The Complete List of Flowers Of England

England’s countryside is a tapestry of rolling hills, ancient woodlands, and coastal paths, each habitat nurturing a unique collection of wild flora. From delicate blossoms hidden in the undergrowth to vibrant splashes of color in open meadows, the nation’s plant life offers a continuous display of natural beauty throughout the seasons.

To celebrate this botanical richness, we’ve compiled a complete list of 59 Flowers of England. This collection spans the country’s floral spectrum, featuring species from the elusive Bee orchid to the cheerful Yellow rattle. For each flower, you’ll find essential details organized by Scientific Name, Typical Habitat, and Blooming Season, all presented for your easy reference below.

Are all the flowers on this list native to England?

While this list focuses on common and notable wildflowers found across England, it’s important to distinguish between truly native species and those that have been naturalized over time. Native plants originated in England without human intervention, adapting to the local climate and ecosystems. Naturalized species, though introduced, have established stable populations and now grow wild, often contributing significantly to the landscape. We include both types to offer a comprehensive view of the wild flora you’re likely to encounter.

Flowers of England

Images and Descriptions

Bluebell

Iconic spring woodland flower forming blue carpets under trees; nodding, bell-shaped violet-blue flowers on slender stems. Important for pollinators and a cultural symbol of ancient, semi-natural woods across England.

Common poppy

Bright scarlet, papery flowers often seen in cereal fields and roadsides. Annual that thrives on disturbed soil; cultural emblem of remembrance and attractive to bees and hoverflies.

Oxeye daisy

Classic white-petaled daisy with yellow central disc. Perennial meadow species that supports insects and adds open-country charm; common in unimproved grassland and roadside banks.

Foxglove

Tall spikes of tubular, spotted bell-flowers in pinks, purples and whites. Biennial or short-lived perennial common on acidic soils; nectar-rich but poisonous if ingested.

Meadow buttercup

Shiny yellow, cup-shaped flowers on erect stems; common in unimproved grassland. Perennial that can indicate old meadows and provides forage for many invertebrates despite its acrid taste to livestock.

Cowslip

Clusters of fragrant, bell-shaped yellow flowers atop stalks in spring. A traditional cottage-garden favourite and meadow specialist, often found on calcareous soils and grazed grassland.

Primrose

Pale yellow rosettes of early spring flowers, often seen singly in shaded spots. A hardy perennial; important early nectar source for pollinators and common in hedgerows and mature gardens.

Common heather

Low evergreen shrub with dense spikes of tiny pink-purple bell-flowers. Dominant on acidic heath and moorland, providing nectar for bees and supporting specialised wildlife communities.

Bell heather

Small evergreen shrub with deep purple bell-shaped flowers. Widespread on heaths and acidic grasslands, providing summer nectar and complementing common heather in moorland mosaics.

Wild garlic

Strongly scented leaves and clusters of white starry flowers in spring. Forms dense carpets in damp woodlands; edible leaves used historically in cooking when identified correctly.

Lily of the valley

Drooping strings of fragrant, white bell-flowers on low stems among glossy leaves. A spring-flowering woodland perennial often found in ancient woods and shaded garden borders.

Snowdrop

Early, delicate white nodding flowers often appearing through late winter snow. Favoured in ancient woodland and old gardens; heralds the approach of spring and attracts early pollinators.

Red campion

Vivid pink funnel-shaped flowers with notched petals, common along shaded lanes and woodland margins. Perennial that forms colonies and is attractive to bees and moths.

White campion

Creamy-white, inflated calyx and delicate star-like petals open mainly at night. A common perennial in disturbed and sunny habitats, often visited by moths for nectar.

Greater stitchwort

Starry white flowers with deeply divided petals on slender stems; a typical spring wildflower found in hedgerows and lightly shaded grassy places, brightening lanes and rides.

Dog violet

Small purple-violet flowers with heart-shaped leaves at the base. A common woodland and grassland species providing nectar and host plants for fritillary butterflies.

Sweet violet

Sweet-scented violet flowers low to the ground in early spring. Often found in old hedgerows and shady corners, historically used for perfumes and candied sweets.

Sea thrift

Tight globe-like clusters of pink or white flowers on stiff stems above clumps of grass-like leaves. Salt-tolerant and common on exposed sea cliffs and coastal grassland.

Sea campion

White, lantern-like flowers often with hairy calyx, thriving on exposed coastal rocks and cliffs. Hardy and salt-tolerant, often forming carpets that withstand harsh marine winds.

Sea holly

Striking spiky, silvery-blue flowerheads with maritime leaves. A dune specialist, known for its architectural appearance and adaptation to dry, sandy coastal habitats.

Germander speedwell

Bright cobalt-blue flowers with a white eye on low stems in spring. Common in grassland and bank edges, attractive to bees and small insects.

Red clover

Rounded heads of pink-purple tubular flowers; important forage for bees and livestock. A nitrogen-fixing legume common in meadows, roadside verges and rough grassland.

White clover

Low-growing with white flower heads and trifoliate leaves; widespread in grazed and managed grasslands. Valuable nectar source and lawn companion often seen in short turf.

Bird’s-foot trefoil

Low mat-forming legume with bright yellow pea-flowers sometimes flushed red. Important meadow species and foodplant for many butterfly larvae, common on poorer soils.

Common knapweed

Purple thistle-like flowerheads on tall stems; a key meadow species supporting a wide range of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.

Yarrow

Flat-topped clusters of small white (sometimes pink) flowers on feathery foliage. Robust perennial of dry grassland and roadside banks, historically used medicinally and for insect habitat.

