More than 2,000 plant cuttings from the Barbican Conservatory's collection of temperate and arid plants will be available for Londoners to take home, as the iconic glasshouse prepares for a major renovation. The plant adoption events, run in collaboration with the plant reuse initiative Wayward Plants, begin on Wednesday 19 August and are part of the £240 million 'Barbican Renewal' plan that will close the Conservatory and main Barbican site until June 2029.
What is being given away?
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. They include giant-leafed monstera, glossy ficus, and purple-and-green tradescantia. At each event, visitors can explore the Conservatory, learn about the collection, and hear about future plans, as well as take a cutting to care for at home.
Dr Philippa Simpson, Barbican Chief Operating Officer, says the plant cutting adoption 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'.
Why is the Conservatory closing?
The Barbican Conservatory, which opened in 1984 and is London's second-largest greenhouse after Kew Gardens, is home to 2,000 plant species, including towering palms, ferns, and tropical blooms. The renovation, designed 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 the space to open daily instead of just a few times a month.
Work begins on the Conservatory in early 2027, with the main Barbican site shutting from June 2028 until June 2029. During this time, programming at the Centre will go beyond its walls with a season of performances, exhibitions, and events happening across London from next year.
What about the plants?
Marta Lowcewicz, Barbican Head Gardener, says: '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.'
A new planting scheme will combine returning plants with carefully selected new specimens. The plans also include revitalising the Foyers and Lakeside Terrace.
How to get a plant
To grab a living piece of the Barbican, book a place on one of the plant adoption events. The first is on Wednesday 19 August, between 12noon and 5pm. Two further public events are planned for 13 September and 2 December. On 29 November, Young Barbican members will also be invited to adopt a plant.
