Alan Titchmarsh reveals the two plants he would ban from British gardens forever

Alan Titchmarsh, renowned for his passion for plants, has revealed two garden staples he would rather never see again. Speaking to Stephanie Mahon, host of the Talking Gardens podcast, Alan didn't hesitate when asked which plant he would happily consign to the compost heap forever: "Pampas grass."

According to him, this plant, infamous for its association with suburban wife-swappers, "looks like a collection of feathered dusters sticking out of a mountain of grass".

Moreover, if you choose to plant some, it can be incredibly difficult to remove should you ever change your mind. He elaborated: "If you ever want to get rid of it, you've got a real task ahead of you."

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Large flowered gladioli are another of Alan's dislikes, although he admits they can be "very good in church."

He clarified that it's only the larger, more flamboyant type of gladiolus that he doesn't appreciate, reports the Express.

"I like little gladiolus Byzantine," he shared with Stephanie. "That's the one that grows in the hedgerows and in Cornwall."

Alan's old friend Beth Chatto was reportedly quite partial to pampas grass, but Alan told her: "You keep it in your garden, Beth, and I'll be happy."

She also initiated the regular "Unusual Plants" exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Alan expressed concern that some of the exhibits at Chelsea have become somewhat excessive in recent years. He added: "I begin to worry when gardens start to cost six figure sums, a quarter of a million and more to make a garden for a week."

He's now more interested in seeing smaller, more intimate shows, such as the Royal Windsor Flower Show where the skill of the grower is really brought to the forefront. He said: "When I went there first, the weather was lovely, which is always a plus."

"Windsor Great Park is the most beautiful landscape and it was a classic village fête atmosphere for all the right reasons."

He noted that the Windsor show is on a smaller scale than Chelsea, but it's got a great atmosphere, adding: "Beautifully done but friendly. Lots of different growers there, with little stands ... it's a bit like portrait miniatures. You don't always need enormous great, massive paintings to impress."

"It's so intrinsically British and it's what we all remember from flower shows as a child. The skills are there, but so too is the friendliness."

"I think often on a small scale, you get the charm, the magic that is lost on the grander scale."