Plant Heritage urges Dartmoor gardeners to save endangered plant species

Plant Heritage, the horticultural conservation charity, is calling upon passionate gardeners across Dartmoor to play an important role in the preservation of endangered plant species by starting a National Plant Collection. 

Without care, the charity has said many of these plants are at risk of disappearing from gardens and nurseries, potentially lost forever if they fall out of fashion or become unavailable.

Plant Heritage was founded in 1978 and has since grown into a thriving community dedicated to the conservation of garden plants, especially those under threat from habitat loss, climate change, emerging pests, diseases, or changing trends.

There are already several collections in the Dartmoor area including:

• Okehampton (Agapanthus and another of Nepeta)
• Chagford (Alnus and Betula at Stone Lane Gardens)
• Bovey Tracey (Eucryphia)
• Yelverton (Hyacinthella)
• Tavistock (Rowden Nursery Collection)

Plant Heritage have said that there is an environmental importance of all 15 plant groups listed for this year. 

They are:

• Agastache: Relatives of sage and mint, these up-and-coming plants are best suited to sunny, well drained borders and are magnet for larger pollinators such as bees and hoverflies.
• Argyranthemum: Often grown in pots, their large daisy shaped flowers add bursts of colour from late spring to the first frosts. Their long blooming season attracts a range of pollinators too, including honeybees.
• Baptisia: These sumptuous, upright blooms are relatively easy to grow, with some drought tolerance. A favourite with bees, large hoverflies and other insects.
• Caryopteris: Best in a sunny border or gravel garden with free-draining soil, these fluffy blue-purple flowers are striking in late summer and early autumn, providing late-season nectar for butterflies and bees.
• Clethra: Also known as Summersweet, these fragrant flowers and their nectar attract a wide variety of butterflies and songbirds in the summer, and seeds in winter.
• Coreopsis: This low maintenance plant is suitable in beds, borders and containers. Its aster-like flowers add yellow, pink, cream and red tones, attracting an array of insects.
• Gaillardia: Known as Blanket Flowers for their masses of richly coloured, daisy-like flowers in vivid shades of red, yellow and orange. Perfect for a wildlife garden, they bloom from late spring to early autumn and appeal to butterflies, bees, beetles and birds for their seeds.
• Ligularia: Another daisy-like flower, these imposing herbaceous perennials are ideal in boggy areas and alongside water features, and cater well for butterflies, bees and hoverflies.
• Lysimachia: Related to Primula and Lythrum, they thrive in full sun if the soil remains moist. They form upright dense spikes with yellow or white flowers, and their pollen and nectar attracts many species. Some types also produce floral oils which attract loosestrife bees.
• Origanum: Native to the Mediterranean these aromatic plants are perfect in a drought tolerant garden or rock garden, or in a sunny border. They are an outstanding source of nectar and pollen and are often covered in an array of butterflies and the tiny mint moth.
• Osteospermum: Also known as Cape Daisy or African Daisy, these long-lasting colourful flowers are beautiful from summer to autumn. Another favourite with pollinators.
• Phlomis: These herbaceous perennials and evergreen shrubs are tolerant of dry soils and thrive in sunshine. Their seed heads provide food for birds and make an interesting winter garden feature, too.
  Philadelphus: Mock Orange are tall shrubs with rich citrus-scented flowers in early summer. Perfect as a bountiful backdrop to roses with their masses of white flowers, they not only look beautiful but are very easy to grow as they adapt well to most soil types.
• Potentilla (herbaceous): This huge but recognisable genus flowers from late spring through to autumn. It’s a favourite of many pollinators and is one of the known food sources for the larvae of the rare grizzled skipper butterfly.
• Verbascum: With their distinctive, upright spires of flowers, these pretty perennials (or biennials) – which come in white, yellow, orange, blue or purple – are great for bees, hoverflies and moths.

They say many of these plants are fundamental sources of nectar for a wide range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. 

The list features plants like Agastache, which attracts bees and hoverflies, Argyranthemum with its long blooming season, Caryopteris, crucial for wildlife in late summer, and Phlomis, whose seed heads provide food for goldfinches and siskins in autumn.

Gwen Hines, CEO at Plant Heritage, said: “Recognising plants that aren’t currently protected by being part of a National Plant Collection is hugely important. Many people may not realise that plants considered to be thriving might actually be at risk in the future if they don’t become part of an ongoing conservation scheme today.”

Since 2016, Plant Heritage has spotlighted numerous plants needing protection, resulting in the establishment of 12 different collections, including hollyhocks and Hoya. 

Most recently, a collection of fragrant Daphne was accredited in March and now flourishes at RHS Garden Wisley, having previously been listed as a Missing Collection.

The UK boasts over 700 National Plant Collections, encompassing more than 95,000 plants. These collections range from garden staples like dahlias and roses to edible herbs and houseplants. 

They are maintained by individuals, specialist nurseries, gardening groups, botanical gardens, heritage estates, universities, and even zoos.

These collections form a vital resource in adapting to and mitigating climate change challenges.

Gwen added: “Collections are much more accessible than we think. Anyone can be a collection holder – you don’t need to have a huge garden or acres of space, we only ask that you have a passion for plants and conservation. We have some stunning collections held inside homes, greenhouses and conservatories, showing that collections can be successful anywhere.”

To learn more about starting a National Plant Collection or to join the Plant Heritage community, visit www.plantheritage.org.uk