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. Members can grow something rare or unusual and we encourage all to propagate and pass these plants on again.
Getting ready for our Plant Exchange 2026
Our Plant Exchange 2026 will formally launch in the autumn. It will take place in Suffolk on Saturday 5th June (venue and details to be confirmed).
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? Read about how it all works below.
Here are the 2025 lists to give you an idea of potential plants offered, although the list changes each year depeding on what our members grow! 2025 offers list
Join Plant Heritage today to take part.
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 choose what you'd like to receive.
- You can offer one plant, or more
- You can request one plant, or more
- Or you can both offer and request plants
Offers of plants are matched to requests, and local coordinators collect and bring all the offered plants from their area to our Members Day 2026, in Suffolk on Saturday 5th June (venue TBC).
Sometimes a plant on offer may have many requests, so plants are allocated anonymously. Hence you may not receive all the plants you have requested, 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 qualifies 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.