Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

County flowers of the United Kingdom

In 2002 Plantlife conducted a "County Flowers" public survey to assign flowers to each of the counties of the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. The results of this campaign designated a single plant species to a "county or metropolitan area" in the UK and Isle of Man. Some English counties already had flowers traditionally associated with them before 2002, and which were different from those assigned to them by Plantlife, including the white rose for Yorkshire, the poppy for Norfolk, and the cowslip for Essex. Some flowers were assigned to multiple counties.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 8 min
Length
1,738 w
Citations
117
Source
Wikipedia ↗

In 2002 Plantlife conducted a "County Flowers" public survey to assign flowers to each of the counties of the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.1 The results of this campaign designated a single plant species to a "county or metropolitan area" in the UK and Isle of Man.2 Some English counties already had flowers traditionally associated with them before 2002,3 and which were different from those assigned to them by Plantlife, including the white rose for Yorkshire (assigned the harebell), the poppy for Norfolk (assigned the Alexanders), and the cowslip for Essex (assigned the poppy). Some flowers were assigned to multiple counties.

England

County Image Common name Scientific name County status Shared
Bedfordshire Bee orchid bee orchid4 Ophrys apifera native
Berkshire Summer snowflake summer snowflake5 Leucojum aestivum native
Bristol Maltese-cross Maltese-cross6 Silene chalcedonica casual
Buckinghamshire Chiltern gentian Chiltern gentian7 Gentianella germanica native
Cambridgeshire Pasqueflower pasqueflower89 Pulsatilla vulgaris native Hertfordshire
Cheshire Cuckooflower cuckooflower10 Cardamine pratensis native Brecknockshire
Cornwall Cornish heath Cornish heath11 Erica vagans native
County Durham Spring gentian spring gentian12 Gentiana verna native
Cumberland Grass-of-Parnassus grass-of-Parnassus13 Parnassia palustris native Sutherland
Derbyshire Jacob's-ladder14 Polemonium caeruleum native
Devon Primrose primrose15 Primula vulgaris native
Dorset Dorset heath Dorset heath16 Erica ciliaris native
Essex Common poppy common poppy17 Papaver rhoeas native Norfolk
Gloucestershire Wild daffodil wild daffodil18 Narcissus pseudonarcissus native
Greater Manchester Common cotton-grass common cotton-grass19 Eriophorum angustifolium native
Hampshire Dog-rose dog-rose20 Rosa canina native
Herefordshire Mistletoe mistletoe21 Viscum album native
Hertfordshire Pasqueflower pasqueflower89 Pulsatilla vulgaris native Cambridgeshire
Huntingdonshire Water-violet water-violet22 Hottonia palustris native
Isle of Wight Pyramidal orchid pyramidal orchid23 Anacamptis pyramidalis native
Isles of Scilly Thrift thrift24 Armeria maritima native Bute & Pembrokeshire
Kent Hop hop25 Humulus lupulus native
Lancashire Red rose red rose26 Rosa gallica officinalis absent
Leeds Bilberry bilberry27 Vaccinium myrtillus native
Leicestershire Foxglove foxglove28 Digitalis purpurea native Argyll, Monmouthshire & West Midlands
Lincolnshire Viola riviniana common dog-violet29 Viola riviniana native
London Rosebay willowherb rosebay willowherb30 Epilobium angustifolium native
Merseyside Sea-holly sea-holly31 Eryngium maritimum native
Middlesex Wood anemone wood anemone32 Anemone nemorosa native
Norfolk Common poppy common poppy17a Papaver rhoeas native Essex
Northamptonshire Cowslip cowslip35 Primula veris native Surrey & Worcestershire
Northumberland Bloody crane's-bill bloody crane's-bill36 Geranium sanguineum native
Nottingham Nottingham catchfly Nottingham catchfly37 Silene nutans native
Nottinghamshire Autumn crocus autumn crocus38 Crocus nudiflorus archaeophyte
Oxfordshire Snake's-head fritillary snake's-head fritillary39 Fritillaria meleagris native
Rutland Clustered bellflower clustered bellflower40 Campanula glomerata native
Sheffield Wood crane's-bill wood crane's-bill41 Geranium sylvaticum native
Shropshire Round-leaved sundew round-leaved sundew42 Drosera rotundifolia native
Somerset Cheddar pink Cheddar pink43 Dianthus gratianopolitanus native
Staffordshire Heather heather44 Calluna vulgaris native
Suffolk Oxlip oxlip45 Primula elatior native
Surrey Cowslip cowslip35 Primula veris native Northamptonshire & Worcestershire
Sussex Round-headed rampion round-headed rampion46 Phyteuma orbiculare native
Tyne and Wear Monkeyflower monkeyflower47 Mimulus guttatus neophyte
Warwickshire Honeysuckle honeysuckle48 Lonicera periclymenum native
West Midlands Foxglove foxglove28 Digitalis purpurea native Argyll, Leicestershire & Monmouthshire
Westmorland Alpine Forget-me-Not alpine forget-me-not49 Myosotis alpestris native
Wiltshire Burnt-tip orchid burnt-tip orchid50 Neotinea ustulata native
Worcestershire Cowslip cowslip35 Primula veris native Northamptonshire & Surrey
Yorkshire Harebell harebell51 Campanula rotundifolia native Antrim & Dumfriesshire

