GUIDE TOBRITISH PLANTS

Are you ready to go back to your roots and get a little bit native? When filling your garden or containers with plants and flowers, we are incredibly lucky to have a vast array of multi-coloured and beautiful options. But did you know, not many of these are native to the UK? In fact, some plants which we think of as being truly British such as the rose, in reality come from far-flung shores.

While having a wide choice of flowers and plants available is great, sometimes it’s nice to take a traditional approach. Continue reading and we’ll explain all about British plants and let you know which ones are truly home-grown.

What defines UK Native Plants?

The best place to start is by explaining what classifies a plant as a British one. This is where it can get a little confusing.

Let’s start with the non-native plants, which are also called alien plants. These are plants that were introduced by us humans, either by accident or brought over intentionally. These are typically split into two categories.

The first group are Archaeophytes which have been in our country for so long that they are often thought of as natives. They cover plants introduced by humans from the Neolithic era up to around AD1500 and include a lot of common weeds such as poppies.

The second alien group are neophytes which covers a lot of the plants we commonly grow in our gardens today. These are flowers, plants and trees that have been introduced since 1550 and usually came to our shores during the period when explorers were discovering the New World. Some of these plants such as hydrangeas, fuchsias and sunflowers are easy to contain and popular choices in ornamental gardens. However, it also includes some incredibly invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed which are incredibly invasive and cause big problems for our ecosystem.

So, what is a native plant? This is any plant that has been here since the end of the last glaciation period – that’s over 10,000 years ago. More importantly, these plants arrived here without any help from humans.

Native plants

Let’s start our collection of native plants with those usually found growing in our gardens. Not only do you get to enjoy these for years to come but they are also incredibly popular with essential pollinators like bees.

Top of our list is a quintessential cottage garden favourite – the foxglove. With its tall flowering stems appearing between June and September, this plant was first at home growing across heathland and woodland edges before it was migrated into a garden staple.

What’s perhaps most surprising about British native plants, is the fact they can look incredibly exotic. A prime example is Aquilegia more commonly known as Columbine. The distinctive flowers appear in May and June and are so unusual they earned this plant the nickname Granny’s Nightcap or Granny’s Bonnet – all because the blooms resemble a bonnet.

Don’t be put off by the name of our next plant, we’re talking about Stinking Hellebores. With its dark green evergreen foliage and lime green flowers that appear from January to April, this plant makes a striking statement in any garden. So, how did it get its name? It’s down to the strong fragrance it gives off when you crush the foliage – it’s said to smell like a wet dog!

Last on our list is Cheddar Pink, a ground-hugging plant which is a close relation to another one of our favourites – the carnation. If you want to know how it got its name, it’s all down to the fact it delivers a mass of pink flowers – every shade from zingy deep tones to soft pastel hues – and it’s commonly found growing in the Cheddar Gorge area.

Other British native plants include:

British Trees

There are lots of British native trees growing across our countryside with a lot of them having links to providing food, mystical folklore and even medicine.

Let’s start with the stalwart of British plants and trees – the English Oak. Growing up to 40m tall, you cannot fail to recognise this tree. This tree is incredibly important to our natural world. It is believed that an Oak forest supports up to 2,300 different species of animal and insect which is more life forms than any other native forest – pretty impressive.

Next up is the Rowan Tree. This long-standing beauty (literally - it can live for up to 200 years), has a smooth silvery grey bark, creamy white flowers in spring and a mass of red berries in autumn. In fact, it’s the berries on this tree that once made it a popular choice to plant by houses. It was believed red was the best colour for fighting evil and they would plant this tree to protect against witches.

Of course, trees also provide a useful source of food. Two great examples are the Cherry Tree and Crab Apple Tree which are not only useful but can also provide year-round interest to a garden. In the spring the small trees deliver a gorgeous mass of white blossom while in autumn their leaves turn a stunning orange and deep red. Even better they provide fruit which, although tart, can be eaten.

Other British native trees are:

British Hedgerow Plants

Nothing can be more British than seeing a hedgerow aligning a country lane or bordering a farmer’s field. These hedgerows are historically important and provide the perfect backdrop for supporting all sorts of wildlife and boosting ecology.

Let’s start with a couple of amazing hedging plants. Don’t be fooled by our first one because despite

being called a tree, it is in fact a shrub commonly used in hedgerows. The Wayfaring Tree delivers white flowers in late spring which are followed by red berries and earned its name because it grows close to paths and countryside lanes. It was said that if you see a Wayfaring Tree then you are on or near a path. Next up is the incredibly popular Blackthorn Hedge which is recognisable for its clouds of white blossom in spring followed by purple sloe in autumn. It’s no wonder this one is such a firm favourite – it’s incredibly tough and will quickly regrow to fill any gaps.

Now it’s time for a cottage garden staple, the ever-gorgeous honeysuckle. Although not a traditional hedging plant, the native honeysuckle is very much at home growing in woodlands and hedgerows and delivers its trumpet-like flowers throughout June and September. With its exotic looks, it’s hard to believe that this plant is native to the British shores. However, be careful because the one we’re talking about, Lonicera Pericylmenum (also known as woodbine), is very different to other species such as Japanese and winter flowering honeysuckle, which were introduced later and have since naturalised into the UK.

Fear not if you’re missing the rose as a native British plant, step up the Dog Rose. So, this one doesn’t look like the archetypal flower you’re used to but it’s equally beautiful. This fast-growing, climber has prickles along its stem which allows it to grow in between the hedgerows. Come early summer and it will deliver a burst of typically pink flowers which it then follows up in September with rose hips. Even better, this one is loved by bees, butterflies, moths and birds.

Other British hedgerow plants include:

Native UK Houseplants

Do you fancy bringing some native plants into your home? If you take a look at most of your houseplants, you’ll realise they come from abroad and the reason they survive so well is because they love soaking up the heat of our homes. The problem is, UK native plants survive well outdoors because they’re happiest with changing seasons which is very different to a heated home. That doesn’t mean native plants can’t survive indoors but they will need the right conditions. (Hint - that usually means a cooler spot.)

If you’re looking for some perfect native houseplants why not go with primroses which, with their mass of colour, are a sure sign that spring has arrived. Make sure you pick a cool spot out of direct sunlight with soil that is moist but not overly wet. Another spring favourite is forget-me-nots. With their delicate blue, white or pink flowers, this houseplant can provide a bit of welcome winter colour. A firm favourite with royal brides, lily of the valley, with their nodding flowerheads, makes a lovely houseplant although it can be a bit tricky to keep happy. Provide a cool location with fresh air but avoid leaving it in a draughty location. Don’t worry if you do struggle, you can always pop your container outside.

If you fancy a houseplant with a little bit more colour and impact, you could always consider a locally grown variety such as our British-grown poinsettia. Usually, these popular Christmas plants are found growing naturally in the warm climate of Central America but we are pleased to offer your favourite houseplant grown here in the UK.