Plant Heritage is again highlighting ten plant groups which are not currently represented within the National Plant Collections such as poppies, rock roses and Echinacea.
The Missing Genera Campaign asks people with a passion for plants to bring together a National Plant Collection of their own and join the Plant Heritage community in growing, sharing and saving plants.
A spokesman for Butterfly Conservation says: “Butterflies, moths and other pollinating insects depend upon a wide diversity of plant species for food and shelter. At a time when many species of butterflies and moths are in a state of decline any scheme that seeks to protect the UK’s plant heritage is most welcome.”
The Missing Genera Campaign, which launched in 2016, has already resulted in several new National Plant Collections for Plant Heritage, including Ginkgo, Achillea andAeonium.
Missing Genera focus for 2019
- Armeria
- Cosmos
- Echinacea
- Echinops
- Helianthemum
- Knautia
- Papaver
- Pittosporum
- Verbascum
- Veronica
Why the Missing Genera Campaign matters
Plant Heritage has 630 National Collections but to represent the true diversity of garden plants there should be many more. Conserving a diversity of garden plants is vital for genetic, cultural, heritage, scientific and economic reasons.
There are many reasons why plant varieties disappear, including:
- environmental changes, such as climate change,
- attack by pests and diseases,
- fashion, making growing them less popular,
- lack of horticultural skills meaning growing techniques are lost
The National Plant Collections are at the heart of what Plant Heritage does. They are created and curated by individuals or organisations who are passionate about protecting the diversity of our rich flora for today and tomorrow. By seeking out these plants - many no longer commercially available - propagating them, researching their history and properties and making this knowledge publicly available, Collection Holders are custodians of biodiversity.
Shows manager Gill Groombridge says: “Through our continuing Missing Genera Campaign, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of conserving our garden flora. Some examples of the missing plant groups will be featured at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2019 in the Plant Heritage zone. We hope this will inspire visitors to come and say hello and learn more about our work.”
The Plant Heritage Zone will feature a special display in the Floral Marquee at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2-7 July. The zone will also provide the setting for a range of collection holders to showcase their plants from 13 National Plant Collections including Hakonechloa macra cvs. and Ophiopogon japonicus, Pinus, Hemerocallis with the RHS AGM, Hosta (miniature and small), Podocarpus & related Podocarpaceae, Rubusspp., Hebe, Kniphofia (cvs. & AGM species) plus (spp., subsp. & varieties) and the Queen Mary II Exoticks display.
Visitors to the RHS Hampton Court will have the opportunity to meet National Plant Collection holders and find out about the conservation work of Plant Heritage. Visitors can also purchase seeds, including some rare and unusual varieties, from Plant Heritage's Seed Shop at Hampton Court.
For more in
formation
Plant Heritage
www.nccpg.com