Can you help National Collection holders to find missing plants?
The Wish List is a list of hard to find plants that National Collection holders are looking for, to help complete their collections. We know you love a treasure hunt, so can you help us to track them down? Download the most recent list here from 14 February 2026 (Valentine's Day), and get in touch if you can help.
A close up of Paeonia lactiflora 'Lady Ley' photographed before it was lost
Wish List - Plants of the Moment
Just in time for Valentine's Day, National Collection Holder Caroline Stone has added varieties with suitably romantic names to the Wish List for her collection of Paeonia lactiflora cultivars (bred by Kelway & Son). These include Paeonia lactiflora ‘Desire’ (from the 1945 Kelway’s catalogue), Paeonia lactiflora ‘Cupid’ (from the 1889 catalogue) and Paeonia lactiflora ‘Wings of Love’ (from the 1945 catalogue). The romantic theme continues with Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pure Love’ and Paeonia lactiflora ‘Queen of Hearts’.
Caroline is particularly keen to find Paeonia lactiflora ‘Lady Ley’, described in the 1937 catalogue as being “Soft pale rosy-pink, large golden centre; charming; large petals, tulip shaped.” This fragrant, early flowerer was launched in 1912, remaining in the catalogue until the early 2000s. Caroline was alerted to the plant by a former owner, and photographs were sent to help with identification. Unfortunately, the new house owners had built an extension and the plant was lost! She’s hoping that the Wish List helps her track down this variety elsewhere.
Colchicum for all seasons?
RHS Hyde Hall have included Colchicum doerfleri ‘Valentine’ on their Wish List. The plant has a Threatened Plants Programme conservation status of Critical in Cultivation (which means we have not yet found it alive), so it would be a hugely rewarding moment for the team, and for plant conservation, if we can find the plant thanks to the Wish List. Jeannette Jones from the RHS says: “It would be good to add Colchicum doerfleri ‘Valentine’ to our overall collection. As we have a Collection of autumn-flowering Colchicum, it would be a delightful change to see one flowering in early spring.”
Colchicum Cilicium (not on the Wish List)
Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘David’s Blaby Blue’
D Simpson
Helping National Collection holders hunt down missing plants
Building a National Collection requires detective work, perseverance and more than a little luck, according to David Simpson who has a collection of Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) and Tradescantia virginiana. He says the generosity of others also plays a vital role. David started his National Collection when he stopped growing vegetables and wondered what to do with seven raised beds in his back garden. He spotted hardy Tradescantia on the Plant Heritage Missing Collections campaign in 2019. First he collected the varieties that were readily available, then he went plant hunting!
An introduction to former nursery owner and National Collection holder Hazel Kaye in Leicester led to one of the rarer plants in his collection: Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘David’s Blaby Blue’. This beautiful variety with delicate porcelain blue flowers was a hybrid seedling, selected by one of Hazel's friends in nearby Blaby, named to remember his son who died in a tragic accident. When Hazel retired, she chose it as one of just three Tradescantia for her new garden. She kindly sent David Simpson a small division, so he could include it in his National Collection and keep it safe for the future.