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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Field of daisies
Do you know what you're looking at when it comes to those pretty flowers that grow in the countryside? If not, click through our guide to common wildflowers.
Once you recognise those plants, you can help Plantlife, the wild-plant conservation charity, in its annual survey of the UK's wildflowers. This information is used to interpret the impact of environmental factors, such as agricultural intensification, urban sprawl and climate change. This helps to show where the greatest needs for conservation lie.
If you take part in the Survey, you're assigned two random plots, very near your home, and you'll receive a full information pack and there's a helpline too.
Find out more about Plantlife's Wildflowers Count Survey - and how you can get involved
All descriptions courtesy of Plantlife
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
Flowering time: May-June
Size: Shrubs or trees to about 5m
Where to find it: Hedgebanks, woods and wood margins
Spiny tree/shrub with bunches of flowers appearing after the bright green leaves, which are deeply divided. Deep red fruits (haws) appear from August.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Ox-eye daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare
Flowering time: May-September
Size: 10-80cm
Where to find it: Grassy areas, especially nutrient-rich soils
The simple, undivided but toothed leaves distinguish it readily from the Mayweeds and relatives. The individual flowers are 3-5cm in diameter, which is larger than most of the Mayweeds. Beware the garden escape Shasta daisy, which has flowers nearly 8cm across and forms clumps.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Traveller's joy
Clematis vitalba
Flowering time: August-September
Size: Stems to 10m or more, climbing over other trees or shrubs
Where to find it: Scrambling climber in hedgerows, scrub, woodland, especially on limestone areas
Leaves very similar to more familiar garden Clematis types, but small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers. The long, grey, hairy plumes with seeds attached are conspicuous in autumn and winter.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Flowering time: June-August
Size: 15-90cm
Where to find it: Grassland, banks and waysides, often a weed in lawns
Like no other plants with its umbel-like heads of small white (rarely pink) flowers and very dissected feathery leaves.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara
Flowering time: April
Size: 10-30cm
Where to find it: Open or disturbed habitats including arable land, maritime sand and shingle, landslips, roadsides and waste places
Very distinctive early spring flower, the leaves only appearing as the flowers droop and go over. Later the head of seeds is like a small dandelion ‘clock'.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Cowslip
Primula veris
Flowering time: April-May
Size: 10-30cm
Where to find it: Open woods, grassy places, meadows, roadside banks
Easily distinguished by the nodding head of cup-shaped deep yellow, scented flowers.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Yellow iris
Iris pseudacorus
Flowering time: June-August
Size: 30-150cm
Where to find it: Wet meadows, fens, ditches, marshes, by lakes and rivers
Quite unlike anything else, with its very conspicuous large yellow flowers.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Primrose
Primula vulgaris
Flowering time: March-June
Size: 10-30cm
Where to find it: Woods, hedgebanks, grasslands, sea cliffs, mountains
A single, pale yellow flower, opening flat, on each fragile, downy stem, makes this familiar plant distinctive. Beware cultivated garden escapes, usually with deeper coloured flowers.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Lords and ladies
Arum maculatum
Flowering time: April-May, fruits August onwards
Size: 20-40cm
Where to find it: Hedgerows, woodland, brown earth soils
The purple spike surrounded by the pale green ‘petal' make this fairly distinctive. The leaves may be shiny dark green or with blackish spots, but never whitish markings.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
Flowering time: April-June
Size: 10-30cm
Where to find it: Damp woods, hedge banks, meadows
This is sometimes confused with ground ivy, but the arrangement of flowers, the leaf shape and plant habit (stiff, erect stems) are very different
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Meadow crane's-bill
Geranium pratense
Flowering time: June-September
Size: 20-80cm, patch forming and often sprawling
Where to find it: Meadows, roadsides, grasslands, open woods, dunes
The large blue saucer-shaped flowers, 2.5-3cm across, are unlike any other native flower but beware of garden escapes (Johnson's Blue) that do not set seeds.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Indian balsam
Impatiens glandulifera
Flowering time: July-October
Size: 1-3m
Where to find it: Typically by streams or rivers, but also wet woodlands or damp bare places
This large plant in large clumps, with very conspicuous large, pink/purple flowers make it quite unlike anything else.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
Flowering time: May-September
Size: 5-50cm, often sprawling
Where to find it: Waste ground, grassy places, roadsides
The flower heads are usually oval rather than round, and the flowers are a mauve-purplish pink. The leaves usually have white ‘V' marks on the oval leaflets.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Flowering time: June-August
Size: 40-150cm
Where to find it: Open spaces, woodland clearings, heaths, mountainsides
Very familiar plant, readily distinguished from anything else.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Teasels
Dipsacus fullonum
Flowering time: July-August
Size: 1-3m
Where to find it: Open woods, stream banks, roadsides, rough ground, grassland, marginal habitats, railway banks
Very distinctive plant, more than twice the size of the much scarcer lesser teasel, and with leaves making a cup that catches rainwater.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,s
Tufted vetch
Vicia cracca
Flowering time: June-August
Size: 30-200cm, often sprawling
Habitat: Grassy places, bushes, hedgerows. Scrambling/climbing habit
Deep violet-blue flowers are characteristic, with no white or yellow on them. Some non-native weeds look rather similar, but have larger flowers with some parts usually white or yellow.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Red campion
Silene dioica
Flowering time: Nearly all year but mainly April-November
Size: 30-100cm
Where to find it: Lowland, shady sites, woods, hedge banks; also on mountain scree, slopes, open cliffs
Like nothing else with its deep pink flowers and softly hairy leaves. Ignore pale pink ones (hybrids) and white ones (white campion).
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Field of common poppy
Papaver rhoeas
Flowering time: June-August
Size: 40-80cm
Where to find it: Arable, waste ground, field edges, roadsides
The striking, bright red flowers, about 7-10cm across, stand out from a distance. The seed head (fruit) is about as high as it is broad, and hairless.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Thrift flower
Armeria maritima
Flowering time: April-October
Size: Low cushion, flowers to 20cm
Where to find it: Common around coasts, on cliffs and salt marshes, inland on mountain ledges
A very distinctive and familiar plant with its head of pink flowers.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
nature, outdoor pursuits, in the country, in the city, spot a butterfly today, understanding butterflies, learning, outdoors, butterfly names, spotting butterflies, butterfly identification guide,
Bulrush
Typha latifolia
Flowering time: June-July
Size: 1-2m
Where to find it: Ponds, streams, many wet places in shallow water
Distinguish this from the Lesser Bulrush by its broad leaves (1-2cm wide) and robust habit, forming large clumps. Although the flowers are actually green, the brown seed heads are very conspicuous.
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Guide to spotting wildflowers
Know the names behind the most popular wildflowers
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