Wildflower Plants A to Z

The Meadow Cranesbill gets its name from its attractive, beak-like seed pods, but no bird could match the beauty of this flower's veined violet petals mixed with blue growing in pairs on tall, forked stems. Easy to naturalise and attractive to bees and butterflies, the sky's the limit with this wildflower!

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 60-100cm.
• Flowers: June-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Meadows, road verges
• Also known as: Crowfoot, Meadow Geranium

The frothy formations of this cream-coloured flower are a truly sugary-sweet sight for the eyes- among other senses, as this tall and robust plant is also renowned for its sweet scent, and it’s frequently used as a flavouring, too. For those caring for marshy meadows, Meadowsweet is a perfect treat!

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 60-120cm. 
• Flowers: June-September
• Best Sown: Autumn or Spring
• Soil Requirement: Moist
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: River banks, damp meadows
• Also known as: Bridewort, Honey-Sweet, Meadow Queen

This is the perfect pond-side plant for those wanting a breath of fresh air! Produces globes of pale pink petals that are good for pollinators, and just as appealing are its aromatic leaves, which can even be used as a flavouring. Needless to say, this is one cool flower.

• Type: Perennial 
• Height: 60-80cm.
• Flowers: July-October 
• Soil Requirement: Moist
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, river banks
• Also known as: Fish Mint

The citrus yellow petals of the Mouse-Ear Hawkweed's florets give it a ragged resembance to its relative, the Common Dandelion, they can be easily told apart by the former's attractive crimson outer petals and leaves covered in wooly white hairs. An interesting combo of colours for decorating any environment.

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 5-30cm.
• Flowers: May to October
• Soil requirement: Well-drained
• Light requirement: Full sun 
• Natural habitat: Short pastures, free-draining grassland, sandy dunes, heaths
• Also known as: Blood of St John, Felon Herb, Mouse Ear, Fellon Herb

This five-petalled flower's buttery yellow beauty is of a similar, cheery style to that of the daffodil, but its hairy, ruby-red anthems enriches its beauty further, giving it a strong, eye-catching effect. Alongside its fuzzy foliage, this is an ideal plant to place in a herbaceous border, for spikes of striking beauty!

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 15-45cm. 
• Flowers: June-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-Drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun 
• Natural Habitat: Road verges, hedgerows
• Also known as: Black-Rooted Mullein, Tall Mullein

The Great Mullein bears tall spires of soft, silvery leaves which spiral around the stem. In fact, this plant’s super-soft, hairy texture is just as well-known as the dense clusters of miniature pale-gold flowers it produces. Throughout history this plant’s seen a variety of uses, and in the garden it benefits bees and butterflies greatly, with some species of bees using its silvery ‘hair’ to build their homes. A friendly flower which helps the wildlife and adds a uniquely bright splash of colour to the backs of borders.

• Type: Biennial 
• Height: 100-180cm.
• Flowers: July-September 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Woodland margins, clearings, waste grounds
• Also known as: Aaron’s Rod, Feltwort, Velvet Plant

Growing tall, slender stems with flowers climbing up the stalk, the Moth Mullein’s subtle beauty comes in a variety of colours: petals are often white, tinted with pale pink or lemon yellow. Much like its namesake, it enjoys a place in bright light where its bright blooms can really glow- and it’s not picky about soil conditions, making it ideal for borders or rockeries.

• Type: Biennial 
• Height: 60-100cm.
• Flowers: June-September 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Woodland margins, clearings, waste grounds
• Also known as: Shepherd’s Club, Slippery Mullein, Woolly Mullein

Though named for its nettle-like leaves, one mustn’t overlook the beauty of this bloom’s bells of pale, bluish-purple petals. Best planted in a dry, shady spot.

• Type: Perennial 
• Height: 50–100cm.
• Flowers: June-September 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Woodlands, hedgebanks 
• Also known as: Blue Devils, Gloves Of Mary, Throatwort

This spindly-white snowflake of a flower have a dainty beauty to them, especially on their pink-tinted, drooping stalks. They’re night-scented flowers, which means that they’re ideal for pollinators.

• Type: Perennial 
• Height: 25–60cm.
• Flowers: May-July 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained, dry
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Coastal areas, cliffs, grasslands
• Also known as: Sea Pink, Seaside Catchfly

Though it shares the same narrow, pearly white petals radiating from central sunny yellow florets, the Ox-Eye Daisy is much larger than the typical lawn daisy, with flower heads growing up to 5cm wide. A robust flower with classic charm, and perfect for pollinators to boot.

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 30-60cm.
• Flowers: May-August
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Meadows, road verges
• Also known as: Marguerite, Pretty Maids, Dog Daisy

A famous subject mentioned in Shakespearian stageplay, this lovely, hardy and hearty flower truly is the perfect colour of a midsummer night’s dream, with heart-shaped white or yellow petals stained purple in the centre, supposedly from being hit by one of Cupid’s arrows. The unique, whiskery patterns on each pansy are easy to fall in love with, and make for a spellbinding spectacle when scattered in borders or rockeries.

• Type: Annual
• Height: 15-30cm.
• Flowers: April-June
• Soil Requirement: Moist but well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Grasslands, dry meadows, rocky outcrops
• Also known as: Cupid’s Flower, Heartsease, Love-In-Idleness

Unique lilac flowers that emit a very strong fragrance of spearmint when crushed that's commonly used in aromatherapy. This species has been known to be used in herbal medicine as an insect repellent and antiseptic. 

