Plant Collections Network

The Plant Collections Network (PCN) (formerly the North American Plant Collections Consortium) is a group of North American botanical gardens and arboreta that coordinates a continent-wide approach to plant germplasm preservation, and promotes excellence in plant collections management.[1] The program is administered by the American Public Gardens Association from its headquarters in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Current objectives of the Plant Collections Network are to:

  • Build Awareness – of both Plant Collections Network & value of documented plant collections
  • Promote Standards of Excellence – in plant collections management; and
  • Expand Diversity of Collections – target existing collections, identify gaps for future collections

The network is intended to represent woody and herbaceous ornamentals, both native and exotic. The main objective for each network member is to assemble a comprehensive group of plants for a particular taxon, collecting plants from different populations throughout their natural range that are both taxonomically and genetically distinct.

Participating institutions maximize the potential value of their collections by making efficient use of available resources through a coordinated continent-wide approach, and strengthening their own collections through collaboration with others.

Criteria for participation in the Plant Collections Network are:

  • American Public Gardens Association membership
  • Active collections management program including plant records database, accession labels, maps
  • Long-term commitment to maintain collection
  • Endorsement of governing body
  • Current collection has 50% or more of ultimate collection scope
  • Collections policy
  • Curator for collection; and
  • Access to collection for research, evaluation and plant introduction

The accreditation process includes submitting a written application for each collection to be considered, then a peer site reviewer conducts an onsite assessment and submits a report with recommendations.[2]

As of March 2016, Network participants and Nationally Accredited Plant Collections included:[3]

  1. ^ "About the Plant Collections Network". American Public Gardens Association. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  2. ^ "Nationally Accredited Plant Collections – How To Apply | American Public Gardens Association". publicgardens.org. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  3. ^ "American Public Gardens Association". publicgardens.org. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  4. ^ "Cypripedioideae | American Public Gardens Association". publicgardens.org. Retrieved March 24, 2016.