Our Plant Exchange shares plants to save plants
The annual free plant swap gives all members of Plant Heritage access to rare and unusual plants. It is a great way to find plants that could be eligible for the Plant Guardian scheme. In 2025 we swapped nearly 1,000 plants and we have a great selection on offer for 2026. Why not join Plant Heritage today to take part?
It's time to get your bids in
What will you choose from the OFFERS list, and can you help find any plants for the WANTS list? Remember that you do not have to be offering any plants to make a bid.
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 Please put your bids in by 28 February (and provide your plants by then too). The 2026 Plant Exchange will take place at the members' get together in Suffolk in early June. You are welcome to collect plants that have been allocated to you there, but if you are not attending we will make sure the plants get back to you. Plant Exchange coordinators will be able to leave plants from 2pm on Friday 5 June. Plants will be ready to collect by 4pm on Saturday 6 June.
Lucy Pitman, Conservation Adviser helping the exchange run smoothly
How does it work?
Offers of plants
All Plant Heritage members are welcome to take part. You can bid for one plant, or many. You do not need to be offering any plants to make a bid. The process kicks off in the autumn with members propagating plants and sending in offers and requests. The bids are collated through our network of volunteer plant exchange coordinators and the central conservation team. Local coordinators arrange to bring all the plants from their area to the Members' Day, and take plants back again. Sometimes a plant may have lots of bids, so you may not get all those you ask for, but we will do our best.
Is my plant rare enough to put in?
The aim of the Plant Exchange is to keep rare and unusual plants in circulation, so we focus on plants that cannot easily be bought from commercial outlets. 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. Or contact your local exchange coordinator or the conservation team for advice.
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.