Meadowsweet

Clusters of fragrant creamy-white flowers with a honeyed scent found in wet meadows and along rivers. Historically used for flavoring and medicinal purposes; attracts many insects.

St John’s-wort

Golden yellow star-like flowers with distinctive black dots along petals. A sun-loving perennial of dry grassland that was once used medicinally and is attractive to pollinators.

Common mallow

Lavender-pink bowl-shaped flowers with darker veins on tall stems. A hardy, showy wild plant of disturbed ground and verges, useful for pollinators and historically valued for its mucilaginous leaves.

Ragwort

Clusters of bright yellow daisy-like flowers on tall stems. A common ruderal species important to many specialist insects but toxic to grazing livestock if eaten in quantity.

Selfheal

Low, creeping perennial with dense purple flower spikes. Common in short grass and lawns, attractive to bees and an indicator of unimproved grassland.

Field scabious

Pale lilac pincushion flowerheads on tall stems; a nectar-rich meadow flower much loved by butterflies and bees, common in old pastures and roadside banks.

Devil’s-bit scabious

Rounded lilac-blue flowerheads on erect stems in late summer. Favours damp unimproved meadows and is the main foodplant for the marsh fritillary butterfly.

Common spotted orchid

Pale pink to purple spikes with spotted leaves and intricate lip patterns. Widespread orchid of grassland and open woodlands, often found in unimproved soils.

Bee orchid

Unusual flower mimicking a bee’s shape and pattern to attract pollinators; pink hooded flowers on low spikes. Striking and much-photographed on chalk downland and dry grassland.

Early purple orchid

Violet to pink clusters of hooded orchid flowers in spring; among the earliest native orchids, often found in woods and calcareous grassland.

Pyramid orchid

Conical spikes of densely packed pink-purple flowers forming a pyramid shape. A sun-loving species of calcareous soils and coastal cliffs, attractive to bees and butterflies.

Marsh marigold

Glossy yellow buttercup-like flowers in early spring along streams and wet flushes. A damp-ground specialist that lights up wetlands and provides early nectar for insects.

Purple loosestrife

Tall spikes of magenta-purple flowers in wetland habitats. A common reedbed and marsh species, providing nectar for insects and adding color to summer wetlands.

Yellow rattle

Striking yellow, inflated flowers on semi-parasitic stems that suppress grass vigor, helping wildflower diversity. Important in conservation hay meadows and restored grasslands.

Cuckooflower

Pale pink to white cruciform flowers in spring on short stems. Also called lady’s smock, common in damp grassland and an early nectar source for insects.

Wild thyme

Low mat-forming aromatic herb with tiny purple-pink flowers. Thrives on thin, well-drained soils and cliff tops, attracting bees and adding a thyme scent to warm sites.

Harebell

Delicate nodding blue bell-flowers on wiry stems, often in open, exposed places. A graceful, long-flowering species of dry grassland and coastal slopes.

Bugle

Dense purple-blue flower spikes above glossy groundcover leaves. Spreads by stolons to form mats in shady, damp places and is valuable for early nectar.

Oxlip

Clustered pale yellow flowers on stalks in spring, rarer than cowslip and primrose. Found in ancient woodland and hedgerow areas, often indicating long-established habitat.

Ragged robin

Distinctive pink flowers with deeply cut petals giving a ragged appearance. Prefers damp, species-rich meadows and is a striking component of traditional wet hayfields.

Common vetch

Twining peas with clusters of purple-pink pea-flowers. A climbing legume common in arable margins and rough grassland, important for pollinators and as a green manure historically.

Wild carrot

Umbel of delicate white flowers with a central dark floret sometimes called “Queen Anne’s lace.” Common on dry grassland and road verges, providing habitat for many insects.

Yellow flag iris

Large bright yellow iris flowers along wet margins and ponds. A robust perennial of wetlands, providing bold colour and shelter for aquatic insects and amphibians.

Sea aster

Pale mauve to white daisy-like flowers tolerant of saline conditions. A specialist of saltmarsh and estuary margins, supporting specialised coastal invertebrates.

Field forget-me-not

Small sky-blue flowers with yellow eyes forming carpets in spring and early summer. A familiar annual or short-lived perennial of open ground and field edges.

Twayblade

Slender spikes of small greenish flowers on a low stem with paired basal leaves. A widespread, modest orchid of damp woodlands and grassland, often overlooked.

Garlic mustard

Tall stems of white cruciform flowers above garlicky-scented leaves in spring. Native and widespread in shaded hedgerows and woody clearings, historically used as a spring green.

Common toadflax

Small yellow and orange snapdragon-like flowers on upright stems. A resilient roadside and disturbed-ground species that brightens dry banks and supports pollinating insects.

Goat’s-beard (Salsify)

Large yellow dandelion-like flowers opening in the morning, later forming distinctive silvery seed heads. A tall, showy meadow plant of open grassland and field margins.

Lungwort

Spotted, oblong leaves with clusters of early spring flowers in shades of pink and blue. Woodland-flowering perennial that prefers shady, moist soils and is attractive to early pollinators.

Meadow cranesbill

Tall blue-purple geranium flowers on erect stems in summer. A perennial of damp meadows and field margins, offering nectar for bees and attractive seed heads for birds.

Lady’s bedstraw

Scented yellow clusters of tiny flowers on sprawling stems. Common on chalk and dry ungrazed grassland, historically used for stuffing mattresses and as a dye plant.

Hemp agrimony

Tall clusters of fluffy pinkish-purple flowers attracting large numbers of insects. A wetland perennial common in damp places, serving as a late-summer nectar source.