British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species
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Bush, Robin
Night-flowering Catchfly
Night-flowering Catchfly Silene noctiflora
Stickily hairy annual of arable fields, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS Similar to White Campion but with petals pinkish above, yellowish below; inrolled by day, opening at night, when they are scented (May–July). FRUITS Capsules with 6 reflexed teeth. LEAVES Ovate. STATUS Local and declining.
Small-flowered Catchfly
Small-flowered Catchfly Silene gallica
Stickily hairy annual of arable land and disturbed, mainly sandy soils. FLOWERS Pinkish or white, and sometimes flushed red at the base (var. quinquevulnera, see photo left), 10–12mm across; in 1-sided spikes (June–Oct). FRUITS Inflated capsules. LEAVES Hairy, upper ones narrower than basal ones. STATUS Widespread but local and generally scarce. Restricted to unimproved arable fields.
Sand Catchfly
Sand Catchfly Silene conica
Upright, stickily hairy, greyish-green annual. Found on sandy soils, mainly coastal. FLOWERS 4–5mm across, with 5 notched and pinkish petals; in clusters (May–July). FRUITS Forming within inflated, flagon-shaped capsules. LEAVES Narrow, downy. STATUS Local and scarce, restricted mainly to coastal SE England.
Cleave, Andrew
Soapwort
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis
Straggling, hairless perennial with brittle stems. Found on roadside verges and waste ground, and in damp woodland. FLOWERS Pink, 25–35mm across (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrowly oval, distinctly veined. STATUS Possibly native in a few sites but mainly a naturalised garden escape.
Ragged-robin
Ragged-robin Lychnis flos-cuculi HEIGHT to 65cm
Delicate-looking perennial of damp meadows, fens and marshes. FLOWERS Pink, with 5 petals, each divided into 4 ‘ragged’ lobes (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like, rough; upper ones in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common, but decreasing through agricultural changes (e.g. land drainage).
Maiden Pink
Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides
Hairy perennial that sometimes forms clumps. Associated with dry, sandy soils. FLOWERS 18–20mm across, with 5 pink petals that show white basal spots and have toothed margins (June–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, rough-edged, grey-green. STATUS Widespread but extremely local.
Deptford Pink
Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria
Dark green, slightly hairy annual. Found in dry, grassy places, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS 9–13mm across, with reddish-pink petals that have toothed margins and pale spots; in clusters (June–Aug). Note the long bracts. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow. STATUS Scarce and local.
Corncockle
Corncockle Agrostemma githago
Distinctive, downy annual. Associated with arable fields. FLOWERS 30–45mm across, with 5 pinkish-purple petals and long, narrow and radiating sepals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like. STATUS Formerly widespread and common but now extremely scarce and erratic because of agricultural herbicides.
Annual Knawel
Annual Knawel
Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus HEIGHT to 10cm
Yellowish-green annual. Associated with dry, bare soil and arable land. FLOWERS Comprising green, pointed sepals and no petals; in clustered heads (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, pointed; in opposite pairs along the wiry stems. STATUS Locally common throughout.
Buttercup Family Ranunculaceae
Stinking Hellebore
Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus
Robust, strong-smelling perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Green with purple margins, 15–30mm across, bell-shaped; in clusters (Jan–May). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Divided into toothed lobes; lower ones persist through winter. STATUS Local and restricted to central and S England and Wales.
Burbidge, Brinsley
Green Hellebore
Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis
Scentless perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Green (including the margins) with pointed sepals but no petals; in clusters (Feb–Apr). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Divided into bright green, elongate lobes; not evergreen. STATUS Local and scarce, in central and S England and Wales.
Winter Aconite
Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis
Attractive perennial that sometimes forms carpets on woodland floors. FLOWERS 12–15mm across, with 6 yellow sepals; on upright stems, above the leaves (Jan–Apr). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Spreading (3 per stem) and each divided into 3 lobes. STATUS Introduced but widely naturalised.
Love-in-a-mist
Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena
Upright, hairless annual, associated with disturbed ground and roadside verges. FLOWERS Comprising 5 petal-like blue sepals; solitary and terminal (June–July). FRUITS Inflated capsules. LEAVES Divided into narrow segments and arranged as a ruff below the flowers. STATUS Widely cultivated and sometimes naturalised briefly.
