Red wildflowers uk
A simple guide to the wildflowers of Britain
From deciduous woods yet to fill out with leaf, to windswept hilltop shingle beach and riverbank, our flora can give so much pleasure.
British flora is modest by international standards, but full of pleasures for those prepared to look closer. Woodland flowers come early in the spring, before the canopy closes overhead, then the lanes and verges are full of creamy beauty. The foreshore and saltmarsh are always special places for rarities and the crumbling stonework of ancient walls is often festooned with minor treasures, readily presented to the observant eye. Wetlands and watercourses are home to a rich variety of flowers that float on the surface or sit on tufts, defying the close approach. In late summer, the heaths and moors are chequered with visual interest and scent on the breeze.
The very act of breaking the ground brings out the pretty annuals and the most unpromising banks of a new bypass will unexpectedly sprout orchids and cowslips for us to rush past.
Each plant has its unique method of attracting pollinators or distributing its seed. Many still jog the memory with some special attribute lingering from an ancient past when all flowers conveyed a message. From the long list of favourites, we present a selection of seasonal beauties, each a reminder of Nature’s ingeniously varied plan.
A simple guide to the wildflowers of BritainCorncockle
Agrostemma githago
Once a common cornfield weed, this tall annual with magenta flowers survives in modern garden-meadow mixtures
Ramsons
Allium ursinum
The floor of a limestone wood in spring is often pungently perfumed with this abundant relative of garlic
Pyramidal orchid
Anacamptis pyramidalis
By no means always isosceles in shape, this midsummer orchid’s flower spike favours milder parts of Britain, especially on alkaline grassland
Wood anemone
Anemone nemorosa
A flush of sunshine through the canopy of an ancient wood will open the white flowers of this early flowering lowly beauty
Cow parsley
Anthriscus sylvestris
Shady hedgerows in May foam with the green and white of this familiar umbellifer, now a show-garden must-have
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
A woodland plant on limestone, the flowers of this garden ancestor symbolised a flight of doves to the medieval mind
Thrift
Armeria maritima
Overlooking the sea on ledges, this neat green mat with its pink pincushion flowers is tougher than it looks
Daisy
Bellis perennis
From compacted pastures to suburban lawns, the Anglo-Saxon ‘Day’s Eye’ is a familiar image of retiring modesty
Kingcup
Caltha palustris
Tread carefully to admire this brilliant-yellow flower, which lights up the marsh and woodland stream in early spring
Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Powder-blue bells on the slightest of frameworks flickering in the summer breeze on heathy turf: the bluebell of Scotland
Cuckoo flower
Cardamine pratensis
Or lady’s smock, or milkmaids: a film of pastel hue across a damp meadow or grassy verge in late spring.
These lovely flowers were chosen by wildflower experts Caz Buckingham and Andrea Pinnington as some of their favourites.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) growing in a traditional hay meadow at College Lake nature reserve, Buckinghamshire.
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Famously bright blue and surprisingly tall, this is another cornfield exile more commonly seen nowadays as a garden annual
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
The tall, solitary, slender plant by a dusty roadside in late summer with a brilliant blue daisy flower on top
Lily of the valley
Convallaria majalis
This traditional favourite among scented flowers can be sought out among the limestone pavements of the Pennines. Beware though: this is among the common plants that are dangerous to dogs and cats.
Sea kale
Crambe maritima
A shallow dome of blue-green, waxy leaves on a shingle foreshore, with richly scented off-white flowers on top
Wild carrot
Daucus carota
An easy umbellifer to recognise because of its distinctively concave, off-white flowerhead on verges and coastal walks everywhere
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Tall and pink, and sometimes white, lighting up woodland and bracken slopes in early summer and irresistible to bees
Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
An opportunist in cleared ground, producing its water-filled leaves and softly tactile, lilac-ringed, egg-shaped blooms in late summer
Sea holly
Eryngium maritimum
A special treasure to find among the dunes and marram grass, with its silvery foliage and blue flowers
Lady’s bedstraw
Galium verum
One of the minor pleasures among the undisturbed grassland is this delicate, yellow-flowered creature, which, when dried, has the scent of new-mown hay
Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
Meadow cranesbill
Geranium pratense
Big blue, white or violet flowers on a handsome plant, one of the signatures of midsummer in limestone grassland and verges
Water avens
Geum rivale
Among the marshes and riversides, look out for this quietly elegant plant with its hanging bells of maroon and yellow
Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
England’s glory in May, forming massed displays in ancient woods.
The pendulous flowers hang distinctively on one side. Gardening writer and regular Country Life contributor Steven Desmond named this as his favourite wildlower ‘because it’s especially British, everyone knows it and it adorns our ancient woods each spring.’
Field scabious
Knautia arvensis
On a tall herbaceous perennial, these familiar shallow pincushions of violet-blue swing about on verges in late summer
Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
The drifting scent of this hedgerow climber on a May evening is an abiding memory of the English countryside
Bird’s foot trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
The little clumps of bacon-and-eggs in rough limestone pasture are a sign that other floral beauties are nearby
Ragged robin
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Look for the delicate pink flowers of this tall perennial in marshes and by watercourses in early summer
Musk mallow
Malva moschata
On grassy banks in summer, the big, shiny, pink or white flowers above delicate foliage look like a garden escape
Welsh poppy
Meconopsis cambrica
The pleated yellow flowers of this doubtful native are often found in old garden rockeries, where they seed abundantly
Wood forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica
Flowering shyly by the woodland edge, this familiar plant’s little stars of blue and pink are known to every dog-walker
Wild daffodil
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Locally abundant in damp meadows and thin woodland, where its distinctive pale-yellow flowers are admired each Easter.
