The Genus Lavandula. Diversity, classification and insights from evolutionary relationships.

Tim Upson is the Director of Gardens & Horticulture at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
He has responsibility for horticulture across the RHS and works closely with the Curators of the five RHS Gardens, including the internationally renowned RHS Wisley and was the lead in developing their 5th Garden RHS Bridgewater in Salford, opened in 2021, combining inspirational gardens with community programmes to encourage all to enjoy gardening.
He also leads the Horticulture team whose activities reach out across the Society and industry including the RHS Plant Trials and he will be a forum member of the forthcoming trial on lavenders starting 2027. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of the seasonal highlights where he helps host many supporters and international groups.

His 40 years of experience in horticulture and botany started at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew leading to a career in research and the management of gardens and collections. He was Curator and Director of Cambridge University Botanic Garden before joining the RHS in 2014. He has served on a number of boards and committees and is currently Chair of the Plant Collection Committee of Plant Heritage, Chair of the Borde Hill Garden Committee, Member of the Institute of Horticulture and Fellow of the Landscape Institute.
His research interests in Plant Systematics and evolution started at the University of Reading leading to his work in the family Lamiaceae and systematic work on Rosmarinus (now Salvia) and a PhD on the systematics of Lavandula on which he later co-authored a monograph published in 2004.

His interest covers species and evolutionary relationships, but also the cultivated diversity and breeding, his work offering insights into the chemistry of the essential oils. These interests extend into Mediterranean floras from around the world and the conservation of Oceanic Island plants, travelling widely in these areas, often in the search of lavenders.