This week’s #wildflowerhour challenge is to find plants growing by the water, whether it be the sea, a stream, in a bog, salt marsh or anywhere else that’s a bit soggy.
If so what should you be looking out for? Here are some ideas, from Wild Flower Hour Towers, and from a selection of beautiful old botany books, and from #wildflowerhour members.
Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. A widespread native of damp spots like ditches, ponds and river edges. Lovely and tall to 1.5m. Find out more about where it grows here.
Flowering Rush, Butomus umbellatus. Likes to grow in shallow water, to over a metre tall. More information here.
Sea Kale, Crambe maritima. Grows along the tide line on beaches and dunes, with big fat cabbagey leaves and white flowers. This has really declined as a result of foraging: please give it a break and don’t pick it. Further information here.
Bog Asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum. This grows beautifully anywhere that’s soggy, though it’s harder to find if you’re in the south of England. The flowers are bright yellow and attention-grabbing, growing on spikes that can be nearly half a metre tall. More details here.
Do tweet your favourite wet and wild plants @wildflower_hour, or post some ideas in the Facebook comments on our page.