Marsh-marigold
Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris HEIGHT to 25cm
Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERS Yellow, 25–30mm across, with 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Kidney-shaped, shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUS Widespread and locally common, but range is contracting.
Globeflower
Globeflower Trollius europaeus
Attractive perennial of damp, upland and northern meadows. FLOWERS Spherical, 30–40mm across, with 10–15 yellow sepals; on long, upright stems (May–Aug). FRUITS Many-seeded, dry. LEAVES Palmately divided into toothed lobes. STATUS Absent from the south but very locally common from N Wales to Scotland, also NW Ireland.
Weston, Andrew
Baneberry
Baneberry Actaea spicata
Robust and hairless perennial of woodland (typically Ash) on limestone, and limestone pavements. FLOWERS White and feathery with 4–6 petals; in spikes (May–June). FRUITS Berries, green at first but ripening black. LEAVES Pinnately divided into toothed lobes. STATUS Local, restricted to N England.
Monk’s-hood
Monk’s-hood
Monk’s-hood Aconitum napellus
Dark green, almost hairless perennial of damp woodland, often beside streams. FLOWERS Bluish violet, 20mm across, helmeted; in upright spikes (May–Aug). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded. LEAVES Deeply divided into palmate lobes. STATUS Local, mainly in the south and south-west. Beware confusion with naturalised garden Aconitum species.
Larkspur
Larkspur Consolida ajacis
Downy annual that is occasionally found in arable field margins. FLOWERS Bluish, comprising 5 petal-like sepals and a long, backward-pointing spur; in loose spikes (June–Aug). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded. LEAVES Deeply divided into palmate lobes. STATUS Introduced (often grown in gardens) and occasional.
Pheasant’s-eye
Pheasant’s-eye Adonis annua
Branched, hairless annual of arable fields on chalky soils. FLOWERS Comprising 5–8 bright red petals that are blackish at the base (June–Aug). FRUITS Long-stalked, elongate, wrinkled. LEAVES Pinnately divided and feathery, upper ones partly shrouding flowers. STATUS Rare and decreasing because of agricultural herbicides.
Mousetail
Mousetail Myosurus minimus
Tufted, inconspicuous annual of arable field margins, often on sandy soil. FLOWERS Long-stalked, 5mm across, with yellowish-green petals and sepals (Mar–July). FRUITS Elongate, plantain-like (see pp), to 7cm long. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like. STATUS Scarce and declining, mainly in S England.
Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Buttercup
Fruit
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris HEIGHT to 1m
Downy perennial of damp grassland habitats. FLOWERS 18–25mm across, comprising 5 shiny, yellow petals with upright sepals; on long, unfurrowed stalks (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Hook-tipped, in a rounded head. LEAVES Rounded outline, but divided into 3–7 lobes; upper ones unstalked. STATUS Widespread and abundant throughout.
Creeping Buttercup
Creeping Buttercup
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens HEIGHT to 50cm
Often unwelcome perennial of lawns and other grassy places. Long, rooting runners aid its spread. FLOWERS 20–30mm across, with 5 yellow petals and upright sepals; on furrowed stalks (May–Aug). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Hairy; divided into 3 lobes; middle lobe is stalked. STATUS Widespread and common.
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Fruit
Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus HEIGHT to 40cm
Hairy perennial of dry grassland, including chalk downs. Note the swollen stem base. FLOWERS 20–30mm across with 5 bright yellow petals and reflexed sepals; on furrowed stalks (Mar–July). FRUITS Smooth. LEAVES Divided into 3 lobes, each of which is stalked. STATUS Wide-spread and often abundant.
Hairy Buttercup
Fruit
Hairy Buttercup Ranunculus sardous
Hairy annual of grassy places, especially near the coast. FLOWERS 15–25mm across with 5 pale yellow petals and reflexed sepals (May–Oct). FRUITS With a green border, inside which they are adorned with warts. LEAVES Divided into 3 lobes; mainly basal. STATUS Local, mainly in the south and in coastal habitats.
Corn Buttercup
Corn Buttercup Ranunculus arvensis
Downy annual of arable fields. FLOWERS 10–12mm across with 5 pale lemon-yellow petals (May–July). FRUITS Distinctly spiny and bur-like. LEAVES Divided into narrow lobes. STATUS Formerly widespread but now scarce, local and declining because of agricultural herbicide use; regular only in S England.
Goldilocks Buttercup
Goldilocks Buttercup