Signature flowering plant list

Some plants flower over a long period and so are not particularly useful for establishing the date or are just uncommon or not 'showy' enough to stand out from the crowd. Others only flower once a year, or are so common that they really help define the season. Flowering varies depending on the year and even the variety of the plant involved, so this is a rough guide. 2021 has been late due to a cold April, however, the order is correct, although there will be some crossover. Also, bear in mind that signature flora varies depending upon location, for example, the seaside.

• February: snowdrops, crocus

• March: daffodils

• April: tulips, forsythia, primrose

• May: bluebells, fruit trees, dandelions, hawthorn, cow parsley, buttercups, oil seed rape, gorse, rhododendron, umbelliferae

• June: horse chestnut, foxglove, elderflower, umbelliferae

• July: roses, bedding plants, thistles, umbelliferae, buddleia, ragwort

• August: bedding plants, rosebay willowherb, heather

• September: Michaelmas daisy, sunflowers

Other signature plants

There are hundreds of plants that we could model, but they aren’t worth picking out, because they don’t stand out in the sea of greenery. Some plants, not noted for flowers, are very common, stand out, and are worth modelling as signature species:

• Ivy: a climber with distinctive leaves, often seen scrambling over anything it can get a purchase on. There are variegated forms

• Brambles: its creeping habit means it often invades footpaths and byways during summer

• Ferns: Jurassic survivor with distinctive leaves that prefers shade. There are some good kits available to represent this

• Mare’s Tail: Included here because it is resistant to herbicide and so is very common around railway tracks