Isle of Man

County Image Common name Scientific name County status Shared
Isle of Manb Fuchsia magellanica fuchsia53 Fuchsia magellanica neophyte

Northern Ireland

County Image Common name Scientific name County status Shared
Antrim Harebell harebell51 Campanula rotundifolia native Dumfriesshire & Yorkshire
Armagh Cowbane cowbane54 Cicuta virosa native
Belfast Gorse gorse55 Ulex europaeus native
Derry Purple saxifrage purple saxifrage56 Saxifraga oppositifolia native
Down Spring squill spring squill57 Scilla verna native
Fermanagh Globeflower globeflower58 Trollius europaeus native
Tyrone Bog-rosemary bog-rosemary59 Andromeda polifolia native Ceredigion & Kirkcudbright

Scotland

County Image Common name Scientific name County status Shared
Aberdeenshire Bearberry bearberry60 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi native
Angus Alpine catchfly Alpine catchfly61 Silene suecica native
Argyll Foxglove foxglove28 Digitalis purpurea native Leicestershire, Monmouthshire & West Midlands
Ayrshire Green-winged orchid green-winged orchid62 Anacamptis morio native
Banffshire Dark red helleborine dark-red helleborine63 Epipactis atrorubens native
Berwickshire Common Rock-rose rock-rose64 Helianthemum nummularium native
Bute Thrift thrift24 Armeria maritima native Isles of Scilly & Pembrokeshire
Caithness Scottish primrose Scottish primrose65 Primula scotica native
Clackmannanshire Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage66 Chrysosplenium oppositifolium native
Cromarty Spring cinquefoil spring cinquefoil67 Potentilla neumanniana native
Dumfriesshire Harebell harebell51 Campanula rotundifolia native Antrim & Yorkshire
Dunbartonshire Lesser water-plantain lesser water-plantain68 Baldellia ranunculoides native
East Lothian Viper's-bugloss viper's-bugloss69 Echium vulgare native
Fife Coralroot orchid coralroot orchid70 Corallorrhiza trifida native
Glasgow Broom broom71 Cytisus scoparius native
Inverness-shire Twinflower twinflower72 Linnaea borealis native
Kinross Holy-grass holy-grass73 Hierochloe odorata native
Kirkcudbright Bog-rosemary bog-rosemary59 Andromeda polifolia native Ceredigion & Tyrone
Lanarkshire Dune helleborine dune helleborine74 Epipactis leptochila native
Midlothian Sticky catchfly sticky catchfly75 Silene viscaria native
Moray One-flowered wintergreen one-flowered wintergreen76 Moneses uniflora native
Nairn Chickweed wintergreen chickweed wintergreen77 Trientalis europaea native
Orkney Alpine bearberry Alpine bearberry78 Arctostaphylos alpina native
Peeblesshire Cloudberry cloudberry79 Rubus chamaemorus native
Perthshire Alpine gentian Alpine gentian80 Gentiana nivalis native
Renfrewshire Bogbean bogbean81 Menyanthes trifoliata native
Ross Bog asphodel bog asphodel82 Narthecium ossifragum native
Roxburghshire Maiden pink maiden pink83 Dianthus deltoides native
Selkirkshire Mountain pansy mountain pansy84 Viola lutea native
Shetland Shetland mouse-ear Shetland mouse-ear85 Cerastium nigrescens native
Stirlingshire Scottish dock Scottish dock86 Rumex aquaticus native
Sutherland Grass-of-Parnassus grass-of-Parnassus13 Parnassia palustris native Cumbria
West Lothian Common spotted-orchid common spotted-orchid87 Dactylorhiza fuchsii native
Western Isles Hebridean spotted-orchid Hebridean spotted-orchid88 Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. hebridensis native
Wigtownshire Yellow iris yellow iris89 Iris pseudacorus native