Tom Coward, head gardener at Gravetye Manor, has previously named these as his favourite wildflowers in Country Life. ‘It’s hard to pick one plant above all others, but, if I have to chose, it would be the wild daffodil,’ he said.
‘We have carpets of them at Gravetye and the sight of their brilliant gold through the meadow, signalling the start of spring, is one of the most marvellous things in the year.’
Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera
A special treat for the observant eye: in limestone grassland, where its arrestingly convincing flowers are backed with a pink triangle.
It’s also a flower with committed fans: Alan Titchmarsh himself has named it his favourite wildflower, calling it ‘a curiously shaped flower of such insectivorous complexity that it seems unreal’ when asked in a 2015 Plantlife survey to find the nation’s favourite wildflower.
‘Dozens of them erupted from the grassy bank outside a house on the north coast of the Isle of Wight,’ Alan added.
‘Then, I bought a house there myself and found that they grew in the rough turf of my garden, which was a dream come true. Despite their capricious nature, they remain my favourite.’
Mary Keen agreed, saying that ‘bee orchids on chalky downs with skylarks singing overhead never fail to give me a lurch of pleasure.’
Early purple orchid
Orchis mascula
The richly hued blooms above spotted leaves are often seen each May among banks of cowslips and primroses
Field poppy
Papaver rhoeas
The scarlet opportunist, an annual that turns up wherever soil is disturbed, its seeds lying dormant until the day comes
Cowslip
Primula veris
Nowadays, a favourite sight in sheets on motorway verges, where its butter-yellow bunches thrive on an annual mowing regime
Primrose
Primula vulgaris
A favourite woodland flower, adorning banks and Cornish hedges each spring, each plant is seen to be either male or female to the close observer.
‘The primrose is my favourite harbinger of spring,’ wrote gardener, author and National Garden Scheme chief executive George Plumptre for Country Life back in 2015, ‘and an integral part of proper English countryside, for the way it suddenly appears along banks and pathways and its most delicate, natural shade of yellow that is lost in all the hybrid plants produced for gardens. It’s a flower that reminds people of their childhoods and is, therefore, strongly evocative.’
Bulbous buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
A medium-height buttercup of compacted grassland, readily identifiable from its reflexed sepals under each shining bloom
Dog rose
Rosa canina
One of several species of wild rose, whose pink flowers decorate the hedgerows through which its thorny shoots have scrambled
Goat’s beard
Tragopogon pratensis
A roadside-verge novelty whose elegantly upright buds open to yellow dandelion flowers exclusively on sunny summer mornings
Sweet violet
Viola odorata
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A woodland-edge beauty of early spring in blue, purple or white, with a memorable scent for those who are prepared to grovel
Common yarrow
Achillea millefolium
With soft, feathery leaves and pungent scent, this flower of pasture and wayside attracts butterflies and has sired numerous colourful garden cultivars
Scarlet pimpernel
Anagallis arvensis
They seek him here, they seek him there—this pimpernel is a bright, but tiny annual on floppy stems, the flowers closing up in inclement weather
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Which wildflower gets your vote?
Wildflower gallery - images of wildflowers found in the UK
Wildflower Gallery
Table of Contents
Although there are over a thousand different species of wildflower found throughout the UK, our wildflower gallery covers just a few of the most common one that can be found on these shores. Most of these colourful plants provide a valuable source of pollen and nectar, which are essential to the survival of bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
Agrimony is an erect, perennial wildflower that’s tolerant of a range of soil types, but prefers free draining sites in grassland, meadows, woodland and hedgerows. A member of the rose family with the flowers giving off an apricot odour.
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Autumn hawkbit
Scorzoneroides autumnalis
Flowers are golden – yellow similar to dandelions but slightly smaller.
It flowers between June and October and is commonly found in grassland and meadows, especially on poor draining sites.
Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera
One of the UKs most stunning native orchids, it’s a rare orchid that’s been in decline due to habitat loss. Growing to 30cm high it’s preferred habitat is dry grassland, sand dunes and calcareous soils.
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Betony
Betonica officinalis
The cheerful, deep pink flowers of betony add a splash of colour during late summertime in grassy places, hedgerows and verges. The tubular flowers attract bees and butterflies, which come to feed on the nectar.
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Birds-foot trefloil
Lotus corniculatus
This low growing perennial plant is a member of the pea family and it takes its name from the seed pods which resemble a birds claw. It produces clusters of yellow flowers, tinged with red streaks which supply a rich source of nectar for pollinators.
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Black medic
Medicago lupulina
The small yellow pea like flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Commonly found on dry grassland it flowers from April to August.
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Bladder campion
Silene vulgaris
Bladder campion takes its name from the bladder like bulge that sits behind the flower. It’s rich in nectar and attracts bees, butterflies and other important pollinators.
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Broad-leaved willowherb
Epilobium montanum
A perennial wildflower often found waste ground, bare areas and cultivated soil. The small pink flowers can measure up to 12mm across and can be seen between May and September.
