Frances with Kalimeris 'Madiva', Kalimeris 'Blue Star' and Kalimeris incisa 'Nana Blue'
This autumn, we're delighted to share the news that 19 plant collections have been awarded National Plant Collection® status.
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. The National Collections together create a living library that's recognised internationally as contributing to plant conservation and biodiversity. There are currently over 750 National Collections, safeguarding around 100,000 plants, roughly one third of all cultivated plants in the UK.
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Browse the list below and see below for more information about these exciting new additions to the Plant Heritage National Plant Collections.
Meet our new National Plant Collection® holders
- Disa with Steve Hickman in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
- Dracula species at Chester Zoo with Phil Esseen, Cheshire – Reference collection
- Eucryphia with Lucy Cavendish at Holker Hall, Cumbria – Reference collection
- Iris – Bearded irises 19th & 20th century diploid cultivars with Andrew King in Somerset – Historical collection
- Kalimeris with Frances Moore in Kent – Horticultural collection (pictured above)
- Lachenalia with Ethan Ash in Devon – Horticultural collection
- Lamium maculatum & L. orvala cultivars with Christine Pick in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
- Nerine species, cultivars and hybrids (tender and hardy) with Ethan Ash in Devon – Horticultural collection
- Nepeta with Caro Skyrme in Shropshire – Horticultural collection
- Orchid (Jewel orchids) with Anna Markova in London – Horticultural collection
- Peak District, Endangered native plants with Dr Steve Furness in Derbyshire - Horticultural collection
- 6 Pelargonium collections comprising; Decorative, Irene, Stellar, Rosebud, Deacon and Highfield with Roger Burmett in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
- Pelargonium (scented species & cultivars) with Lady Bamford in Gloucestershire – Horticultural collection
- Pinguicula (Mexican cultivars) with Zaruhi Poghosyan in Cardiff – Reference collection
Find out more about our new Collection Holders
Disa with Steve Hickman in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
Steve Hickman’s passion for Disa began over 20 years ago, but it was a visit to Table Mountain in South Africa four years ago that re-sparked his interest. Three years ago, he began his collection, with a purchase at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live show in Birmingham which was followed with an introduction to several growers. He was lucky enough to acquire three complete collections early on!
Now that Steve has more time on his hands, he plans to breed Disa and exhibit them, making them more available to the public. He’s keen to dispel the idea that they’re tricky to grow and make them more affordable.
He has plans to visit Disa in their natural habitats in South Africa next year, and to also attend the International Disa Symposium which takes place at Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia.
Dracula species at Chester Zoo with Phil Esseen, Cheshire – Reference collection
Chester Zoo adds a sixth National Plant Collection to their site with Dracula orchids. These orchids are a highly threatened species which are extremely vulnerable to habitat loss for a variety of reasons including road construction, poaching and complex pollination mechanisms. Fittingly, given the collections home at a zoo, the flowers resemble primate faces. The Zoo will use the National Plant Collection to focus on scientific research, and conservation work. Dracula are found in Central and South America, a global biodiversity hotspot where Chester Zoo prioritises its conservation work.
Eucryphia with Lucy Cavendish at Holker Hall, Cumbria – Reference collection
The woodland gardens at Holker Hall have been cared for by several generations of the Cavendish family, and whilst some of the more established Eucryphia were inherited, Lord and Lady Cavendish began collecting in earnest in the 1980s. One of the most notable trees in the collection is Eucryphia lucida ‘Gilt Edge’ which is the largest in the country according to the Tree Register of Britain and Ireland. New plantings continue with the aim to represent the genus as comprehensively as possible.
The climate and soils at Holker Hall suit Eucryphia and they have the space and resources to ensure the longevity of the collection. They are planted throughout the gardens and are very popular with visitors to the gardens, and Holker Hall have plans to increase awareness of these spectacular trees and conserve unusual species and hybrids.
Iris – bearded irises 19th & 20th century diploid cultivars with Andrew King in Somerset – Historical collection
Andrew has been growing bearded iris for many years, and about 12 years ago he began focusing on the older varieties, being drawn to their simplicity. As a result, he became aware of how many of these varieties have been lost, John Salter is recorded as having introduced over 70 varieties but only six remain in cultivation and are not available commercially. Therefore, Andrew felt it valuable to try and collect the plants, keep them in cultivation and make them better known. They’re good general garden plants and have the potential for a popularity resurgence! Andrew comments on how tough and easy to grow iris are, and how rapidly they increase, they need dividing to keep them under control but the benefit of this is every plant produces plenty of spare rhizomes and new plants to pass on. Sharing varieties is the best way to ensure their longevity.
