The delphinium collection of the Yorkshire based gardener, Colin Parton has been granted National Plant Collection status by horticultural conservation charity Plant Heritage. Parton’s impressive collection joins over 700 other National Plant Collections in the UK, which as a collective help to promote biodiversity and mitigate environmental challenges.
Over the past 40 years, gardening enthusiast Parton has grown, collected and cared for a range of Delphinium elatum cultivars in his back garden. In memory of his wife, who sadly passed away in 2014, Parton decided to take his passion for delphiniums to the next level by scaling up his collection to the now 100+ different types of delphiniums – frequently seen by visitors at open garden days to raise funds for Cancer Research.
Parton, now proud National Plant Collection Holder, said: “I have grown delphiniums since I was a gardening apprentice, and my aim is to stop these wonderful, majestic cultivars from being lost forever. I want to help others build their own collections so that these beautiful cottage garden plants continue to flourish for many years to come. I’m honoured to have been awarded National Plant Collection status by Plant Heritage and hope that through their networks, and by continuing to spread the word about my delphiniums, that I can find someone or a group to take on my collection when I’m no longer able to care for it myself. Until then, I’ll continue to happily tend to my delphiniums and welcome visitors during open garden days – seeing the joy they bring to so many people is just wonderful.”
Parton’s collection is thought to be the largest collection of delphiniums in the UK and is held at Delph Cottage Garden, south east of Leeds. The collection includes 21 rare cultivars, including Delphinium elatum ‘Bambi’, ‘Boudicca’ and ‘Taj Mahal’, which are classed as Endangered on Plant Heritage’s Threatened Plants Programme.
Parton added: “I would also welcome any donations of named cultivars I do not hold, so if anyone has any in their gardens and would be willing to donate a cutting or plant, I would be delighted to give a permanent home as part of my collection. They would also be propagated so the cultivar prospers for many more years. Sadly, so many delphiniums have been lost over the last 20 years and I am keen to stop this happening to any more of the named Delphinium elatum cultivars.”
Plant Heritage accredits new National Plant Collections every season, celebrating passionate gardeners such as Parton and their ongoing plant conservation efforts. There are over 700 different collections across the UK, from miniature orchids to massive oak trees, which together contain a staggering 95,000+ plants and are vital in ensuring that any plant, no matter its location, size or appearance, is protected. They’re typically found in gardens, greenhouses, allotments, plant nurseries, arboretums and botanic gardens, but some collections can be found in more unusual settings too, such as a pub garden, women’s prison, historic houses and zoos.
Gwen Hines, CEO, Plant Heritage, said: “At Plant Heritage, we’re passionate about protecting the diversity of garden plants so we can enjoy them and because it’s important for biodiversity. The changing climate, new pests and diseases or even changing fashions can result in plants no longer being bought from nurseries and planted in gardens, but keeping a selection within the National Plant Collections ensures that these ‘living libraries’ are protected, and their futures guaranteed. We are immensely grateful to Colin and his tireless efforts to ensure that his beautiful delphiniums are safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. His lifelong love for delphiniums is clear, and his commitment to sharing knowledge and skills is inspirational.”