From houseplant exhibition to conservation platform: a replicable curatorial model using Platycerium at the Sejong National Arboretum

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2026.3639

Keywords:

Platycerium, companion plant culture, ex situ conservation, botanic gardens, living collections, public engagement, conservation governance

Abstract

Companion plant culture – the keeping of plants as household companions – has expanded rapidly in the Republic of Korea, prompting botanic gardens and arboreta to reconsider how public enthusiasm for horticulture may be aligned with ex situ conservation. This article presents a case study of a Platycerium initiative at the Sejong National Arboretum (SNA) that developed between 2024 and 2025 from a thematic exhibition into a conservation platform. In 2024, the special exhibition The Mysterious Flight of Bakjwi-ran (Staghorn Ferns) displayed over 100 individuals representing 70 Platycerium taxa, including all 18 recognised species, which were subsequently incorporated into SNA’s documented living collection. In 2025, SNA established a 90 m2 core Platycerium conservation zone within the 2,800 m2 Tropical Garden, complemented by installations across the conservatory to accommodate species-specific growth forms. Public programmes involving plant enthusiasts facilitated knowledge exchange, collaborative exhibition contributions and resource efficiencies. This transition demonstrates how exhibition-led initiatives can catalyse accession and collection development. The article proposes a four-stage curatorial model applicable to ornamental taxa where popularity intersects with ecological constraints.

Author Biographies

  • Wonsoon Park, Sejong National Arboretum

    Head of the Garden Exhibition Office

  • Byungju An

    Assistant Manager of the Exhibition Planning and Conservatory Team

  • Hoseon Song

    Junior Manager of the Exhibition Planning and Conservatory Team

References

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DONALDSON, J.S. (2009). Botanic gardens science for conservation and global change. Trends in Plant Science, 14(11): 608–613. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2009.08.008

HAVENS, K., GUERRANT, E.O., MAUNDER, M. & DIXON, K. (2006). Ex situ plant conservation and beyond. BioScience, 56(6): 525–531. doi: https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2006)56[525:ESPCAB]2.0.CO;2

HEYWOOD, V.H. (2003). Conservation and sustainable use of wild species as sources of new ornamental plants. Acta Horticulturae, 598: 43–53. doi: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.598.5

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MOUNCE, R., SMITH, P.P. & BROCKINGTON, S.F. (2017). Ex situ conservation of plant diversity in the world’s botanic gardens. Nature Plants, 3: 795–802. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-017-0019-3

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SMITH, P.P. (2016). Building a global system for the conservation of all plant diversity: a vision for botanic gardens and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Sibbaldia, 14: 5–13. doi: https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2016.208

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image of stag horn fern mounted on wood

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Published

10-09-2026

Issue

Vol. 25 (2026): Sibbaldia

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Wonsoon Park, Byungju An, Hoseon Song

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How to Cite

Park, W., An, B. and Song, H. (2026) “From houseplant exhibition to conservation platform: a replicable curatorial model using Platycerium at the Sejong National Arboretum”, Sibbaldia: the International Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture, 25. doi:10.24823/Sibbaldia.2026.3639.