Kalimeris with Frances Moore in Kent – Horticultural collection
The first Kalimeris that Frances brought were Kalimeris incisa 'Alba' and Kalimeris 'Jurgen Wever', this was to begin a real passion for collecting the plants and sparked the idea of starting a National Collection, particularly when Frances discovered that there wasn’t yet a Kalimeris National Plant Collection®.
The plants have daisy-like flowers, ranging in colours including white and lavender blue. Frances used the RHS Plant Finder and scoured plant fairs to source more plants to build up her collection. Many gardeners have not heard of Kalimeris so Frances hopes that her collection will help promote this undervalued plant.
Frances grows the plants in a rural spot in Kent, on chalk and in an exposed, south facing spot. She takes a no dig approach to her gardening. Kalimeris are quite easy to grow, happy in sun or partial shade and easy to propagate by division. They’re tolerant plants and, once established, are fairly drought tolerant. With deadheading, they flower for a long time too.
Lachenalia – Horticultural collection and Nerine species, cultivars and hybrids (tender and hardy) Horticultural collection both with Ethan Ash in Devon
Ethan Ash, based in Devon, has been awarded two National Plant Collections. The first, Lachenalia, comes from a passion that began when Ethan was 13 (just five years ago!). He’s built up the collection over the last four years with the help of Theo Herselman at Exbury gardens. He says “I truly believe there is no genus of bulbous plant that is so diverse and fascinating to grow”, he’s spent the last few years learning about the plants, through trial and error, and is currently experimenting with propagation via leaf cutting. The plant is endangered in the wild, so he’s working towards maintaining as much genetic diversity as he can through his collection.
Ethan’s Nerine collection starting when he was just eight, after his grandmother gave him a small clump of Nerine bowdenii. A visit to Exbury Gardens really sparked the passion when Theo Herselfman showed him behind the scenes of their Nerine sarniensis collection and gave him some nerines to start his own collection. Since then, he’s been a passionate grower of Nerine, even making his own hybrids over the past five years.
Lamium maculatum & Lamium orvala cultivars with Christine Pick in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
Chritine’s collection is grown in a small cottage garden in the heart of a village; it began when she moved to the cottage over 10 years ago. Her interest was first sparked when she noticed a previously unknown plant growing prolifically in the garden. She identified it as Lamium maculatum ‘Roseum’ but she notes that this is unlikely as it appears to seed freely, so it is more likely to be Lamium maculatum rather than the cultivar. Inspired by other Lamium cultivars that appeared in her garden, Christine’s collection grew from there.
The Collection’s purpose is to preserve and increase the number of Lamium maculatum cultivars, noting that it has been challenging to source some of the known cultivars. With no other Lamium collection, Christine hopes that this collection will preserve these modest plants that work in shade and as a ground cover. Perhaps overlooked by gardeners looking for a spectacular display, she is passionate about their benefits in a garden particularly as shelter for insects and small mammals, pollinator value and their value in protecting the soil from extreme weather.
Nepeta with Caro Skyrme in Shropshire – Horticultural collection
Caro’s love of Nepeta goes back a long time, she loves how attractive they are to bees, the hummingbird hawk moth and butterflies, the plants are an environmental treasure in the garden. She grows them in a walled garden, nursery field and poly tunnels, on the southern border of Shropshire. At first, she focused on rare cultivars, but now her collection features many of the plants.
This collection was established in part thanks to Plant Heritage who knew that Caro already had many varieties of Nepeta. So when a collection from Devon was looking for a new home, they asked if Caro would be interested. She drove 10 hours through sleet and fog to get the collection! This is Caro’s second collection, she also has a National Plant Collection® of Hemerocallis.
Orchid (Jewel orchids) with Anna Markova in London – Horticultural collection
Anna’s collection of Jewel orchids began with just one plant 4 years ago, a Macodes petola. She was so amazed by the sparkle of the leaves, that she wanted to build on her collection, so she began purchasing more plants from UK based sellers online and at fairs. Anna enjoyed the challenge of learning how to care for the plants, with the limited information available. Eventually she found it difficult to source more plants in the UK and started to import Tissue Culture flasks to find new varieties from sustainable sources.
