Share our passion for saving garden plants

The home of the National Plant Collections®

Dahlia 'Gallery Pablo' ^PBR

Why conserve cultivated plants?

When it's gone it's gone. Over decades and sometimes centuries, our nation's dedicated gardeners have bred and cared for a rich diversity of garden plants. The genetic heritage contained in these living organisms can only be preserved by active gardeners.

A nation of growers

We are a nation of gardeners so let's live up to our reputation. From public gardens to small back yards there are rare plants that need saving.

The lost garden of Britain

When production of garden plants is commercially streamlined we risk losing the most precious cultivars. Let's save these plants by growing and sharing them.

Cultural and social history

Pests, diseases and changes of fashion mean plants can simply disappear. We may help medicinal cures or disease resistance by saving garden plants.

Why does this matter?

We know and love the plants from our nation's stories, poems and paintings. Let's make sure future generations get to appreciate them as much as we do.

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Plant Heritage aims to conserve the diversity of our garden plants

We are the only national charity to ensure the cultivated plants we grow now will be available to future generations for cultural, medical, culinary and aesthetic use. We do this through the National Plant Collection scheme, our Plant Guardians and our local group network.

Support us

Help us sustain the amazing diversity of our garden plants, through the National Plant Collections, by making a donation today.

Become a member

Support our conservation work, with access to rare and unusual plants, by taking out a membership for only £36 a year.

Virtual talks & workshops

See our programme of virtual events

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Sponsor the National Plant Collections

Follow a Collection throughout the year

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Event

09 December 2021 6.30pm - 8.00pm

365 Days of Colour, by Nick Bailey

Virtual

Nick will show plants, tips and techniques for year round colour and plant variety in your garden.

Talk

13 January 2022 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Windsor’s World of Rhododendrons - looking to the future, by John Anderson

Virtual

John Anderson is Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park. He will look at both species and hybrids - so many to talk about!

Talk

04 December 2021 2.30pm - 4.30pm

Biological concern for Climate change

Morden, Wareham , Dorset

Celebrity lecture by Sir Ghillean Prance

Event

09 December 2021 6.30pm - 8.00pm

365 Days of Colour, by Nick Bailey

Virtual

Nick will show plants, tips and techniques for year round colour and plant variety in your garden.

Talk

11 December 2021 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Aulden Farm: from Conception to Chaos

Shurdington, Cheltenham , Gloucestershire

Our first face-to-face meeting since the start of lockdown!

Talk

11 December 2021 2.30pm - 5.00pm

Italian Gardens in Scotland

Madingley , Cambridgeshire

Talk by Plant Heritage Member Jim Forrest. Followed by tea.

Talk

13 January 2022 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Windsor’s World of Rhododendrons - looking to the future, by John Anderson

Virtual

John Anderson is Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park. He will look at both species and hybrids - so many to talk about!

Workshop

17 January 2022 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Taxonomy workshop

GUILDFORD ,

A workshop on taxonomy, run by Dr Dawn Edwards, RHS horticultural taxonomist.

Free to Collection Holders and those working towards a Collection.

£10 to members - places limited.

Talk

20 January 2022 7.30pm - 8.30pm

'Cultivation of Temperate Aroids' by Kit Strange

Virtual

A virtual event by Zoom

Talk

03 February 2022 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Colourful Climbers

Virtual

Jane Lindsay of Tynings Plants will enlighten us on plants held in their National Plant Collections: Passiflora, Jasminum, Thunbergia and Mandevilla

More upcoming events

Latest News

11th Oct, 2021

Irish heritage plant group awarded National Plant Collection status

15th Sep, 2021

Autumn Chelsea Flower Show - National Collections Everywhere!

3rd Sep, 2021

Ventnor Botanic Garden’s palm tree collection - awarded National Plant Collection status

2nd Aug, 2021

16 New National Collections accredited in spring and summer of 2021

19th Jul, 2021

Threatened Plant of the Year 2021 winners announced

5th Jul, 2021

Winner of prestigious Brickell Award announced at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2021

10th May, 2021

Green-fingered volunteers needed to help save the UK’s garden plants

12th Apr, 2021

Ten new National Plant Collections accredited this spring, including Sir Bernard Lovell’s historic oak collection and the first ever Paulownia (foxglove tree) collection

9th Apr, 2021

Condolences for HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

7th Apr, 2021

The National Plant Collections. The year 2020 in review

View all news

Our partners

Conserving the diversity of garden plants

eg: plant genus, common name, county, collection holder name.