A nursery specialising in unusual plants has been presented with a Queen's Award for Enterprise Innovation.

Architectural Plants, founded in Horsham 12 years ago, has the largest greenhouse in the South of England and a second nursery near Chichester. It employs 18 people at its two sites.

The nursery, founded by Angus White, was responsible for a new style of garden design and planting which has made plants, previously virtually unknown, available to the average gardener.

The Queen's Award was conferred on the firm for its ground-breaking approach to production and marketing.

Mr White said: It acknowledges the dedication of the multi-talented staff who make Architectural Plants the unique nursery it is.

For years I lamented that the average British garden (mine included) was about as fascinating to look at in winter as a wet breeze block.

My solution was to put together a collection of special-looking plants.

Many of these plants are tricky to propagate, they have remained beyond the reach all but the keenest amateur gardener - until now. By using up-to-date technology, including micropropagation, our own small nursery is now producing these plants in significant numbers."

The award was presented Mr White by the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex Hugh Wyatt.