Anna’s collection is thought to be the most comprehensive collection of jewel orchids in the UK and includes some rare varieties such as Pelexia laxa which may be the only one in the country at this time. She continues to sustainably import new varieties and spares so that she can increase the availability of these plants in the UK. She hopes this will reduce the temptation for other collectors to import plants from questionable sources, who use unsustainable methods for obtaining rare plants threatened by overcollection in their natural habitat.
Peak District, Endangered native plants with Dr Steve Furness in Derbyshire - Horticultural collection
Rare native species in the Peak District National Park are in serious decline, and following discussions by the National Park Endangered Plant Group, Dr Steve Furness realised his collection would be a valuable safeguard and reference collection for future reintroduction if required. His collection has been built over the last 50 years from wild plants and has been used for reintroduction projects for the Peak District National Park Authority, Natural England and other scientific bodies.
Steve has grown and protected these plants in his garden over decades and feels that accreditation as a National Plant Collection® is a valuable way to protect them for the future.
6 Pelargonium collections (Decorative, Irene, Stellar, Rosebud, Deacon and Highfield) with Roger Burnett in Yorkshire – Horticultural collection
Roger’s love of pelargoniums began during the early years of his career working on a Local Authority nursery growing around 30,000 plants annual. His passion was developed further when working with Old Fibrex Nurseries in Worcestershire, who closed their National Collection and shared it between Roger and RHS Gardens. Since then, Roger has taken on the National Collections from three RHS sites, and plans to display plants from the individual collections under the banner of the Yorkshire Pelargonium and Geranium Society at shows.
In the collections, there are a large number of historic varieties that are disappearing from regular cultivation, making the collections invaluable for future breeding.
Pelargonium (scented species & cultivars) with Lady Bamford in Gloucestershire – Horticultural collection
Lady Bamford has had a passion for Pelargonium collecting for many years and was the driving force behind the installation of the new glasshouses in her garden. The collection has also inspired Daylesford’s Bamford range of homeware and fragrances.
Over the years, considerable expertise has been built up in the gardening team, there is ongoing interest in expanding on the existing collection and working with other experts to share knowledge and preserve the history of Pelargonium cultivation. Records are maintained and they use Plant Heritage’s digital records system, Persephone, to keep them in order.
Pinguicula (Mexican cultivars) with Zara Poghosyan in Cardiff – Reference collection
Zara brought her first Mexican Pinguicula in 2021, but initially only as a solution to a fungus gnat population in their orchid collection! But as the plant grew, she found herself captivated by its beauty. Since then, she has added over 130 different species and hybrids to her collection, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive Mexican Pinguicula collections in the UK.
Currently the collection contains 65 Mexican species (out of a known 126), and 66 manmade hybrids, but by the end of 2026 Zara has aims to add another 25 to her collection in addition to making their own hybrids to increase the diversity of the collection.
Zara says that “Holding a National Plant Collection is both a profound honour and a deeply rewarding responsibility. It is a personal academic commitment that demands systematic documentation, precise labelling, and proactive propagation. It means transforming a passionate hobby into a dedicated commitment to ensure the survival of rare species and distinct cultivars for future generations. Holding this national status is not merely a reflection of personal passion, but an active contribution to global biodiversity preservation.”
Aeonium (Reference, Scientific) - Mellie Lewis, Shropshire
Mellie Lewis’ Aeonium collection was first accredited in 2019 as a Horticultural collection before becoming a Reference collection. She has now been awarded Scientific status by Plant Heritage for her research into her Collection.
Mellie is using the collection to assist her current research into the non-Canary Island Aeoniums. Mellie is passionate about plants in their natural habitat and how threatened they are, she hopes that her research will spread the message of the importance of bio security and natural habitats.
Mellie is the only person in the UK with botanical microscopic photographs of the species and cultivar’s cilia and leaves which are important for correct identification and study. She has also worked with succulent nurseries to get plants threatened in cultivation back into circulation including Aeonium albovarigatum, Aeonium ‘Blush’, Aeonium ‘Brides Bouquet’, Aeonium tenenis, Aeonium hawbicum and the true Aeonium sedifolium.