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Bristly-ox tongue
Helminthotheca echioides
Flowers are very similar to dandelions, with the long leaves being covered in rough pimples, giving them a rough texture. This wildflower is very common on bare areas and waste ground.
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Bugle
Ajuga reptans
An erect wildflower that grows to 20 cm in height that is a member of the mint family. The blue – violet flowers are very similar to those of selfheal. Bugle prefers damps soils and is frequently found on grassland and the edges of woodland.
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Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
A very common and recognisable plant as it produces a carpet of blue in woodland areas during the spring time. Sometimes called the British bluebell, it is very attractive to bees and other pollinators.
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Borage
Borago officinalis
Also called starflower, borage is an annual wildflower with blue, sometimes purple flowers, each with 5 petals. Its often found in roadside verges and waste ground and is very attractive to bees.
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Chicory
Cichorium intybus
A member of the dandelion family, chicory is a perennial plant with showy pale blue flowers, blooming between July and October.
It’s attractive to several species of bee, which visit to feed on the pollen and nectar produced.
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Common centaury
Centaurium erythraea
Keep an eye out for common centaury on sand dunes, heathland and other dry habitats from mid to late summer. This low growing plant produces clusters of pretty pink flowers.
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Common dog-violet
Viola riviniana
A perennial wildflower often seen in woodland, grassland and pastures. Common dog-violet produces blue – purple flowers, which can be seen from April to June.
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Common fleabane
Pulicaria dysenterica
A perennial plant with attractive yellow flowers of the daisy family, common fleabane thrives in damp, marshy habitats. It grows to nearly a metre in height, with the flowers blooming between July and September.
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Cats ear
Hypochaeris radicata
Cats ear is perennial wildflower that’s a member of the daisy family of plants.
It has dandelion like yellow flowers and is frequently found in grassland, waste areas and lawns especially on free draining sites.
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Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara
Coltsfoot is a perennial plant and a member of the daisy family. The bright yellow flowers bloom from February to April and appear before the leaves develop. It is usually found on damp soils on pond edges, field edges and disturbed ground.
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Common chickweed
Stellaria media
Common chickweed is an annual wildflower that produces small white flowers that can be seen all year round. It’s often classed as a weed and can be found in grassland, roadside verges and waste ground.
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Common comfrey
Symphytum officinale
A perennial wildflower that bears small bell-shaped flowers, often cream or purple in colour, that are attractive to bumble bees. It’s commonly found in verges, riverbanks and ditches.
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Common knapweed
Centaurea nigra
A wildflower of meadows and grassland, often seen in roadside verges. Common knapweed has thistle like pink – purple flower heads that can be seen between June and September.
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Common mallow
Malva sylvestris
Easily recognised by its deep pink flowers that bloom between June and October. Common mallow grows over a metre in height and is often found on waste ground and roadside verges.
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Common poppy
Papaver rhoeas
A very recognisable wildflower with its bright red flowers, that are a symbol of remembrance of the soldiers who died in the first world war. The poppy is a cornfield annual that is found in arable fields, waste ground and roadside verges.
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Common restharrow
Ononis repens
A low-growing, sprawling plant with pink, pea shaped flowers, Common restharrow can be found on calcareous soils in coastal habitats from July to September.
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Common storksbill
Erodium cicutarium
A low growing, sprawling wildflower often found on free draining soils in grassland and waste sites, particularly on coastal sites. The small pink flowers appear during May and last until September.
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Another cornfield annual which was once a common sight in meadows, but has since been in decline due to modern farming practices, such as pesticide and herbicide use.
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Corn chamomile
Anthemis arvensis
A very common cornfield annual often found on waste areas, roadside verges and field perimeters. Flowers are very similar to daisies and it blooms from May to August.
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Corncockle
Agrostemma githago
Corncockle produces lovely bright pink – purple flowers, although it becoming quite a rare wildflower in present times. A cornfield annual that can be found on field margins and other disturbed areas.
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Corn marigold
Glebionis segetum
The lovely golden yellow flowers, which can be seen from May to September measure about 5 cm across. Once a common sight in corn fields, it has long been in decline. It’s very attractive to bees, hover flies and butterflies.
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Creeping buttercup
Ranunculus repens
A creeping, perennial wildflower and the most common of all the buttercups. The distinct golden – yellow flowers have a glossy surface and bloom between May and September. It will grow in grassland, verges and waste areas, especially on damp soils.
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Cuckoo flower
Cardamine pratensis
An attractive spring – early summer wildflower with white – pale pink flowers, which start to bloom around the same time the cuckoo arrives, from which it takes its name.
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Cowslip
Primula veris
This early spring wildflower is a member of the primrose family and can be seen in meadows and woodland during this period.
They thrive on dry soils, flowering between April and May.
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Creeping cinquefoil
Potentilla reptans
A low growing, sprawling perennial plant, frequently found in hedge banks and roadside verges. It is considered a weed by gardeners as it can be a problem in borders. The yellow flowers bloom between June and September.
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Daisy
Bellis perennis
One of the most common and easily recognisable wildflowers in the UK, with its distinct white and yellow flowers. It attracts various pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.
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Dames rocket
Hesperis matronalis
A biennial and perennial wildflower, dames rocket produces pink – purple flowers, each with four petals, which bloom between May and August. It’s often found in roadside verges, woodland and waste areas.
