Flower Emblems

We are all familiar with the traditional floral emblems of the countries of the United Kingdom but did you know that each UK County has a flower emblem?

UK Nation Flower Emblems

England – the Tudor rose (the red and white rose combined)
Northern Ireland – the flax, orange lily, or shamrock (Ireland)
Scotland – the Scotch thistle, or Scottish bluebell (harebell)
Wales – the daffodil, or leek

County Flowers

To commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee (2002), the plant conservation charity Plantlife asked the nation to choose a wildflower emblem to represent their county or city. The campaign sought to raise public awareness of our wildflowers and the chosen plants symbolise the unique natural beauty and heritage of each county and contribute to the rich tapestry of UK flora.

In this blog we introduce you to the County Flowers of the Chilterns:

Buckinghamshire - Chiltern Gentian (Gentianella germanica)
Bedfordshire - bee orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Berkshire - The Loddon Lily (Leucojum aestivum)
Oxfordshire - snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)
Hertfordshire – Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

To avoid any hint of favouritism, we have presented the County Flowers in the reverse order of flowering!

Buckinghamshire - Chiltern Gentian (gentianella germanica)

This pretty gentian is rare in the UK, being largely confined to the nutrient-poor calcareous grassland of the Chilterns, although it is more widespread across continental Europe.

The purple (sometimes white), trumpet-shaped flowers appear in branching clusters from mid-August to October forming patches of purple haze across the chalk grasslands.

The Chiltern Gentian is very similar to the more common Autumn Gentian. The main distinguishing features are white (rather than pink) hairs at the top of the flower, narrower leaves and the crinkly pattern in the tubular underside of the flowers. But beware, they do hybridise making identification a challenge!

Gentiana symbolizes passion, charm, loveliness and sweetness.

Bedfordshire - Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

The Bee orchid is a small, delicate orchid and it is easy to see why it is so named – the flower resembles a bee! Although widespread in the UK they are most common in southern England.

The Bee Orchid has evolved to mimic the appearance and smell of a female longhorn bee to attract male bees as pollinators. However, despite the elaborate deception, here in the UK longhorn bees (Eucera longicornis) are rare so the orchid relies on self-pollination.

Rosettes of curled greyish green leaves first appear during the autumn and sit above ground through the winter. The distinctive bee mimic flowers can then be spotted from early June to late July. Bee Orchids can be difficult to find. Although they favour unimproved dry calcareous soils, they can be found growing in a variety of habitats popping up in the most unlikely places such as roadsides and waste ground. They are unmistakable when seen and it is a lovely surprise when we unexpectedly spot them.

The Bee Orchid is a symbol of resilience and adaptation.

Berkshire - Loddon Lily (Leucojum aestivum)

The Loddon Lily takes its name from the River Loddon, a tributary of the River Thames; the confluence being just below Shiplake Lock. Although nationally rare, Loddon Lilies are locally abundant along the Thames between Oxford and Maidenhead.

The stunning pendulous bell-shaped flowers appear in April and May. They are white with green spots to the petal tips. The fruits which follow develop air pockets to aid disperse along water courses, particularly during floods.

Also known as 'summer snowflakes' or 'summer snowdrops', the Loddon Lilies give a sparkle to our spring walks along the Thames before the damp woodlands in which they thrive become dense with summer vegetation.

Loddon Lilies (Snowflakes) symbolize purity and hope.

Oxfordshire - Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)

The Snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) grows on unimproved flood meadows. They cannot tolerate grazing during the growing season. It is a nationally scarce plant but can be very abundant locally. In days gone by it was much more abundant, and baskets of flowers were picked to be sold at market.

The chequered, purple, pink or white, bell-shaped flowers nod on thin stems resembling a snake’s head, hence the plant’s name. ‘Fritillary’ refers to the chequered pattern on the flower.

Snake's-head fritillary blooms around mid to late April, and we delight in seeing them when we walk through the floodplain meadows of the River Thames and its tributaries.

Fritillaria symbolizes majesty, pride and power.

Hertfordshire - Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

The stunning, Pasqueflower is a very rare plant in the UK, restricted to just a few exposed chalk and limestone grasslands. It is thought that > 99% of pasqueflowers in the UK are now found on just five sites (Wildlife Trust).

The deep purple flowers have a bright yellow centre which make them easily recognisable. We know where to find them, so it is a real treat to seek them out when the flowers appear in spring, usually in April. They are low to the ground, cushioned on feathery silver-green leaves, and are followed by beautiful silky seed-heads. The plant is covered in silky hairs which help protect them from grazing insects and animals.

As the name implies, Pasqueflowers are associated with Easter and are sometimes known as the 'anemone of Passiontide’. Legend has it that Pasqueflowers grows in places that had been soaked by the blood of Danes.

The Pasqueflower symbolizes rebirth, purity and hope.