Lady's Smock
Scientific name: Cardamine pratensis
Family: Brassicaceae
Other common names; cuckoo flower, milkmaids, mayflower
Flowering time: May to June
Height: 30-50cm
Growing conditions: wetter areas of the meadow
Nectar source for: long-tongued insects such as butterflies, bumble bees and flies
Food source for: orange-tip butterflies
Description
Lady's smock is one of the earliest flowers to appear in Long Mead - a delightful harbinger of spring. It is said to be sacred to the fairies and bad luck if brought in doors! Orange tip butterflies lay their eggs on this plant and their larvae eat its leaves. The young leaves taste peppery and can be used in salads.
How to identify: Cuckooflower has a rosette of leaves at its base and an upright stem that bears the delicate, small, pale pink or mauve flowers. Each flower has four petals, although double-flowered varieties do appear.
How to propagate: Sow seed outdoors in a seedbed in a shady position in April. Plant out in autumn or spring.
Family: Brassicaceae
Other common names; cuckoo flower, milkmaids, mayflower
Flowering time: May to June
Height: 30-50cm
Growing conditions: wetter areas of the meadow
Nectar source for: long-tongued insects such as butterflies, bumble bees and flies
Food source for: orange-tip butterflies
Description
Lady's smock is one of the earliest flowers to appear in Long Mead - a delightful harbinger of spring. It is said to be sacred to the fairies and bad luck if brought in doors! Orange tip butterflies lay their eggs on this plant and their larvae eat its leaves. The young leaves taste peppery and can be used in salads.
How to identify: Cuckooflower has a rosette of leaves at its base and an upright stem that bears the delicate, small, pale pink or mauve flowers. Each flower has four petals, although double-flowered varieties do appear.
How to propagate: Sow seed outdoors in a seedbed in a shady position in April. Plant out in autumn or spring.