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Devil’s-bit scabious
Succisa pratensis
The nodding, blue-purple flowerheads of devil’s-bit scabious can be seen in damp soils in marshland, river banks and pond & lake margins.
It’s an important plant to the larvae of the marsh fritillary butteryfly, which feed on it.
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Dove’s-foot cranesbill
Geranium molle
A relatively low growing annual wildflower with deep pink, sometimes white flowers that bloom between April and August. It will grow on most types of soil, but prefers free draining, under nourished sites.
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Enchanter’s nightshade
Circaea lutetiana
Enchanter’s nightshade is a native plant to the UK and prefers shaded locations, such as woodland and hedgerows. The tiny white flowers bloom between June and September and are a valuable source of pollen and nectar to small bees and other pollinators.
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Eyebright
Euphrasia sp.
A small annual herb, found in all types of short grassland, windswept hillsides and heathland. Eyebright is a semi parasitic plant, attaching its roots to other plants and grasses robbing them of vital nutrients and water.
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Fairy flax
Linum catharticum
Also known as Purging flax, it is a herbaceous, annual wildflower found on heathland, dry grassland, sand dunes and calcareous soils. The small white flowers bloom between July and September.
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Fernleaf fiddleneck
Phacelia tanacetifolia
A wildflower that can be annual, biennial or perennial, that has tubular lavender – purple flowers, that are very attractive to pollinators. It thrives in full sun and prefers undernourished, free draining soils.
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Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel is a perennial wildflower and a member of the carrot family. The umbrella like clusters of yellow flowers are produced between July and October. The flowers are used in cuisine and also have medicinal properties.
Field scabious
Knautia arvensis
A clump forming perennial wildflower found on free draining calcareous soils.
Field scabious produces pink – purple disc shaped flowers, blooming between July and September.
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Field speedwell
Veronica persica
Sometimes referred to as Persian speedwell, this low growing, sprawling wildflower is often found on areas of bare ground and cultivated soils. The blue – white flowers are typical of speedwells.
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Forget me not
Myosotis sylvatica
Forget me not is a short lived, perennial wildflower with pretty, bright blue flowers that bloom from April to June. Look out for it in shaded areas, such as woodland, hedgerows and roadside verges.
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Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
A tall, erect wildflower growing up to 2 meters in height, foxgloves bloom during the summer months and can be seen in open woodland, heathland and roadside verges. They are a valuable source of food for bees.
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Germander Speedwell
Veronica chamaedrys
Often considered a good luck charm for travellers, germander speedwell can be identified by its deep blue flowers, with white centers.
Its very common in grassland, hedgerows and roadside verges.
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Grape hyacinth
Muscari armeniacumA member of the lily family, grape hyacinth is a low growing, early spring flowering plant. The blue flowers are reminiscent of small bunches of grapes (hence the name) and provide an important source of food to early pollinators.
Great burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
A clump forming perennial plant growing to over a metre in height. Great burnet flowers between June and September and can be found growing in damp conditions, especially on marshland and river margins.
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Greater stitchwort
Rabelera holostea
A spring – early summer wildflower frequently found in woodland, roadside verges and grassy areas. It produces white flowers, each with five white petals that are deeply notched. It provided a rich source of nectar for bees, butterflies etc.
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Green alkanet
Pentaglottis sempervirens
A perennial wildflower that can grow over a metre in height and often considered a weed.
It prefers damp conditions and can be seen in hedgerows, roadside verges and close to buildings. The blue flowers bloom from April to June.
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Golden tickseed
Plains coreopsis
A non-native, annual wildflower, that’s a member of the daisy family. Golden tickseed will grow on most soil types but prefers light, free draining sites. The yellow – dark red flowers bloom during the late summertime.
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Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Harebell, also called ‘Scottish bluebell’ is a perennial, flowering, herbaceous wildflower that is part of the bellflower family of plants. The nodding, bell shaped flowers bloom in late springtime and continue during the summer.
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Heath bedstraw
Galium saxatile
A perennial wildflower that flowers from May to August. This low growing plant produces clusters of small white flowers and is very common on nutrient deficient, acidic soils in grassland, heath-land and pastures.
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Hedge woundwort
Stachys sylvatica
Hedge woundwort is an erect perennial wildflower, growing up to a meter in height. It thrives in shady locations like hedgerows, woodland and roadside verges. As it’s name implies it’s used to staunch bleeding and heal wounds.
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Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium cannabinum
A tall hairy, perennial wildflower in the daisy family. It prefers low lying, moist sites such as riverbanks. The small pink – purple flowers bloom between July and September and a attractive to butterflies.
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Herb robert
Geranium robertianum
A common wildflower with small bright pink flowers, that bloom between April and September. It’s a low growing plant, often found in shady areas, such as hedgerows and woodland. To many gardeners it’s often considered a weed, as it can be quite invasive.
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Lady’s bedstraw
Galium verum
A wildflower that is both annual and perennial, it produces clusters of small yellow flowers in the summertime, that produce a honey like scent.
It can be found in grassy meadows, roadside verges and in dunes. It is very common on coastal sites.
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Lady’s mantle
Alchemilla vulgaris
A member of the rose family, Lady’s mantle is a low-growing, clump forming perennial herb. They bloom between June and September and sometimes grown as a ground cover plant in garden borders.
