Plant Heritage’s annual ‘Missing Genera’ campaign is being launched at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May. The charity will also celebrate the passion and achievements of National Plant Collection Holders, with some exhibiting at the famous flower show for the very first time.
Not all plant groups have someone to research, care for and conserve them. Every year Plant Heritage identifies different plant groups that aren’t currently part of a National Plant Collection and, therefore, could be at risk of being lost from our gardens. This year, there are 12 listed on the Missing Genera 2022*, including Campanula (bellflowers) and Silene (campions).
Argyranthemum 'Vancouver'. © G Groombridge
The horticultural conservation charity is calling for volunteers across the country with a passion for plants or a love of gardening to consider starting a National Plant Collection to prevent these plants from disappearing from cultivation.
As well as launching the Missing Genera 2022, Plant Heritage will also be celebrating four National Plant Collection Holders at Chelsea. Each Collection Holder has followed their plant passion, and their ongoing research is increasing the understanding about their chosen plant groups. Exhibiting for the first time: a historic collection of Iris bred by Sir Michael Foster, brought together by his great, great granddaughter Lucy Skellorn; part of the University of Oxford’s Euphorbia collection** which is helping to conserve plants endangered in their natural habitat; and some of Roger Parsons’ extensive Lathyrus (sweet pea) collection**. Specimens from Dr. Simon Charlesworth’s unusual and rare Lavandula collection** will also be on display. For those visiting Chelsea, Plant Heritage can be found at stand GPA101 in the Discovery Zone in the Floral Marquee.
Zantedeschia 'Zazu'. © Brighter Blooms
Vicki Cooke, Conservation Manager at Plant Heritage, explains: “All of our Collection Holders do incredible work, but the backstory of some Collections is particularly inspiring. For example, Lucy Skellorn knew little of her great great grandfather’s iris collection until she found some papers while clearing out the family home. Since discovering that he was considered the father of iris breeding, she’s searched across the world to find the irises that he bred and now cares for them at her home in Suffolk.”
“We hope that anyone who visits us at Chelsea will be inspired by stories of Collection Holders going above and beyond to conserve and research their chosen plants and will be motivated to start their own National Plant Collection from this year’s Missing Genera list.”
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