Press room

Londoners are invited to take home a plant cutting from the iconic Barbican Conservatory before its three-year restoration and renewal begins in early 2027.

More than 2,000 plant cuttings from its famed collection of temperate and arid plants will be available for people to take home at plant adoption events being run in collaboration with Wayward Plants – a pioneering plant reuse initiative. 

The adoption programme comes ahead of major works that will repair aging infrastructure, introduce sustainable systems and fully relandscape the interior to provide access to all and optimal growing conditions for the plants. London’s best loved (possibly only) eco-Brutalist space will be open daily from 2030. 

Giant-leafed monstera, glossy ficus, and purple-and-green tradescantia are among species that will be propagated at Wayward Plants Reuse Centre and shared with the public.

The first plant adoption event is being held on Wednesday 19 August, between 12 and 5pm, and is now open for booking. 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. 

Visitors are encouraged to make a donation when booking a free ticket and taking home a plant cutting to play a critical role in the restoration of the Barbican Conservatory.

At each event, visitors will have the chance to explore the space, learn about the unique collection and hear about future plans. Dates for a series of further free public openings, special tours and artistic events will be announced soon. 

Planted in the 1980s on the roof of the Barbican Theatre around its 100-foot flytower, the multi-storey glasshouse has become one of London’s most distinctive indoor gardens, home to 800 species of plants, lovingly and expertly cared for by the Barbican horticultural team.

After four decades, ageing waterproofing, heating, glazing and irrigation systems all need replacing. Narrow pathways and stairs also mean only around 30% of the Conservatory is currently fully accessible.

By 2030, the Conservatory will become a free space open daily, rather than a few times a month. Step-free access throughout, widened paths and a new lift will make the space fully accessible, while more sustainable environmental controls will reduce energy use and protect the collection for decades to come. 

To make this possible, the Conservatory will be emptied so that the space can be re-waterproofed and upgraded by architects Allies and Morrison and engineers Buro Happold.

Harris Bugg Studio, an award-winning landscape and garden design practice, will work alongside the Barbican horticulture team to create a new planting scheme that combines returning plants with carefully selected new specimens while preserving the Conservatory’s unique character.

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.”

Heather Ring, Co-Founder and Director of Wayward Plants, said: 

“The Barbican has a very special place in the story of Wayward Plants. Our first London plant adoption event took place here in 2009, as part of the Radical Nature exhibition, so it feels incredibly meaningful to return nearly two decades later for our most ambitious propagation and adoption programme yet. This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for us, as we launch the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre and significantly expand the scale and reach of our work. 

“Together with the Barbican’s horticultural team, we are propagating thousands of cuttings from this extraordinary collection, creating a living legacy for the Conservatory while giving people across London the opportunity to care for a small piece of it in their own homes.”

Dr Philippa Simpson, Barbican Chief Operating Officer, said: 

“The Barbican Conservatory is one of the most extraordinary spaces in the country, and has been on a continued evolution since it opened. This next phase is about creating a healthier home for plants and enabling more people to enjoy the environment and the activities it will host. 

“Each cutting is 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.”

The project forms part of the Barbican Renewal programme, a major investment in the Centre’s future that will revitalise the Foyers and Lakeside Terrace between 2025 and 2030.

The City of London Corporation has committed £191 million towards the £231 million needed to complete the 2025-30 phase of Barbican Renewal. Additional philanthropic and partnership support will be sought to ensure the full artistic and civic ambition of the programme.   

The Barbican will continue to welcome audiences throughout the works. During a year-long period from June 2028, the Centre will take programming beyond its walls with an ambitious season of performances, exhibitions and events across London, with plans to be unveiled early next year.

Details for how to sign-up to a plant adoption event or public opening will be made available on the website.