Lesser celandine
Ficaria verna
A perennial wildflower that appears early spring, as it creates a yellow carpet of colour in woodland, verges and hedgerows. The bright yellow flowers appear in March before disappearing again during May.
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Lesser periwinkle Vinca minor
Lesser periwinkle is a perennial plant with blue – violet flowers, each with 5 petals. It blooms between April and September and and is often found in hedgerows, woodland and waste areas.
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Lords and ladies
Arum macalatum
A perennial wildflower found in shaded areas such as woodland and hedgerows.
It produces poker-like flowers that are wrapped in a light green hood.
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Marsh woundwort
Stachys palustris
Growing in damp places including river banks, pond and lake margins, marsh woundwort is a big favoutite of bumble bees, which visit to feed on it’s rich source of nectar.
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Meadow saxifrage
Saxifraga granulata
Meadow saxifrage is a small, delicate, native perennial wildflower found in short grassland hay meadows. Once common, but now in decline due to habitat loss.
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Meadow vetchling
Lathyrus pratensis
A scrambling, perennial wildflower and a member of the pea family. The yellow flowers appear between May and August and are very attractive to bees.
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Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria
This perennial wildflower is a member of the rose family that thrives on moist soils. The frothy white – cream flowers bloom from June to October, keep an eye out for them in damp woodland and riverbanks.
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Mouse-ear chickweed
Cerastium fontanum
A low growing, short lived perennial wildflower and a persistent weed in turf. It is found in grassland, roadside verges and waste areas. The small white flowers have five deeply cut petals that bloom between April and September.
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Mouse-ear hawkweed
Pilosella officinarum
A creeping, perennial wildflower of the daisy family, mouse-ear hawkweed has bright yellow ‘dandelion like’ flowers. It’s usually happiest growing in dry places, sucha as free draining grassland, stone walls, heaths and waste areas.
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Oxeye Daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare
A tall, perennial wildflower and the largest native member in the daisy family. Typical daisy like flowers, only larger, it is frequently found in roadside verges, woodland perimeters and grassy areas.
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Perennial Sow-thistle
Sonchus arvensis
A flowering wildflower in the daisy family, sow thistle can reach over a metre in height.
It forms in dense patches and can be found on roadside verges, ditch banks and waste ground.
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Purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
A tall growing perennial wildflower, that produces deep pink – purple flowers that can be seen from June to September. Frequently found in ditches, meadows, woodland and lake perimeters, especially on moist soils.
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Purple toadflax
Linaria purpurea
Growing up to a metre in height, purple toadflax is happiest on free draining soils that receive ample sunlight. It’s a popular choice for herbaceous borders and gravel gardens and is very attractive to bees and butterflies.
Pyramidal orchid
Anacamptis pyramidalis
A small orchid, which takes its name from its distinctive pyramid shaped flowers. Growing to around 30cm in height, the bright pink magenta flowers bloom between June and July.
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Ragged robin
Lychnis flos-cuculi
A perennial wildflower that is happiest on wet soils and is commonly found growing in marshy areas and the edges of ponds.
The ragged, deeply divided deep pink – red flowers can be seen between May and September.
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Red campion
Silene dioica
Red campion is an attractive, herbaceous flowering perennial wildflower that thrives in damp conditions, such as verges, hedgerows and ditch banks. It’s a valuable food source for many types of pollinator.
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Red clover
Trifolium pratense
A herbaceous, perennial wildflower, that’s a member of the bean family. The pink – red flowers bloom between May and October and are very attractive to bees and pollinators.
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Red dead-nettle
Lamium purpureum
Very common on field margins, waste areas and hedgerows, red dead-nettle is sometimes referred to as the bumble bee flower, as it attracts bumble bees. The deep purple flowers can be seen from March to October.
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Ribwort plantain
Plantago lanceolata
A very common perennial wildflower in the UK, frequently found on roadside verges, meadows, lawns and waste areas.
The bullet like flower heads can be seen from April until October.
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Rosebay willowherb
Chamaenerion angustifolium
A tall, erect plant, rosebay willowherb is adept at colonising new areas with its wind borne seed and is commonly found on waste ground, roadside verges and disturbed woodland.
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Rosy garlic
Allium roseum
Rosy garlic is an edible species of garlic appearing during the late spring / early summer period. Growing up to 70cm in height it provides a valuable source of nectar for bees.
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Slender speedwell
Veronica filiformis
A prostrate, low growing wildflower, often considered a major weed in fine turf. The blue – violet flowers have four petals and can be seen from April to June. It will grow on most soil types, especially moist soils.
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Scarlet pimpernel
Anagallis arvensis
A low growing annual wildflower sometimes called Poor man’s weatherglass.
The small, bright red flowers can be seen between May and October. Widespread throughout the UK, it is frequently found on waste ground and arable land.
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Sea holly
Eryngium maritimum
Sea holly is perennial plant that grows on free draining sandy soils and is often found at coastal sites such as sand dunes. The small, thorny flowers can be seen from July to September.
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Sea purslane
Halimione portulacoidesA sprawling, bushy perennial plant found on coastal areas, such as beaches, estuaries and salt marshes. Sea purslane thrives on infertile sandy soils, flowering from July to September.
