A short guide to coastal wildflowers in the UK

Coastal wildflowers in the United Kingdom play a vital role in preserving the health and integrity of coastal ecosystems. These coastal plants are adapted to thrive in challenging coastal conditions, including sandy or shingle soils, salt spray, and exposure to strong winds.

Coastal wildflowers offer several key benefits to the environment and those who walk the coastal paths. They contribute to erosion control by stabilizing the soil in sand dunes and rocky cliffs. This helps protect against coastal erosion and land loss, a critical concern as sea levels rise due to climate change.

These plants also provide habitat and food resources for a variety of wildlife, including insects and pollinators. Their nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health.

In the UK, coastal wildflowers are often encouraged in conservation efforts, particularly in their native habitats. They serve as important examples of the benefits of native flora and contribute to the overall health and resilience of coastal ecosystems. Additionally, their adaptability to challenging coastal conditions makes them valuable assets in the face of climate change and the need for coastal preservation.

Sea Thrift

Armeria maritima

Sea Thrift, an evergreen perennial, forms compact tufts of grassy foliage measuring 10-20 cm in height. Its pink or white globe-shaped flowers, arranged in clusters atop slender stems, reach about 15 cm in height. This coastal native excels at soil stabilisation in sand dunes and cliff tops with a thin covering of soil by developing an extensive root system. As it flowers from spring to early summer, sea thrift becomes a vital source of nectar for coastal pollinators, contributing to the ecosystem’s health.

Where to find sea thrift: found across the UK. My favourite is at Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.

Sea Spurge

Euphorbia paralias

Sea spurge is a hardy coastal perennial with smooth, fleshy stems and small, blue-green leaves. Typically reaching a height of 20-50 cm, it produces inconspicuous green flowers. Sea spurge’s primary contributions to the coastal environment include stabilising sand dunes, salt marshes, and even tolerating saltwater exposure. Its ability to bind the sand with its extensive root system helps prevent erosion and land loss.

Where to find sea spurge: this plant has a strong presence in the south and southwest of England and the western Welsh coast. Look for this on the sand dunes along the edge of Freshwater West Beach in Pembrokeshire.

Sea Rocket

Cakile maritima

Sea Rocket is a low-growing annual or biennial herb, usually reaching about 10-60 cm in height. Its slender leaves and showy pink, purple, or white flowers are its standout features. However, the most distinctive aspect is its seed pods which resemble miniature rocket ships. Sea Rocket’s adaptability to challenging coastal conditions makes it valuable for stabilizing soils, preventing erosion, and providing essential nectar for local pollinators.

Where does sea rocket thrive: coasts of England and Wales, but can be found as far north as Orkney. I found a beautiful covering of sea rocket on Otterswick Beach on Sanday.

Sea Campion

Silene uniflora

Sea Campion is a low-growing perennial with elegant white flowers set against silvery-green leaves. The flowers have a shimmer to their surface in sunlight with 5 white bi-lobed petals and a calyx that has a mottled red furry appearance. Reaching about 10-30 cm in height, this coastal native adds an ethereal touch to rugged landscapes.

Sea campion has a lot of folklore associated with the plant and picking the flowers is believed to lead to death. It is sometimes known as ‘dead man’s bells’, ‘witches thimbles’ and ‘Devil’s hatties’!

Where to find sea campion: coastal cliffs and shingle beaches along England and Wales’ shores. My favourite place to see this is along the cliffs on Skomer Island and the Marloes Peninsula.

Sea Kale

Crambe maritima

Sea kale is a robust, salt-tolerant perennial that stands 30-80 cm tall. Its large, waxy leaves and pale pink to white flowers are its defining features. In addition to its ornamental value, sea kale offers edible shoots and leaves, once cherished for their unique flavour and nutritional qualities.

Where to see sea kale: Sandy and shingle coastal habitats in England and Wales. One of the best places to see this plant is along the pebble beach in Dungeness.

