Plant Heritage awards 17 new National Collections
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Phillip Corral with the Agastache collection
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Craig Rothwell with his Epipremnum collection
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Fi and Liz from New Hope Daylilies. Photo credit Jonathan Buckley
Plant Heritage has awarded National Plant Collection® status to 17 new collections during the first half of the year, marking a busy period that also included a Silver-Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The new collections showcase the breadth of UK plant conservation, from ornamental favourites and rare houseplants to heritage orchards and species chosen to improve resilience to climate change.
His Majesty The King, Plant Heritage's Royal Patron, now holds four National Plant Collections® following the addition of a Norfolk snowdrop collection at Sandringham, joining collections at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace.
Among the latest awardees are English Heritage's Agastache collection at Kenilworth Castle, a National Collection of endangered Astrophytum cacti, Craig Rothwell's Epipremnum houseplants, hardy fuchsias, auriculas, snowdrops and daylilies bred for the British climate.
Heritage orchards also feature strongly, with new collections at the Museum of Cider, Home Farm Orchards in Suffolk and Wigmore Valley Park's Peace Garden Orchard, helping conserve traditional fruit varieties while supporting future climate resilience.
Plant Heritage said the latest awards highlight the importance of collaboration between National Plant Collection® holders in safeguarding rare and historically significant plants for future generations.