Visit the Australian Plantbank

Discover the incredible world of plants, and how the important conservation work at PlantBank relates to everyone.

Explore relationships between plants and animals, people, science and the environment in the Living Laboratory garden beds.

Observe the scientists working in the laboratories and seedbank.

Interact with the Diversity Wall, bringing stories and facts about plants to life!

Physiology Laboratory (the Plant Lab): experiments on whole plants and soils, for example, the study of potting mixes or plant interactions with the environment.

Seed Testing Laboratory: preparation and examination of seeds for viability, longevity and routine seed testing before and after cold storage.

Seed Processing Room: newly collected seeds are separated from plant material before drying and storage, ensuring only seed of high quality is banked in the seed vault.

Microscopy Room: Many seeds are small! The microscopes aid in seed testing and image collection. Our x-ray machine allows staff to see inside seeds to assess quality and viability.

Germination Room and Walk-in Incubators: Incubators are set to various temperatures to allow seeds to germinate under optimal conditions. 

Drying Room: Freshly collected seeds are placed here at 15% RH (relative humidity) and 15ºC. This reduces the moisture content of the seeds so they can be stored for a long time in cold storage. 

Seed Vaults: One vault is set at 4ºC for short-term storage, the other at -18ºC for long-term storage (the same temperatures as a domestic fridge and freezer).

Cryo Storage Room (guided tours only): Seeds and plant tissues are stored in stainless steel vessels containing liquid nitrogen at between -180ºC and -196ºC.

Tissue Culture Laboratory: Preparation of media for growing plants in tissue culture.

Laminar Flow Room: Laminar flow cabinets are used for the sterile dissection of plant material during tissue culture. The cabinets provide an environment like a hospital operating theatre, which allows the material to be handled in an aseptic or sterile manner.

Plant Growth Room: Plants in tissue culture are housed here on stainless steel benches at about 23ºC with lighting (on for 16 hours and dark for 8 hours).