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.

Brickell Award 2020

Brickell Award 2020

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Virtual talks & workshops

See our programme of virtual events

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National Plant Collections - online purchasing

Many National Plant Collections offer sales by mail order

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Talk

22 October 2020 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Clematis National Collection

, Virtual

An evening learning all about Clematis - featuring Richard Hodsons' National Collections of the Texensis & Viorna Groups.

Event

10 October 2020 2.30pm - 24 October 2020 4.00pm

Annual Nerine Festival

St Peter Port, Guernsey

Plant Heritage Guernsey has a National Collection of Nerines and there will be some available for sale.

Talk

21 October 2020 7.30pm - 10.00pm

'Lathyrus' by Dr Greg Kenicer

Ayr, Ayrshire

Sorry - this event has been cancelled.

Talk

22 October 2020 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Clematis National Collection

, Virtual

An evening learning all about Clematis - featuring Richard Hodsons' National Collections of the Texensis & Viorna Groups.

Open Day

25 October 2020 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Carpinus betulus cvs., Taxodium spp. & cvs.

Barnet, Hertfordshire

Open day to see the National Plant Collections.

Talk

28 October 2020 7.30pm - 10.00pm

'Orchids of the world' by Iain Wright

, Virtual

Iain Wright is a member of the Hardy Orchid Society Committee.

Please contact Sonia for joining details.

7.30pm for an 8pm start.

Talk

04 November 2020 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Colourful Chrysanthemum

, Virtual

Featuring the dispersed National Plant Collection of Chrysanthemum (hardy).

Talk

07 November 2020 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Max Walters Memorial Lecture: 'Looking to the future: the development of RHS Garden Bridgewater' by Tim Upson

Great Shelford, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Sorry, this event has been cancelled

Talk

12 November 2020 7.00pm - 9.45pm

'Paradise Lost And Restored: 400 Years Of Garden Design In Oxfordshire' by Timothy Walker

, Surrey

Online via Zoom Talk by Timothy Walker

Talk

14 November 2020 1.30pm - 5.30pm

'Tales from the potting shed, where garden magic begins!' by Nicola Hope

Edington, Bridgwater, Somerset

Sorry this event is cancelled.

1.30pm - Members’ Plant Sale & Coffee
2.15pm - Notices
2.30pm - Talk

More upcoming events

Latest News

27th Aug, 2020

Plant Heritage accredits a further eight National Plant Collections, including a collection named after 20th century horticulturalist Ellen Willmott, and the UK’s first gladiolus collection

10th Aug, 2020

The Brickell Award 2020. We are delighted to annouce that Malcolm Pharoah has been awarded the prestigious Brickell Award 2020 for his National Plant Collection of Astilbe

20th Jul, 2020

Threatened plants need you! Charity calls for help saving the UK’s garden plants Plant Heritage’s Missing Genera 2020 campaign highlights ten plant groups that need saving.

7th Jul, 2020

Plant Heritage is adapting to changing circumstances due to Covid 19. Our Seed Shop and talks from Collection Holders are offered online

29th May, 2020

Five new National Plant Collections are awarded by Plant Heritage in Spring 2020. Find out more about these unique collections of Spider Plants, Medlar, Box, Metasequoia and Liriodendron.

21st May, 2020

Plant Heritage at Virtual RHS Chelsea 2020. Tune into our video to see four Collection Holders and their collection of Iris, Lillies, Eucalyptus and South American cacti.

3rd Apr, 2020

Covid 19 update - 'Think Local' - where to buy plants from local National Collection Holders and independent nurseries

1st Mar, 2020

Dr Darwin’s Medicine Chest at Erasmus Darwin House Herb Garden and 8 New Collections awarded

3rd Feb, 2020

Plant Heritage calls for threatened plants to be entered into a new competition, with the winner crowned at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in July

9th Dec, 2019

Plant Heritage launches new website, enabling you to search for rare and interesting plant collections with interactive map search.

View all news

Our partners

Conserving the diversity of garden plants

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