Sea rocket
Cakile maritima
An annual wildflower that is a member of the mustard family found on sandy beaches and sand dunes. The white – lilac flowers can be seen between June and September.
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Selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
A low growing plant often found in grassland, roadside verges and lawns, where it is classed as a weed.
The violet – purple flowers are reminiscent of bugle, they are very attractive to bees and wasps and can be seen between June and September.
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Shepherd’s purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
An annual plant that’s a member of the mustard family. Shepherds purse is a common gardener weed as it thrives on bare ground and cultivated soils, such as borders. The tiny white flowers can appear all 12 months of the year.
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Small scabious
Scabiosa columbaria
A slender, native, perennial wildflower that favours chalky soils. The Lilac – mauve flowers bloom between June and September and are attractive to bees and butterflies.
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Springbeauty
Claytonia perfoliata
A short hairless, annual wildflower that thrives on free draining, sandy soils. The tiny white flowers can be seen between April and July.
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Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
A sign that spring is just around the corner, the snowdrop appears in January and flowers until March when it disappears once again.
Frequently found in woodland, hedgerows, roadsides and churchyards.
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Snowflake
Leucojum spp.
Snowflakes are often confused with snowdrops, as they look similar and thrive in a similar habitat, such as woodland and hedgerows. However, they grow taller and bloom slightly later during the spring.
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St John’s Wort
Hypericum perforatum
A herbaceous, perennial plant with small bright yellow flowers appearing from June to September. St John’s wort can be spotted in hedgerows, open woodland and waste ground.
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Tormentil
Potentilla erectaTormentil is a low-growing, creeping wildflower found on roadside verges, heathland and pastures. The small yellow flowers bloom between May and September providing nectar to bees and other pollinators.
Tufted vetch
Vicia cracca
Tufted vetch is a scrambling, perennial wildflower that prefers moist, fertile soils.
It’s often found in hedgerows, woodland perimeters and rough grassland. The blue – purple flowers bloom between June and September.
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Thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia
A perennial mat forming perennial wildflower that thrives in most soil conditions. Frequently found in grassland, pastures, woodland and waste areas. The tiny white and blue – purple flowers can be seen from March to October.
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Viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare
A member of the borage family, viper’s bugloss is found on free draining banks and dunes that receive ample sunlight. Flowering between May and September and reaching a height of 75cm.
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Water mint
Mentha aquatica
Water mint is a perennial wildflower and a member of the mint family. The leaves are aromatic and can be used for favouring food and drink. The pink flowers can be seen between July and October.
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White campion
Silene latifolia
Generally a perennial wildflower, but can also be annual and biennial.
It is found in hedgerows, roadside verges and waste areas. The white flowers bloom from May to September, with each flower having five deeply cut petals.
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White clover
Trifolium repens
White clover is a low growing, perennial plant that is very common throughout the UK. It’s easily recognised by it’s distinct white – pink flowers, that are very attractive to bees and other pollinators. It’s very common in grassy areas, pastures and roadside verges.
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White dead-nettle
Lamium album
A herbaceous, non-stinging, perennial wildflower, found in woodland, roadside verges and waste areas, especailly in areas of partial shade. The white flowers can be seen from May to December and are very attractive to bees.
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Wild garlic
Allium ursinum
Look out for the small white flowers of wild garlic as they carpet the floors of damp woodland in the early spring. An edible plant that’s a favourite of foragers, as well as providing a rich source of pollen and nectar for early season pollinators.
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Wild primrose
Primula vulgaris
Sightings of wild primrose is a sign that spring is on the way, as the pale yellow flowers appear. A common sight in woodlands, hedgerows and grassland, especially on wet soil, with the flowers blooming from March until May.
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Wild marjoram
Origanum vulgare
Wild marjoram is a native perennial wildflower often found on infertile, dry chalky soils in hedgerows, roadsides and grassland. The small pink flowers bloom between June and September and are very attractive to butterflies.
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Wild mignonette
Reseda lutea
A clump forming short lived perennial plant that favours free draining, chalky soils on waste areas, grassland and sand dunes. The small yellow – green flower form in spikes and can bee seen between June and September.
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Wild teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
A biennial wildflower found on waste ground, bare areas and rough grassland.
Wild teasel can grow up to two metres in height and it produces green egg shaped flowers later turning purple. They are a valuable source of nectar for pollinators.
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Winter heliotrope
Petasites fragrans
A winter flowering wildflower found on damp sites, such as river banks, damp meadows and roadside verges. The lilac – white flowers appear from November to February and provide nectar to early emerging insects and pollinators.
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Wood anemone
Anemone nemorosa
An early spring flowering wildflower blooming from March to May. Wood anenome can often be seen carpeting woodland floors during the spring period. The white, star shaped flowers supply a good source of pollen for both honey and bumble bees.
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Woundwort
Stachys sylvaticaGrowing to over a metre in height, hedge woundwort flowers between June and August. Preferring shaded location this wildflower thrives in woodland, hedgerows, waste ground and ditch banks.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A very common, perennial wildflower that produces clusters of small, white flower heads. It can reach 50 cm in height and is attractive to bees and other pollinators. Yarrow flowers from June to November.
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Yellow-wort
Blackstonia perfoliata
Keep a look out for the delightful bright yellow flowers of yellow-wort from mid summertime until late autumn on chalk and limestone grassland, heathland and sand dunes.
