The Common Dog-violet is so called due to its lack of perfume – the word ‘dog’ being used to mean it was considered inferior to the Sweet Violet (Viola odorata), its close relative, which is quite fragrant. It is often found in deciduous woodland, hedgerows and old pastures and is not considered to be threatened. […]

Cuckooflower gets its name because it first appears in April, at the same time as cuckoo. May and June are the months when cuckooflower is in full bloom and, for this reason, many people call it the Mayflower. It is also known as Lady’s Smock and Milkmaids. These pretty, pinky-purple and white flowers are often […]

Wood anemone is one of our first spring flowers. Like many of our native wildflowers, it is also known by many other names: moonflower, wood crowfoot and ‘windflower’, to name a few. Windflower is directly related to its botanical name derived from the Greek. Greek legend says that Anemos, the Wind, sends his namesakes the Anemones, […]

The primrose, or “first rose”, is often found in woodland, hedgerows and old pastures. Its pale yellow flowers appear singly on hairy stems and can be seen between March and May before most trees come into leaf. Primroses are unusual as they produce two different types of flowers on two different plants. The ‘pin-eyed’ flower […]

Wild garlic (or ramsons) starts growing underground in late winter and its striking white flowers appear between May and June, contrasted against lush green foliage. Flowers are hermaphrodite (they have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees and other insects. Seeds ripen in July, when the plant dies back completely, allowing other […]