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 10-25cm
• Flowers: August onwards
• Soil requirement: Damp
• Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural habitat: Grassland, meadows, roadsides
• Also known as: Pennyrile, Squaw Mint, Mosquito Plant, Pudding Grass

This grass-like plant produces dense spikes of greenish florets, which later display long, lilac stamens that provide this otherwise-prickly plantain with a soft and ribbony appearance. A real gift to your garden that’s perfect for pollinators, and also provides a sweet scent like vanilla. Well-suited to meadows.

• Type: Perennial  
• Height: 30-45cm.
• Flowers: May-August 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained, chalky
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Grasslands, pastures, roadsides
• Also known as: Fire Leaves, Healing Herb, Kemps

True nature-lovers can give little bit back to nature with this rugged and robust meadow plant. The cream-coloured anthers that give colour to the Ribwort Plantain's spikes of sharp umber petals also serve as a vital food source for pollinators and other animals. A good addition to meadows that's easy to naturalise.

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 60-90cm. 
• Flowers: April-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-Drained
• Light Requirement: Full or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Grasslands, roadsides
• Also known as: Black Jack, Hen Plant, Ribgrass

The Wild Primrose’s pale yellow, five-petalled flowers are a cottage classic! Its light colouration is a delight under trees and bushes- just imagine a shady spot illuminated by sweet-scented, hardy clusters of buttery beauty!

• Type: Perennial  
• Height: 20-30cm.
• Flowers: February-May 
• Soil Requirement: Moist but well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Woodland, grassland
• Also known as: Culver Keys, Suncups

So-named for its feathery, forked flowers in flamingo pink, we recommend these raggedy riches for a lot of reasons. Planted in a marshy spot, these bright bursts of streaming pink petals will help to bring in bees and butterflies! 

• Type: Perennial  
• Height: 30-60cm.
• Flowers: May-July 
• Soil Requirement: Moist
• Light Requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Woodland, wetlands
• Also known as: Cuckoo Hood, Meadow Pink, Wild William

In spite of its name, the Red Campion boasts eye-catching fuschia petals, though planted with White Campion, they may produce precious, pastel-pink hybrids. Regardless, they make a welcome splash of colour in a shady spot, and they’re highly attractive to bees!

• Type: Perennial 
• Height: 30-60cm.
• Flowers: April-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Partial Shade
• Natural Habitat: Hedgerows, woodlands
• Also known as: Hare’s Eye, Ragged Jack, Adder’s Flower

Although similar in looks to the stinging nettle, Red Deadnettle has harmless, heart-shaped foliage with a purple tint. As an early-blooming plant, these whorls of hooded flowers in ruby red to pinkish-purple are a prominent source of early pollen for bees as they build up their nest.

• Type: Annual
• Height: 5-30cm.
• Flowers: March - October
• Soil requirement: Moist
• Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade
• Natural habitat: Waste grounds, field edges, roadside verges
• Also known as: Purple Deadnettle, Purple Archangel

A creeping perennial which produces pink and white, pea-like petals, with equally-appealing and hardy hairy foliage with toothed leaves. An ideal meadow plant which prefers sandy soil and blooms in late summer, which also attracts bees and butterflies. 

• Type: Perennial 
• Height: 30-60cm.
• Flowers: July-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Grassland, coastal areas
• Also known as: Cammock, Land Whin, Stay-Plough

A shrub-like perennial that's usually found in infertile meadows and grasslands that compliments other species such as Vetch, Betony and Knapweed. Bold, red-pink, delicate flowers on erect, spiny stems. 

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 40-50cm
• Flowers: July-September
• Soil requirement: Natural-acidic
• Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade
• Natural habitat: Grassland, meadows, roadsides
• Also known as: Women's War, Plough Tail 

Though this warm-paletted wildflower's plumes of canary-yellow petals look like that of  dandelion, one can tell the Rough Hawkbit apart by their larger heads with shades of red and orange on the outer florets, as well as a pleasing fragrance which helps to bring bees and butterflies to your garden.

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 15-50cm.
• Flowers: June-October
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained, sandy
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Grasslands, rocky ridges, pathways.
• Also known as: Greater Hawkbit

The lilac-pink bracts of the Clary Sage certainly are a sight for sore eyes! Not only that, but its heart-shaped foliage is famously aromatic to the point where it’s frequently used in aromatherapy, along other medicinal uses the herb’s seen throughout the years.

• Type: Biennial  
• Height: 60-100cm.
• Flowers: March-September 
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Full sun
• Natural Habitat: Grassland, coastal areas
• Also known as: Clear-Eye, See-Bright

Though the Wood Sage’s crinkly foliage has a more subtle scent than some of its cousins, this sublime specimen has n unusual beauty, bearing dark burgundy stems and stamens contrasted by cream-coloured petals with a large lower lip, making it look like a spoonful of sugar- and it’s sure to add that little extra bit of sweetness to stone gardens and hedgerows.

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 30–50cm. 
• Flowers: July-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained
• Light Requirement: Partial shade
• Natural Habitat: Woodland, heathland, coasts
• Also known as: Garlic Sage, Hind Heal

These upright spikes of nectar-rich, stripey fuchsia flowers are your best bet for a bloom that’s beneficial to the wildlife of your wild meadow- it’s best grown with grasses to balance out both plants and best show off its vivid colouration!

• Type: Perennial
• Height: 40–50cm. 
• Flowers: July-September
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained, chalky
• Light Requirement: Full Sun
• Natural Habitat: Meadows, Foot Paths
• Also known as: Esparsette, French Grass, Holy Clover