Wild Flowers - Blue or Lilac
Some of our wild flowers are blue or lilac, and most of those shown here are fairly common although some have very short flowering periods.
Bugle
![Bugle](400/bugle.jpg)
A short plant, often found in woods, with blue flowers that generally appear in April and May.
Speedwelll
![Scarlet Pimpernel](400/speedwell-gemander.jpg)
Germander Speedwell is the most common of several similar species and flowers from April until June.
Bluebell
![Bluebell](400/bluebell.jpg)
Some of our woods are carpeted with English Bluebells in April, May and June.
Ground Ivy
![Ground Ivy](400/ground-ivy.jpg)
A widespread plant with creeping stems that grows in woods and hedgerows and flowers all year round.
Forget-me-not
![Forget-me-not](400/forget-me-not.jpg)
Field Forget-me-not is the most common of several species and flowers from April until June.
Green Alkanet
![Green Alkanet](400/green-alkanet.jpg)
Similar to Forget-me-not but with a darker blue flower with a white centre and distinctive leaves. Flowers from April until June.
Dog-violet
![Common Dog-violet](400/dog-violet.jpg)
Very common in woodlands and along the old railway track, Common dog violet has a pale spur. Early Dog-violet has a spur that is darker than the petals. Both flower from March until May.
Selfheal
![Selfheal](400/selfheal.jpg)
A creeping plant that is found in grassy places, even lawns, flowering from April until June.
Chicory
![Chicory](400/chicory.jpg)
Found near the Discovery Centre and the water treatment plant. Flowers from June until September but the flowers only open on sunny mornings.
Bush Vetch
![Bush Vetch](400/vetch-bush.jpg)
This vetch has pale lilac flowers, in groups of 2 to 6, from April until October. It has a scrambling habit in grass and hedgerows.
More Information
The Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland has a page with links to books, websites and downloadable files to help you identify wild plants.
A useful free guide was produced by the National Plant Monitoring Scheme.
A useful book is “Collins complete guide to British Wild Flowers”.
Photos on this page by Peter Hunnisett