Yellow rattle
Rhinanthus minor
Yellow rattle is a valuable plant to sow in wildflower meadows. It feed off other plants, especially competing coarse grasses, robbing them of essential nutrients, supressing growth and giving the wildflowers a chance to thrive..
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Yellow suckling clover
Trifolium dubium
Sometime referred to as lesser trefoil, yellow suckling clover is an annual wildflower and a major weed in managed turf.
It’s a member of the pea family and produces small yellow flowers that bloom between May and October.
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First nature
90,000 field flowers of England: Malamant - Livejournal
Plant images taken at the end of July
1) Field ANCHUS (Field Croaches, Field Croaches) / Anchusa Arvensis
9000 2) Balzamin Balzamin Balzamosmi Balzamine / Impatiens Balzamin
2-a) Iron balsam / Impatiens glandulifera (white-flowered form)
0003 In such a company this MAK grew up:
49) ordinary raspberry / rubus IDAEUS
50) Malva Lesnaya, or Lesnaya Posvirnik)
52) Forest Margarita / Bellis Sylvestris
53) NIVING (Popper) Ordinary / LEUCANTHEMUMMUMUMUMUMUMUMUMUMUMUMEMEMEMEMEMEMIM
54) MORDENDENT ANTIVED / EXHINONOPS EXAL0002 61) Top Devichye, Pyrethrum Mrinnice / Tanacetum Parthenium
62) Real underlive, or liner yellow / Galium Verum
) or Chernobyl / Artemisia vulgaris
65) Common agrimony / Agrimonia eupatoria
66) Angustifolia cattail / Typha angustifolia 9) Field Yarutka / Thlaspi arvense
FOR DETERMINATION:
80) ??? Apium nodiflorum
Unidentified "daisies":
81) ??? Aster sp.
82) ??? Anthemis Chios / Anthemis chia
With indispensable gratitude to the community trava_y_doma and personally to everyone who took part in the identification of plants:
batworker
The scope of their application is huge: meadow or Mauritanian lawns, artificial "frames" for flower beds, alpine slides, etc. The main advantage of such field crops is unpretentiousness, undemanding and adaptability to local climate conditions, which ensured their survival in the wild .
Contents
- Fine-leaved peony
- Perennial herb carnation
- Aquilegia
- Gaillardia
- Double Monarda
- Bathing suit
- Common peony
- Field poppy
- Field tulip
- Spike amaranth
Fine-leaved peony
This culture has been known for many generations before, but under the name “Pyrovonets” this culture has been known more than “Pyrovonets”.
Looking at him, it's hard to believe that this is not an artificially bred representative of the fauna. Now it is an endangered species, so it will not work to go and dig a new specimen directly in the meadow, since it is under the protection of the law. But it can be successfully purchased at garden centers. Despite the rather high price, after purchase, the thin-leaved peony can be grown for many years, and the bush can be periodically divided and seated.
The natural habitat of this field plant is flat areas from the Dnieper to the Volga and the southern foothills of the Caucasus. In the wild, it is a dense bush with openwork carved leaves, dotted with red buds of non-double inflorescences in spring. After flowering, the red petals wither, and the decorative effect disappears, therefore, when growing in gardens, greenery is often not allowed to stand for the whole summer, but cut off shortly after withering.
Thin-leaved peony needs periodic division and planting of the bush.
A couple of years after transplantation, just like a garden peony, the plant gains strength, and only in the second or third year it is able to form many red buds. With an excess of nutrients, flowering may be inhibited.
Perennial herb carnation
This wild plant is a close relative of the well-known garden carnation. It prefers areas with sandy permeable soil, as it is very unpretentious in terms of watering and the availability of nutrients. In order to successfully grow and feel good, she does not need special care at all.
One plant lives from 4 to 7 years without needing a transplant. This wild plant stretches up to 20 cm in length, forming dense dense curtains. Only one wild variety has a rich red color, but it is most noticeable in green grass. However, carnation grass is able to grow not only in natural conditions: it will easily adapt in the forest, garden, vegetable garden, mountainous terrain.
Gardeners love this unpretentious flower for its long flowering with numerous red buds.
The decorative period lasts about one and a half months, after which the seeds begin to ripen. Reproduction of the red carnation grass occurs by self-sowing, so it successfully captures neighboring territories.
Aquilegia
For generations of flower growers, this field plant was known as 'eagle' or 'catchment'. Most varieties growing in the field are blue or blue in color, but there are also red ones that are very visible from afar. The development cycle of this flower is biennial: in the first year, the development of shoots and the root system occurs, and in the second year, a peduncle appears, buds form and flowering occurs. In autumn, the basal rosette dies off.
In nature, aquilegia can be brick or crimson in color, it forms interesting medium-sized inflorescences, which contain nectar. After the ripening of small seeds in autumn, they dissipate on their own, and the wind is able to carry them over long distances. Germination is maintained for one year.
Gaillardia
Initially, these flowers grew within South and North America, but over time they spread to Europe. Culture belongs to the aster family. Gaillardia is characterized by increased drought resistance, so its red inflorescences remain decorative for a long time even in summer heat.
