Our Plant Exchange shares plants to save plants!
The annual, free Plant Exchange allows members to share rare or unusual plants with each other. By distributing plants round the country we can re-establish plants in danger of being lost. We encourage everyone to propagate and pass these plants on again.
Get involved in the Plant Exchange 2026
Our Plant Exchange 2026 is now underway. The big plant swap will take place during the Members' Day in Suffolk on 6 June, but it starts now. Members are already growing rare and unusual plants to share, and our team of volunteer Plant Exchange coordinators are there to help. Do you have a plant you can share? Or one you want? Read about how it all works below.
The Plant Exchange is open to all members of Plant Heritage, so if you'd like to get involved why not join Plant Heritage today to take part?
Please note that because the aim is to keep rare and unusual plants in circulation, we focus on plants that can't easily be bought from commercial outlets. If you're not sure if your plant is available commercially, the RHS Plant Finder is a good place to check. Or make an offer and your local exchange coordinator can confirm.
Key Dates
- Send in your offers of plants and wants by the 22 November 2025. If you have a Plant Exchange coordinator in your area they will be in touch. If not, contact the conservation team by emailing collections@plantheritage.org.uk or phoning 01483 447540.
- In early January 2026 you'll find the full lists of all plants offered on our website here
- Place your bids! These must be received by your local Plant Exchange coordinator or the conservation team by the 28 February 2026
- Plant Exchange takes place at the Members' day in Suffolk, 6 June - If you're attending you're welcome to collect plants that have been allocated to you, but if you can't attend that's fine - we'll make sure the plants get back to you safely.
The Plant Exchange is a great way to find unusual or rare plants you've been looking for. Send your 'wants' in before 22 November 2025. The Wants list will be published alongside the Offers in January. If you have plants others are looking for, send these to your coordinator (or the conservation team) before the 28 February deadline as well.
Lucy Pitman, Plant Conservation Officer helping the exchnage run smoothly
How does it work?
All Plant Heritage members are welcome to take part in the Plant Exchange. Put in what you can offer and/or choose what you'd like to receive.
Offers of plants
Put in what you can offer and/or bid for plants you'd like to receive.
- You can offer one plant, or many
- You can bid for one plant, or many
- Or you can offer plants and bid for others
Plants that have been offered are matched to the bids, and with allocations supplied by the conservation team, local coordinators assemble and bring all the plants offered from their area to the Plant Exchange, which will take place at our Members Day 2026, in Suffolk on Saturday 6th June (venue TBC).
Sometimes a plant on offer may have many bids, and plants are allocated anonymously. Hence you may not receive all the plants you have placed bids on, but we will do our best!
Is my plant rare enough to put in?
If you know the name of your plant, check the RHS Plant Finder and if it has two or fewer suppliers listed then it will probably qualify for the Plant Exchange. Do contact your local exchange coordinator if you are not sure about the plant or can't find it listed.
What do I do with plants I receive?
- Grow and enjoy them!
- Record them in the Plant Guardian scheme - they are likely to be eligible
- If you wish, you can propagate and share them, or make them available through local group plant sales. Just make sure they aren't covered by Plant Breeders’ Rights .
Plant health and passporting
For anyone taking part in the Plant Exchange, we recommend that you read this guide to biosecurity produced by the National Trust.
As it currently stands, it seems that plant swaps organised within clubs and societies are not covered by plant passporting regulations. Presume that any plant you receive will not be passported and take appropriate biosecurity measures as in the link above. We keep a record of where plants have come from and go to, to ensure traceability in case of problems.