Wonderful Wildflowers to Spot in the UK this Winter

Mistletoe, Viscum album, had to top our list because it has become synonymous with the winter season. Look out for its white berries throughout the winter and flowers between February and April.

You’ll have to keep your eyes up to spot this parasitic plant as it grows hanging from broadleaf trees, orchard trees and others, especially lime and poplar.

Mistletoe colonies are vital for 6 species of insect that live nowhere else.

For more information head to our Mistletoe species page here.

Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis is a bright and glossy yellow perennial, which blooms between January and March.

While it’s not native to the UK, having been introduced in the 16th century, it is now naturalised and a common sight in our parks and woodlands.

It’s an easy one to spot due to it’s vibrant flowers. Keep your eyes on the ground as it’s a small plant, that grows up to 15cm.

Read more on our Winter Aconite species page here.

Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, although not native to the UK, have become synonymous with our woodlands.  They were introduced possibly as early as the 16th century, from mainland Europe.

The pretty white blooms can usually been seen from January to March, though they have been known to flower as early as October!

You’ll find them in areas with damp soil, such as moist woodland and riverbanks.

The species has long been associated with our cold winter months – the Latin name, Galanthus nivalis, translates as ‘milk flower of the snow.’

For more about this stunning species, visit our Snowdrop species page here – scroll down to watch our video uncovering the hidden secrets of Snowdrops, or head to our YouTube page here.

The pretty yellow Primrose, Primula vulgaris, is a favourite, and common sight all over the UK.

It’s name comes from the Latin, prima rosa, which means ‘first rose’ of the year. While Primroses are not part of the rose family, the name is still apt, as they are early bloomers.

You can see these pale yellow, green-veined flowers from December until May, the flowers are 3cm across, on single stalks.

Keep a look out for these wildflowers in woodland clearings, hedgebanks, waysides, railway banks and open grasslands.

Read more on our Primrose species page here.

Lesser Celandine, Ficaria verna, is an easy winter spot with bright yellow, star-shaped flower that can often blanket the ground.

They can be spotted between February and May. In fact February is so synonymous with the wildflower that the 21 February has been known as Celandine Day since 1795. It’s said that this was the day when the renowned naturalist Gilbert White noted that the first celandines usually appeared in his Hampshire village of Selborne.

Look out for these bright blooms in woodlands, hedge banks, damp meadows and stream-sides.

Read more about the Lesser Celandine on our species page here.

The native wildflower Stinking Hellebore, Helleborus foetidus, is one to look out for in the colder months. It has unique dropping cup-shaped pale green or yellowish flowers that stand out against dark green leaves.

The name Stinking Hellebore suggests that it’s one you might smell before you spot, but the scent is actually only released if the leaves are crushed.

Keep an eye out for Stinking Hellebore between February and April. It can be found in woodlands, on walls and roadside verges and is particularly fond of limestone-based soils.

While this plant is a beautiful one to watch out for, it is also one to be cautious around as every part of the plant is poisonous.

Read more about the Stinking Hellebore here.

While Daisies, Bellis perennis, might not really be a winter wildflower – National Daisy Day is actually on January 28, so we think they deserve to make the cut!

Daisies are a common sight in short grasslands and meadows, blooming between March and September. With spring officially starting on March 20, you can start to spot the first Daisies just as winter ends.

These pretty white and yellow flowers are not just one flower. They’re composite flowers, so each bloom is made up of over 100 flowers! Each petal is actually a flower and the yellow centre is hundreds of tiny little flowers too.

Read more about this unassuming but amazing wildflower here.

Winter Heliotrope, Petasites fragrans, is a winter wildflower you might have spotted before, but did you know its invasive?

It was originally introduced as a garden plant in 1806, for it’s pretty pink spikes of vanilla-scented flowers and large heart-shaped leaves. However the plant spreads underground and can spread quickly into carpet across the ground.

While it is an invasive plant, it does have some benefit as it provides both nectar and pollen to pollinators when not many other plants are yet in bloom.

It can be seen from December until March alongside streams, in verges, hedge banks and on waste land.