Meadowsweet is a perennial herb that grows in damp or wet habitats, like wet woodland, damp meadows and along pond or river edges. It is characteristic of sites where water levels fluctuate and is absent from permanently waterlogged ground. The common name Meadowsweet derives from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘medu’, which means ‘mead’. It was once […]

Foxglove is a very common plant of acidic soil. It thrives in a range of habitats including open woods, on moorland and heath margins and hedgebanks. It is often found in great abundance on disturbed or burnt sites. The first part of the scientific name, ‘Digitalis’, means finger and describes the plants thimble-like flowers. The […]

Yellow Flag, also known as Yellow Iris, Yellow Flag Iris, Jacob’s Sword or Segg is an iris native to the wetlands and marshes of the UK. It is also distributed throughout Europe down to the Mediterranean region and North Africa. This Iris is common across the British Isles, with the exception of the Scottish Highlands, […]

Bird’s-foot-trefoil is a common native wildflower found throughout the UK’s well-drained grasslands. It is known as Bird’s-foot-trefoil as it produces seedpods arranged in a ‘bird’s foot’ pattern and its five leaflets appear trifoliate (meaning ‘three flowers’). Many people know this flower as ‘bacon and eggs’ which refers to the vibrant red and yellow/orange colour of […]

The Ox-eye Daisy is a familiar native wildflower seen across the UK in fields, roadside verges, railways and riverbanks. The name ‘ox-eye’ was a flattering name affectionately given to Hera, the queen of Olympian gods in Greek mythology, in the Illiad. Early Christians dedicated this flower to Mary Magdalene which is how the name Maudlin […]