Wildflowers S

Wildflowers S - Y

Salsify (tragopogon porrifolius)�

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P.� H.� Ht 3 ft (90 cm).� Long thin leaves and mauve-pink flowers.� Meadow plant.� Found by roadsides and canal banks.� Food plant of Marbled Fritillary butterfly.� Origin of seed - Aldington, Kent.� More info�

Sea Holly (eryngium maritimum)�

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P.� Vivid grey-blue stems, leaves and flowers.� Flowers are thistle-like but very striking.�� Ht 2 ft (60 cm).� Flowers July to October.� Roots used to be candied, and were also used as an aphrodisiac.� Found in the wild in coastal areas and beaches.� More info

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Selfheal (prunella vulgaris)�

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P.� Low-growing grassland wildflower with purple flowers arranged, it was thought, to resemble a throat - and so were therefore suitable for healing sore throats!� More info

Shepherd's Needle (scandix pectin-veneris)�

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A.� Rare arable weed which has declined dramatically since the 1950�s.� Although still quite common in eastern Britain it is only found in one place in South Glamorgan in Wales.��More info

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Flowers during summer.� �Member of the Carrot family.� Ht 60 cm (2 ft).� Ferny leaves and clusters of small, white flowers.�

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Spiked Speedwell (veronica spicata)�

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P.� Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm). Green leaves and spikes of blue-mauve flowers from June to August.� Rare in the wild.� Bee plant.� Makes a good cut flower.� Bee plant.� Origin of seed - Europe.

Thrift (armeria maritima)�

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Thin, dark green leaves form a neat mound with masses of tiny pink flowers from April to May.� Good nectar plant for butterflies and moths, particularly the Amulet, Thrift Clearwing, Black banded and Feathered Ranunculus moths.�Grows well in wet, dry or infertile soil.� Very salt tolerant.

Toadflax (linaria vulgaris)�

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P.� Yellow Snapdragon-like flowers with orange centres, and thin leaves.� Spreads.� Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm).� Food plant of the Spotted Fritillary butterfly.� Has been used in the treatment of skin cancers.� Flowers June to October.� More info

Viper's Bugloss (echium vulgare)�

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HP.� Gorgeous blue flowers with red anthers.�� Ht 2 ft (60 cm) or so. Particular favourite of the Painted Lady butterfly, and bees, hoverflies and moths.� Flowers June to September.� Good plant for coastal/shingle areas.� More info

Water Figwort (scrophularia auriculata)�

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P.� Ht 1.2 m.� Small purple-brown flowers from July to October.� Found on moist soil in ditches, streams and shady banks.� Origin of seed - Shropshire.

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Weld (reseda luteola)�

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B.� H.� Rosette of leaves in first year from which arises a tall spire of� greeny yellow flowers in the second year.� ht about 5 ft.� Flowers June to August.� Romans used the flowers to dye the tunics of vestal virgins!�More info.� Price reduced to clear.

White Campion (silene latifolia alba)�

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P.� Found in open wasteground, hedgerows and meadows.� Large white flowers, scented in evenmings.� Ht 3 ft (90 cm).� Food plant of the Marbled Coronet, Marbled Clover, and Sandy Carpet moths.� More info

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White Horehound (marrubium vulgare)�

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HP.� H.� CG.� Found in wastelands and fields.� Flourishes best in dry soil.� Square stems and wrinkled, downy, grey-green leaves and whorls of white flowers from June to September.� Ht 2 ft (60 cm).� Makes a good fly repellent.� More info

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Wild Basil (clinopodium vulgare)�

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P.� Strewing herb.� Pretty pinky-mauve flowers from July to September.� Hedgerow and woodland margins plant, so likes� shade.� Ht 32 ins (80 cm).� Nectar-rich so good for bees, butterflies and moths.�� Seed origin - England.� More info

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Wild Carrot (daucus carota)�

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B.� Finely divided leaves and umbels of white flowers, the centre of which are red or purple.� Ht 3 ft (90 cm).� Flowers all summer.� Wild Carrot seeds were once popular as a form of birth control.� Does not have an edible root like the cultivated carrot.�� More info.��

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Wild Clary (salvia horminoides)�

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P.� Wrinkled, toothed leaves and small blue-violet flowers.� Ht 1 - 3 ft (30 - 90 cm).� Often found in shady hedgerows and by streams.� Flowers May to September.� Food plant of the Twin-spot Carpet moth caterpillars.�

Wild Clematis (clematis vitalba)�

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P.� Climber.� Hedgerow plant.� Pretty white flowers.� Moth plant - Lime Speck Pug, Haworths Pug, Small Emerald, The Fern, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Least Carpet.� Bee plant, and birds like the fluffy seedheads.� Also known as Traveller's Joy.�� Seed origin - Westwell, Kent. �More info�

Wild Foxglove (digitalis purpurea)�

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B.� Large downy leaves and spires of purple-pink bell-shaped flowers.� Good bee plant.� Found in open woodland.� Much folklore and magic surrounds the plant.� Food source of the Frosted Orange, Heath Fritillary, Lesser Yellow Underwing and Foxglove Pug moths.� Shade or partial shade.� More info

CAUTION�- HARMFUL IF EATEN

Wild Mignonette (reseda lutea)�

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P.� Small pale yellow flowers on spikes.� Food plant of Bath White, Cabbage White and Orange Tip butterflies.� Ht 2 ft (60 cm).�� Origin of seed - Europe.� More info

Wild Pink Geranium�

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This one has posed a problem for me to identify!� I collected seed from very pretty pink geranium-type flowers in a grassland/meadow area.� All I can say is that they are very pretty!� Seed origin - Aldington, Kent.

Wild Primrose (primula vulgaris)�

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P.� Pretty yellow flowers with orange centres..� Ht 6 ins.� Food source for the following�moths - Pearl Bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Triple-spotted Clary, Gothic, Riband Wave, Plain Clary, twin-spot Carpet.� Duke of Burgundy Fritillary butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves.� Much folklore is attached to the plant.� Also has herbal uses.� More info

Wild Strawberry (fragaria vesca)�

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P.� Small strawberries which are more full of goodness and tastier than garden strawberries.� Leaves provide food for Grizzled Skipper butterfly caterpillars.� Also attracts moths - Amulet, Yellow Shell, Beautiful Carpet, Dark Marbled Carpet and Common Marbled Carpet.� Fruits provide food for birds.� More info

Yarrow (achillea millefloium)�

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P.� Sprays of white flowers and frondy leaves.�� Origin of seed - Somerset. �More info

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Wild Marjoram (origanum majorana)�

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P.� H.� Pinky-mauve flowers.

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