younger generations who might not have access to a garden.

Lovehoney, the Bath-based sexual wellness company who sponsored the garden, said they hoped it would "spark curiosity, challenge expectations and change the conversation around sex".

This year's Chelsea Flower Show has featured other gardens and installations with a clear social purpose. Among them is The Silent No More garden, starting conversations around gynaecological cancers through a design representing the female body.

There has also been a focus on younger people, such as the garden designed with young people from The Children's Society around the japanese concept of "imperfect beauty", and the Young Minds garden highlighting the mental health pressures on young people.

Artist Koutroumpas from Pilton in Somerset set out to explore themes around technology and environmentalism with his sculpture made from reclaimed computer circuits, native woodland flowers and living fungi.

"It represents the mycelium above ground and shows how powerful it is," he said.

"Mycelium shares the resources with plants and trees and they all thrive. Our message is when humans do the same, share our resources and help each other we can all achieve our dreams."

There is also a clear environmental message, as the installation is sponsored by RELOVE Technology, who have given nearly 100 million devices a second life by recycling components.

He said it is more important than ever to explore the topic of technology and appeal to younger audiences, who are highly aware of the environmental problems we face.

The sculpture is combined with a sound installation where you can hear the plants and the mushrooms, which Koutroumpas says has moved people to tears.

"It was almost as if it was something meditative. They couldn't explain it, but it brought them to tears, they felt a release," he said.

A RHS spokesperson said gardening is for everyone, of any age and from all walks of life, "whether growing food on an allotment or keeping houseplants".

"Gardening is a universal language, that brings people together to create a better, brighter world for everyone," added the spokesperson.

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