National Plant Collections play a vital role in protecting plants for the future
Put simply, a National Plant Collection® is a registered and documented collection of a group of plants, accredited by Plant Heritage and looked after by a volunteer collection holder. Together, the National Collections make a living library, that's recognised internationally as contributing to plant conservation and biodiversity. The plants in a National Collection may be from the same plant group, or different plants with a shared geography or history (e.g. heritage apples from Devon, or Queen Mary II's collection of Exoticks at Hampton Court Palace).
Who can have a National Collection?
Anyone can have a National Collection. You don't need to be a world expert, nor to have a huge garden. They are found everywhere from window sills and back gardens to allotments, schools, parks, zoos, even a pub and a prison.
Jackie Currie tending her Allium collection on her allotment
Sarah Cook & Iris 'Benton Opal'
Sarah Cook
Don Billington, collection holder for Aechmea, Billbergia and Neoregelia
How many National Collections are there?
Today there are over 750 National Collections, safeguarding around 100,000 plants, roughly one third of all cultivated plants in the UK. They are a vital resource for gardeners, nurserymen, garden designers, researchers, plant breeders and those interested in historical gardens and landscapes. Having these plants part of a registered conservation scheme makes sure that their beauty, history and useful properties (perhaps as food or medicine) are protected for generations to come. National Plant Collections are also made available for people to view, either by appointment, on special open days or as part of a garden open to the public.
FROM MIGHTY OAKS TO MINIATURE ORCHIDS, NATIONAL PLANT COLLECTIONS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
Plant Guardian scheme
If you'd like to be involved in plant conservation but can only look after one or a few plants, why not consider our Plant Guardian scheme?
Sponsoring the National Collections
As a charity, we depend on donations to fund our work. Why not sponsor the National Collections to stay in touch with what's happening.
Our partners