Dune Pansy

Viola tricolor subsp. curtisii

The dune pansy is a low-growing wildflower that stands at about 10-30 cm in height. Its tri-coloured pansy-like flowers, adorned with purple, yellow, and white petals, are striking and essential for pollinators. It is often buried in grasses that line the edge of coastal paths.

Where to find this tiny pansy: UK’s coastal dunes, adding vibrant colour to the landscape.

Sea Holly

Eryngium maritimum

Sea holly is a salt-tolerant perennial, that reaches heights of about 20-60 cm. It is more related to a carrot than a holly tree. It has metallic-blue, cone-shaped flowers surrounded by a distinctive crown of spiny, silvery bracts. These silvery leaves are covered in a layer of waxy cuticles to help retain water. They last through the summer, blooming from July to September, but will die back over the winter months, returning in the spring.

Where to find sea holly: this plant can be found in coastal areas of England, Wales, and Scotland, especially in sand dunes, shingle beaches, and salt marshes. It is less common in the north of England and Scotland

Hottentot Fig

Carpobrotus edulis

Hottentot Fig is an invasive plant that is low to the ground at about 10-30cm. Its fleshy, succulent leaves and showy daisy-like flowers in yellow or pink offer a vivid covering of colour. Despite its aesthetic appeal, it is often regarded as a non-native species and may require control measures in conservation efforts.

Where to see hottentot fig: this is an introduced species to the UK and is most common in warmer areas. One of the best displaces is close to Lizard Lighthouse on the most southerly point of the UK mainland.

Hound’s Tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Hound’s Tongue is a biennial or perennial wildflower, growing to a height of about 20-60 cm. Its deep-red, funnel-shaped flowers and elongated, tongue-like leaves covered in small hairs create an unusual appearance. After flowering the plant has four yellow flattened fruits arranged in four segments. This plant can cause photosensitivity if ingested by animals as well as being toxic to the liver

Where to find hound’s tongue: this can be seen in dry areas with both sand dunes and shingles. One place where it thrives is Steep Holm Island where there are no rabbits to clear the vegetation.

Spring Squill

Scilla verna

Spring squill has delicate star-shaped blue or violet flowers with six petals. These form dense clusters that grow close to the ground reaching a maximum height of about 20cm. It provides a vivid splash of colour to coastal paths during early spring.

Where to see spring squill: These plants are rapidly decreasing and are now only found along the coast of West Wales and Pembrokeshire and the far west of England.

English Stonecrop

Sedum anglicum

English Stonecrop is a succulent perennial, that reaches heights of about 10-20 cm. Its fleshy leaves and clusters of pink-edged flowers cling to rocky substrates. The leaves are just 3-6mm long with a grey hue to them and often have pink through them.

Where to find English stonecrop: this tiny plant is more common in the west of England and is never found far from the coast. Look along coastal walls where they will cling to the rocks.

Sheep’s-bit Scabious

Jasione montana

This perennial wildflower typically grows to a height of 10-40 cm. It produces vibrant blue, globe-shaped flowerheads that are composed of tiny individual flowers. These blooms are highly attractive to pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies. Sheep’s-bit plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity by providing nectar and pollen resources. Its roots have also been historically used for their medicinal properties.

Where to find sheep’s-bit: Sheep’s-bit is found across the UK, thriving in coastal regions, grasslands, and heathlands. They are most commonly found along the Welsh coast.

Wood Sage

Teucrium scorodonia

This perennial plant typically reaches a height of 30-60 cm. Wood Sage features toothed, aromatic leaves and small, tubular, greenish-yellow flowers that grow in whorls along the stem. The plant is an important component of various habitats, providing nectar and pollen for pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its name, “sage,” hints at its traditional use for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Where to find wood sage: wood sage is found across the UK preferring acidic sandy soil. On Skomer Island, there are meadows of wood sage between the Old Farmhouse and North Haven.

Machair

Machair is a unique and diverse type of coastal ecosystem found in certain coastal areas of the UK. Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile, low-lying grassy plain.  It is characterised by its rich, sandy soil, which is often made up of shell fragments and calcareous materials. Machair habitats are known for their high biodiversity and vibrant displays of wildflowers in June and July.