Our Plant Exchange shares plants to save plants!
The annual, free Plant Exchange allows members to share rare or unusual plants with each other. By distributing plants round the country we can re-establish plants in danger of being lost. Members can grow something rare or unusual and we encourage all to propagate and pass these plants on again.
The Plant Exchange 2025 in underway
Up until the 28 February 2025 you can put in your bids for plants you might like to receive and to send in details of plants you can offer to other members. Thanks. Please send to your local Plant Exchange coordinator or send to collections@plantheritage.org.uk.
View the 2025 list of plant offers here
View the 2025 list of plant wants here
How does it work?
All Plant Heritage members are welcome to take part in the Plant Exchange. Put in what you can offer and/or choose what you'd like to receive.
• you can offer one plant, or more
• you can request one plant, or more
• or you can both offer and request plants
Offers of plants are matched to requests, and local coordinators collect and bring all the offered plants from their area to our Members Day, 7th June 2025 at Thenford Gardens and Arboretum, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Sometimes a plant on offer may have many requests, so plants are allocated anonymously. Hence you may not receive all the plants you have requested, but we will do our best!
Is my plant rare enough to put in?
If you know the name of your plant, check the RHS Plant Finder and if it has two or fewer suppliers listed then it qualifies for the Plant Exchange. Contact your local exchange coordinator if you are not sure about the plant or can't find it listed.
See below for contacts so you can take part.
Timeline
Our Plant Exchange 2025 is underway. Here’s the general annual timetable for your diary:
End September – November 2024 : Send the names of plants that you can offer, or any that you are looking for, to your local Plant Exchange coordinator before the 22nd November 2024
During December: the complete list will be compiled by the conservation team, to be checked and ready for circulation to all members.
Early January: the complete list of Offers and Wants is sent out through the Plant Exchange coordinators and published here..
All members have the chance to send in bids for plants in the Exchange – it’s a lottery so don’t be shy!
28th February 2025: bids for plants must be submitted by this date, along with any plants you might be able give to the ‘Wants’ list.
Plants will be allocated by Easter (20 April 2025) and the local Exchange coordinators will bring together the plants offered in their area, to bring to the Plant Exchange.
Members Day and Plant Exchange 2025 - See Events
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. Make sure they are not covered by Plant Breeders’ Rights though.
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.
