The Barbican Conservatory, London's second-largest greenhouse, is giving away more than 2,000 plant cuttings to the public as it prepares to close for a £240 million renovation. The plant adoption events, run with Wayward Plants, begin on Wednesday 19 August, allowing Londoners to take home a piece of the city's most unexpected green space.
The Conservatory, opened in 1984, houses 2,000 plant species including towering palms, ferns, and tropical blooms. As part of the 'Barbican Renewal' plan, the entire Barbican site will shut until June 2029, with work on the Conservatory starting in early 2027. The plant cuttings, from the collection of temperate and arid plants, include giant-leafed monstera, glossy ficus, and purple-and-green tradescantia.
Plant Adoption Events and What to Expect
Londoners can pick up cuttings at several public events. The first takes place on Wednesday August 19, from 12noon to 5pm, with further events on September 13 and December 2. On November 29, Young Barbican members will have a dedicated adoption session. At each event, visitors can explore the space, learn about the collection, and hear about future plans.
The cuttings come from plants originally planted in the 1980s on the roof of the Barbican Theatre, around its 100-foot flytower, before being moved to the multi-storey glasshouse. The Barbican horticultural team has cared for them since. Dr Philippa Simpson, Barbican Chief Operating Officer, says the programme will be 'the beginning of something new, and as thousands of plants start putting down roots across London, we’ll be laying the foundations for a greener, more resilient and more welcoming Conservatory than ever before'.
Renovation Plans and Accessibility Improvements
The renovation, led by architects Allies and Morrison, engineers Buro Happold, and landscape studio Harris Bugg Studio, will replace ageing waterproofing, heating, glazing, and irrigation systems installed 40 years ago. It will also improve step-free access, widen paths, install a new lift—currently only 30 percent of the Conservatory is fully accessible—and enable daily opening instead of just a few times a month. A new planting scheme will combine returning plants with carefully selected new specimens.
Marta Lowcewicz, Barbican Head Gardener, said: 'I’ve worked in the Conservatory for sixteen years and nurtured many of these plants from seedlings, so it means a lot to me and my team that so many will go on living in people’s homes. It hasn’t always been easy managing a space that wasn’t really designed around the needs of plants. That’s why I’m excited for what comes next – creating the best possible environment for the collection to thrive while opening it up for more people to enjoy.'
Future Programming and Site Closure
The renovation will also revitalise the Foyers and Lakeside Terrace. The main Barbican site will shut from June 2028 until June 2029, with programming moving beyond its walls through a season of performances, exhibitions, and events across London from next year. To adopt a plant, book a place at one of the events. This initiative is part of broader efforts to empty the space ahead of renovations, ensuring the plants find new homes across the city.