This crop grows much taller than cultivated forms and can reach a size of 0.9 cm. The shoots are densely branched, and buds develop at the upper ends of the branches. Inflorescences consist of red marginal flowers and median, darker in color. Under natural conditions, the most common is a perennial form, which retains only underground organs for the winter, and re-grows the bush in the spring. Among all field crops, there is hardly the same unpretentious form that perfectly tolerates not only drought, but also long rainy seasons.
Double monarda
Lovers of modest plants, this flower is better known as "shower" or "mountain balsam". The stems of the double monarda have a tetrahedral shape, they are able to grow up to a meter in height.
Under the ground, a root grows no less actively, which penetrates into the middle layers of the soil. The inflorescence consists of petals arranged in several rows.
In Monarda, not only the petals, but also the leaves can be red. Leaf blades no more than 12 cm, with notches along the edge. After ripening, interesting fruits are formed, which dry up and break up into four nuts.
This wild flower received special love from people for its unusual smell. It has hints of mint and citrus. In addition to the fact that herbal tea, amazing in taste, is prepared from it, this interesting plant has long been present in the folk first-aid kit. Monarda is an indispensable remedy for fighting fever, a natural pain reliever, a remedy often recommended for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, etc. Maybe it was for this reason that people began to move the double monard from the wild to their gardens.
Bathing suit
This plant from the Lyutikov family was known in Russia for a long time under the name "hot" or "light".
Apparently, the droplets of heat resembled red flowers found in meadows and fields. The flower remains equally spectacular in the natural conditions of the Polar Urals, in Mongolia or in the Caucasus mountains.
In nature, rocky areas of uplands are the best for cultivation, so the plant is extremely unpretentious, neither in terms of watering, nor in terms of soil composition. A bush up to 80 cm high ends with bright, as if varnished petals of red or bright orange color. Flowering continues from May to June. The inflorescence seems quite weighty, but the red flower heads always remain raised straight up to the sky. Because of this feature, many insects hide from the weather inside the bathing cup.
This field crop can grow in groups, but there are also single specimens that bring bright colors to the rich green of the field. They look no less advantageous in garden design.
Burnet officinalis
The name of this flower comes not from the red inflorescences, as many believe, but from its hemostatic properties, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
This herbaceous field plant grows up to 90 cm tall. In nature, it grows not only in the field, but also on the edges of forests, in swampy areas, on sharp cliffs, etc.
A thick horizontal rhizome stretches underground, which produces many offspring. Small petals may be red, but sometimes reach black-purple. The culture is an excellent honey plant, so swarms of insects constantly circle over the inflorescences. If you plant a burnet officinalis in your hell, then in this way you can attract many butterflies throughout the summer.
In addition to its invaluable importance in medicine, burnet has found application as an excellent fodder crop, which is sometimes grown on an industrial scale due to its unpretentiousness and excellent adaptation to any conditions.
Field poppy
Annual plant growing up to 30-80 cm in nature. Red heads appearing in spring and in the first half of summer adorn fields and meadows. The leaves of this flower are strongly dissected, gray-green, and may be covered with bristles.
The milky juice that comes out after tissue damage can cause burns on the skin, so care should be taken when collecting poppies in a bouquet.
After maturation, a box with a large number of small seeds is formed in place of the former buds, which are dispersed by self-sowing. People liked the red petals so much that they began to grow this species as a cultural one back in the days of Ancient Egypt. Now in the south, it is a weed plant that can worsen the yields of cereals and fodder crops.
The milky juice contained in the unripe poppy seed pod is called "opium". In an effort to collect as much of this substance as possible at the end of the last century, many field thickets were exterminated, which were hardly restored for decades. A similar property was used before, but at low concentrations a harmless hypnotic effect was achieved.
Field tulip
A flower from the Liliaceae family, which is familiar to everyone since childhood. The wild form of the tulip is slightly smaller than its varietal relatives, but no less beautiful.
On a dense stem that appears in early spring, a single bud rises. Under it, near the ground, there is a leaf rosette, consisting of one to four narrow leaves of a bluish tint. The number of leaves depends on the age of the bulb: a young one is able to grow only one leaf, while an adult and massive one gives rise to three or four.
Inside the calyx of red petals are black stamens, from which pollen is shed abundantly. Propagated by bulbs growing after flowering. Leaves and all ground organs disappear already in the first half of summer. The only thing that can become an obstacle to reproduction and growth is the abundance of moisture in the ground and large puddles that do not dry out for a long time.
The tulip is recognized worldwide as a symbol of spring. Scientists are amazed at the shape of the inflorescence: this field representative of the fauna is an example of an ideal natural three-beam symmetry: six petals (three internal and three external) and stamens are subordinate to it. The ovary that appears after flowering is also formed by symmetrical cotyledons.
Few people know that wild tulip bulbs can be eaten as a substitute for regular onions. They have approximately the same flavors as the bitter root. This property was often used by people during World War II.
Spike amaranth
Amaranth is considered a weed plant, but it is also actively grown in household plots. Initially, its homeland was America, and several centuries ago its seeds came to Europe, and it spread to many countries.
Leaf blades may be dark green or purple, the underground root has a pinkish tint. It grows as an annual plant that can reach a height of one meter. The culture is actively used as a medicinal plant. It is used for digestive disorders and as a hemostatic component of drugs.
In addition, amaranth is used as a fodder crop, which promotes the rapid growth of rabbits, nutria and domestic cattle. Recently, this multifaceted flower has become increasingly popular as a culinary component.
