An attempt to save rare plants in the UK from extinction

People are being urged to keep rare plants in their living rooms or gardens to help create volunteer groups that can save pollinator-friendly plants from extinction.

Botanical Heritage, a UK-based charity that works to keep rare garden flowers growing even when they are old-fashioned, has started a campaign to protect pollinator-friendly plants and is asking for volunteers to create a collection.</p><div><p class="">The Irish Garden Plant Society is a group affiliated with the Botanical Heritage Society.</p><p class="">Although some collections are large and housed in prestigious locations such as Kew Gardens and RHS Wesley, many are kept in the front porches and back gardens of amateur enthusiasts.</p><p class="">    The Botanical Heritage Organization has been running a 'Missing Genera' campaign since 2016, listing plants that have not yet become part of the collection and are therefore at risk of extinction.  This year, all the plants are pollinator-friendly.</p><p class="">There are 700 groups in total, located throughout Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands.  These "living libraries" contain an estimated 95,000 garden plants.</p><p class="">    This year's list includes brightly colored echinacea.  Osmanthus, which features nectar-rich jasmine flowers in spring;  and Jura, recently reclassified as Oenothera (G), which is known for attracting bees.</p><p class="">    “Many of our national plant collections are kept in homes or in small conservatories, so you don't necessarily need a lot of space to help,” said Gill Groombridge, Botanical Heritage Business Director.</p><p class="">All that is required is a passion for plants and a desire to learn about the botanical collection in the chosen collection. “Anyone who wants to become a national plant collector needs to learn how to grow plants, and keep records of the plants,” she said.  “And to be able to care for the plants over the long term. We want someone who is passionate about the plant collection to continue to collect information, to continue to find information to continue to learn about this plant collection, and to share the information with others.”</p><p class="">She said that although the plants are mostly not native, it is still important to protect them, especially since with climate change, plant diversity is needed for different pollinators and carbon storage.</p><p class="">    “Some plants come into fashion and disappear, putting others at risk, but it is good to keep the diversity going. We can find that some of these flowers cope well with pests and diseases and provide nectar for pollinators. Some plants may help us for medicinal purposes, but you never know What might be useful to him.</p><p class="">    “Instead of everyone buying exactly the same plant, and having exactly the same plants in their garden, having a variety of plants in your garden is really good for climate resilience, good for pollinators, and good for the local ecosystems in your own gardens.”</p><p class="contextmenu caption">List of lost races 2023</p> <p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Astrological</span>: With large yellow flowers in late spring and summer, the North American agave will survive in a cool greenhouse if kept dry.  International plant breeders have created many hybrids and highly ornamental cultivars as well.</p><picture><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7481/3740650_22_articleinline_campanula-carpatica-samantha.jpg" alt="Grace "سامانثا"" title="Grace "سامانثا"" class="card-img"/><figcaption class="imgFCap">Grace "Samantha"</figcaption></picture><p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Grace</span>: Also known as bluebells, these distinctive open bell-shaped flowers can be blue, pink, purple or white.  There are about 80 species and 232 cultivars available.</p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Colocasia</span>: These plants with dramatic leaves can be grown outside in a warm, protected location or in greenhouses or conservatories.  There are 19 varieties available.</p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Echinacea</span>: Known for attracting bees, birds and other pollinators, these hardy herbaceous perennials have around 200 cultivars listed on the RHS Plantfinder.</p><picture><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7481/3740653_22_articleinline_img_3697-eleagnus-ebbingei-maryline-r.jpg" alt="Elaeagnus × submacrophylla marlin" title="Elaeagnus × submacrophylla marlin" class="card-img"/><figcaption class="imgFCap">Elaeagnus × submacrophylla marlin</figcaption></picture><p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Eliagnus</span>: There are around 45 species and cultivars available throughout Britain and Ireland that flower either in spring and early summer or in autumn.  Some contain edible berries.</p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Erigeron</span>: Regarding daisies, Erigeron can be annual, biennial or perennial plants.  They thrive in sunny locations and some grow happily through cracks in the paving.</p><picture><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7481/3740656_22_articleinline_img_6658-gaura-lindheimeri-rosy-jane-pbr.jpg" alt="Jura Lindheimer Rozjan" title="Jura Lindheimer Rozjan" class="card-img"/><figcaption class="imgFCap">Jura Lindheimer Rozjan</figcaption></picture><p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Gaura (Oenothera (G))</span>: These drought-tolerant, deciduous perennials are known for attracting bees, and bloom for a long period from late summer and into fall.  They are mostly in shades of pink and white.</p><picture><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7481/3740659_22_articleinline_knautia-arvensis-rachael-iv-cc-a-cann.jpg" alt="    Cnautia arvensis "راشيل" " title=" Cnautia arvensis "راشيل" " class="card-img"/><figcaption class="imgFCap">    Cnautia arvensis 'Rachel' </figcaption></picture><p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Knauss</span>: This plant group attracts bees and butterflies, can be found growing wild in meadows here and is also a home garden favourite.</p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Lysimachia</span>: From ground cover creepers to stately perennials, this genus can survive in a variety of environments. </p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Osmanthus</span>: These evergreen shrubs with attractive foliage are easy to grow and thrive in sun or shade.  There are 17 varieties and 10 species available in Britain and Ireland.</p><p class=""> <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Vigilius</span>: These are low-growing evergreen shrubs but are often treated as perennials.  The tubular flowers are mounted on long stems and come in pink, red, and sometimes yellow, and last from mid-summer until fall.</p><picture><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7481/3740662_22_articleinline_silene-fimbriata-2-cc-ph-le.jpg" alt="    Celine Fimbriata.  Photo: Liz Edwards " title=" Celine Fimbriata.  Photo: Liz Edwards " class="card-img"/><figcaption class="imgFCap">    Celine Fimbriata.  Photo: Liz Edwards </figcaption></picture><p class="">
        <span class="contextmenu emphasis">Celine</span>: Also known as Campion and Catchfly, these wildflowers range from alpine plants to border perennials.  With shades of pink, purple, white and red, it blooms from late spring until early summer.</p><p class="">-Guardian