Share our passion for saving garden plants

The home of the National Plant Collections®

Dahlia 'Gallery Pablo' ^PBR

Help us save our garden plants

Why conserve cultivated plants?

When it's gone it's gone. Over decades and sometimes centuries, our nation's dedicated gardeners have bred and cared for a rich diversity of garden plants. The genetic heritage contained in these living organisms can only be preserved by active gardeners.

A nation of growers

We are a nation of gardeners so let's live up to our reputation. From public gardens to small back yards there are rare plants that need saving.

The lost garden of Britain

When production of garden plants is commercially streamlined we risk losing the most precious cultivars. Let's save these plants by growing and sharing them.

Cultural and social history

Pests, diseases and changes of fashion mean plants can simply disappear. We may help medicinal cures or disease resistance by saving garden plants.

Why does this matter?

We know and love the plants from our nation's stories, poems and paintings. Let's make sure future generations get to appreciate them as much as we do.

Find out more

Plant Heritage aims to conserve the diversity of our garden plants

We are the only national charity to ensure the cultivated plants we grow now will be available to future generations for cultural, medical, culinary and aesthetic use. We do this through the National Plant Collection scheme, our Plant Guardians and our local group network, supported by our threatened plants programme and Persephone, our online plant recording system.

Support us

Help us sustain the amazing diversity of our garden plants, through the National Plant Collections, by making a donation today.

Donate

Become a member

Please support our vital work in plant conservation work, saving rare and unusual plants. Special rate for under 35s and students - join here. Welcome to Plant Heritage.

Join us

National Collection Holders Conference - Wed 6 Nov 2024

Missing collections campaign 2024

Could you start a National Plant Collection of our pollinator friendly plants

Workshop

09 November 2024 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Plant Photography Workshop

Cheltenham , Gloucestershire

An opportunity to learn how to take better photographs, whether on your camera or a smartphone...

Talk

09 November 2024 2.00pm - 5.00pm

‘Plants in my Best Garden Designs’, by Bunny Guinness

Girton, Cambridge , Cambridgeshire

Max Walters memorial lecture with Bunny Guinness - award winning landscape architect with six Chelsea Flower Show Gold medals & regular panellist at BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time

Talk

09 November 2024 2.30pm - 4.00pm

Talk by Alexandra Davey: "Stories of Survival and Resurrection Biology"

Ponteland , Northumberland

Alexandra Davey, Science Policy & Impact Officer at Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, reviews research on the science of bringing back extinct plant species, a "possible toolkit for conservationists".

Talk

14 November 2024 7.00pm - 9.30pm

'Biodiversity and Sustainability' A Talk by Alistair Griffiths

Cobham , Surrey

Postponed from 14th September 2023 and now confirmed for 14th November 2024

A talk by Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director Science and Collections

Attend in person in Cobham or via Zoom.

Please note the deadline for requests for a Zoom invitation for this talk is 11am on the morning of the event.

Talk

14 November 2024 7.00pm - 9.30pm

Habitat Creations for Butterflies, People and other Animals by Clive Farrell

Dorchester , Dorset

“Habitat Creations for Butterflies, People and other Animals” (Some insane projects for fun and ecological gardens) by Clive Farrell from The Butterfly Garden near Sherborne. Some of his garden features include, Giant Dragons, Hermits retreats, swimming ponds all of which combine beauty and wildlife habitat.

Event

16 November 2024 10.00am - 4.00pm

Devon & Cornwall Group AGM

Teign Valley Community Hall, Village Rd, Christow, Exeter , Devon

The Devon & Cornwall Groups AGM and talks.

Main speaker Timothy Walker followed by lunch and Collection holders short talks.

“The University of Oxford Botanic Garden– 400 years of gardening and botany”

Event

24 November 2024 2.00pm - 4.30pm

Annual General Meeting and Social

Norfolk

AGM and Social, with delicious refreshments, displays and plant sales.

Talk

07 December 2024 1.30pm - 3.30pm

A Rogues Gallery for Gardeners and how to manage them - by Sally Nex

Wareham , Dorset

Sally makes a very welcome return - she is a gifted speaker and talented horticultural journalist. Her talk discusses how to cope with nature's predators which are determined to eat our produce and other plants.

Event

14 December 2024 1.45pm - 4.30pm