“Plant passion” leads to CBE for Evison

Friday 29 December 2023

A renowned horticulturalist with global appeal who has operated in Guernsey for nearly four decades has been honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by King Charles III.

Raymond Evison CBE is a well-known figure locally and nationally as a green-fingered businessman whose multi-decade efforts to grow high-quality and sustainable clematis plants have rooted his position in the horticultural world.

In his lifetime Mr Evison has penned a series of books on clematis species and cultivars, creating over 200 of them himself out of a dedicated nursery on Route Militaire. 

He told Express they produce two million plants a year, enough to satisfy 15% of global demand. With decades of propagation it’s estimated that over 65 million living clematis which started their journey in the island are currently growing around the world.

He was awarded the OBE in 2000 by The Queen for services to horticulture in the island, while his new designation as part of the 2024 New Year honours is awarded for wider services to horticulture and to Guernsey itself. 

Mr Evison said it was “an absolutely tremendous honour for our family” and for horticulture, as he paid tribute to his near 50 strong nursery team for their efforts. 

“I enjoy my life working with plants, sharing knowledge and educating… I'm a very, very lucky person.”

WATCH: How the business gets its flowers from the island to Chelsea.

His influence can be seen across the islands from the Victor Hugo Garden at Candie, the restoration of the Victorian garden at Sausmarez, and the promotion of gardens in Sark. 

The Victorian project was borne out of the Guernsey Botanical Trust charity which he founded, and features pre-1900s plants. He said 30-years of volunteering with the Royal Horticultural Society and other institutions gave him insight into running charities and organisations.

But the influence also extends further afield, with monarchy connections rooted in advising clematis planting at the Royal estates, and to the far east where he has travelled to rural China since 1981 to hunt for and exhibit rare species of clematis.

Mr Evison described the country as a “plantsman's paradise” where nearly half of all clematis species are found. “That’s my honey pot, you might say."

He recalled a time they stumbled into a patch in the countryside that resembled a “wild overgrown botanical garden”.

He was later invited back to design a clematis garden at the Beijing Expo. 

He’s also pruned an impressive collection of personal and business accolades over that time, including dozens of RHS golds at Chelsea and two Lawrence Medals for the best garden at the show. 

A highlight came in September 2021 when the show’s President awarded the highest honour to his exhibit for producing a flowering clematis garden out of season. “It was really fantastic,” he said.

Most recently, his business was granted a Royal Warrant by the Prince of Wales for being a substantial supplier of products over a period of years to a Royal Household, and who reach a high level of sustainability in their production, practices, and social responsibilities.

“There’s a lot more to do… it certainly spurs me on,” he concluded.

Pictured (top): Raymond Evison CBE.