IN THE GARDEN
A cross the UK, around 1,700 native plant species weave a rich and familiar tapestry across our landscape. You only need to cast an eye over the countryside to spot a host of well-loved native plants. From hedgerows of dog rose ( Rosa canina ), hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna ), blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa ) and common dogwood ( Cornus sanguinea ), to woodlands adorned with common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) and sturdy English oak trees ( Quercus robur ) that tower above carpets of perennials like bluebells ( Hyacinthoides non-scripta ), wood anemone ( Anemone nemorosa ) and dog’s mercury ( Mercurialis perennis ). In summer, pops of colour appear with arable weeds such as cornflower ( Centaurea cyanus ), corncockle ( Agrostemma githago ) and field poppy ( Papaver rhoeas ), creating midsummer vibrancy in meadows. Chalk grasslands provide a habitat for bee orchids ( Ophrys apifera ), cowslips ( Primula veris ), viper’s bugloss ( Echium vulgare ) and the Cambridgeshire county flower, the pasque flower ( Pulsatilla vulgaris ). Less discerning natives like brambles ( Rubus fruticosus ) and stinging nettles ( Urtica dioica ) – both great for wildlife – adapt to many habitats, such as wasteland, scrub, woodland and hedgerows. Together, they tell the story of a flora that is both resilient and deeply rooted in our everyday surroundings.
MELTING POT The UK holds a brilliant variety of plant species from across the world such as the native cow parsley ( Anthriscus sylvestris ) and the non-native Smyrnium perfoliatum (above) What is a native plant? Native plants are those that have evolved naturally in a habitat over thousands of years, rather than being introduced by man. In the UK, a plant is generally considered native if it arrived and established without human introduction, typically after the last glaciation (around 11,700 years ago). These plants have adapted to local soil, aspect, climate, fauna and flora. They are essential in providing food, protection and breeding habitats for insects, birds and mammals, and also help maintain soil health and water quality as well as ecological stability.
Across the UK, around 1,700 native plant species weave a rich tapestry
Some of Britain’s most familiar plants are not actually native at all. Conker-bearing horse chestnuts arrived from the Balkans, snowdrops were likely introduced from mainland Europe and many beloved garden roses trace their origins to species from China, the Middle East and Europe. Did you know?
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JUNE 2026 77
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