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More on KentOnline
Tennis ace Andy Murray has won Wimbledon and achieved Olympic gold – and now he has a plant named after him.
Hosta Andy Murray will be launched at the Chelsea Flower Show by an Ashford grower, who has about 100 of the new plants in his nursery.
Paul Harris, of Brookfield Plants, will reveal the flowering plantain lily to the world as part of his exhibit at the show.
The species was chosen by the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society (BHHS) to honour the sportsman because its blue and white leaves are the colour of the Scottish Saltire and even feature a gold flash to represent his medal from London 2012.
Mr Harris, 58, a BHHS member, said: "The society has a link with Dunblane, Andy Murray's home town, and we wanted to name a hosta after him to celebrate his sporting achievements.
"The colourings of this one were perfect. I will be launching it in conjunction with the society.
"I am an Andy Murray fan. Last year, I was at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show during the Wimbledon men's final and we were all listening on the radio. A big cheer went up in the tent when Andy won."
Hosta Andy Murray was bred by hybridiser and nurseryman Bob Solberg of North Carolina, USA, and although it will be in short supply throughout 2014, more are being grown in America ready to be sold over here next year.
A price has not yet been agreed by the society but the species is likely to fetch at least £25 per plant, according to Mr Harris.
Diana Grenfell, vice-president of the BHHS, said the Murray family was thrilled with the honour and will be invited to the launch at Chelsea. The show runs from May 20-24.
The first place to receive the plants will be Dunblane, where it will feature in the hosta border, within the Dunblane Community Gardens, which will open to the public as part of Scotland's Gardens 2014.
Mr Harris has run the nursery, in Sandyhurst Lane, for five years after quitting his job as a technical manager for a London supermarket.
He only grows hostas and colourful flowering hemerocallis, or daylily.