Wales

County Image Common name Scientific name County status Shared
Anglesey Spotted rock-rose spotted rock-rose90 Tuberaria guttata native
Brecknockshire Cuckooflower cuckooflower10 Cardamine pratensis native Cheshire
Caernarfonshire Snowdon lily Snowdon lily91 Gagea serotina, syn. Lloydia serotina native
Cardiff Wild leek wild leek92 Allium ampeloprasum native
Carmarthenshire Whorled caraway whorled caraway93 Carum verticillatum native
Ceredigion Bog-rosemary bog-rosemary59 Andromeda polifolia native Kirkcudbright & Tyrone
Denbighshire Limestone woundwort limestone woundwort94 Stachys alpina native
Flintshire Bell heather bell heather95 Erica cinerea native
Glamorgan Draba aizoides yellow whitlow-grass96 Draba aizoides native
Merioneth Welsh poppy Welsh poppy97 Papaver cambricum native
Monmouthshire Foxglove foxglove28 Digitalis purpurea native Argyll, Leicestershire & West Midlands
Montgomeryshire Spiked speedwell spiked speedwell98 Veronica spicata native
Pembrokeshire Thrift thrift24 Armeria maritima native Bute & Isles of Scilly
Radnorshire Radnor lily Radnor lily99 Gagea bohemica native
Notes

Notes

  1. Initially, Alexanders was selected for Norfolk, with poppy selected for Essex alone. Public pressure led to change,3334
  2. The Isle of Man has a traditional national flower (it is not a county), the "Cushag" or ragwort.52
References

References

  1. "Fans pick the flowers that have grown on them". The Guardian. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  2. Greer, Germaine (5 October 2002). "Country notebook: vote for the poppy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  3. "The floral emblem of your county". The Daily Telegraph. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. "Bee orchid". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  5. "Summer snowflake". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  6. "Maltese-cross". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  7. "Chiltern gentian". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  8. "East of England". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  9. "Pasqueflower". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  10. "Cuckooflower". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  11. "Cornish heath". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  12. "Spring gentian". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  13. "Grass-of-Parnassus". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  14. "Jacob's-ladder". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  15. "Primrose". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  16. "Dorset heath". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  17. "Poppy (Common)". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  18. "Daffodil (wild)". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  19. "Cotton-grass (Common)". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  20. "Dog-rose". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  21. "Mistletoe". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  22. "Water-violet". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  23. "Pyramidal orchid". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  24. "Thrift". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  25. "Hop". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  26. "Red rose". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  27. "Bilberry". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  28. "Foxglove". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  29. "Dog-violet (Common)". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  30. "Rosebay willowherb". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  31. "Sea-holly". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  32. "Wood anemone". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  33. "Norfolk's 'flower emblem' is a weed". Eastern Daily Press. 5 May 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  34. "On-line Search". Eastern Daily Press. 25 May 2004.
  35. "Cowslip". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  36. "Bloody crane's-bill". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  37. "Nottingham catchfly". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  38. "Autumn crocus". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  39. "Fritillary". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  40. "Clustered bellflower". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  41. "Wood crane's-bill". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  42. "Round-leaved sundew". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  43. "Cheddar pink". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  44. "Heather". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  45. "Oxlip". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  46. "Round-headed rampion". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  47. "Monkeyflower". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  48. "Honeysuckle". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  49. "Alpine Forget-me-not". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  50. "Burnt-tip Orchid". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  51. "Harebell". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  52. "National Flower". Island Facts. Isle of Man Government. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10.
  53. "Fuchsia". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  54. "Cowbane". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  55. "Gorse". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  56. "Purple saxifrage". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  57. "Spring squill". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  58. "Globeflower". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  59. "Bog-rosemary". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  60. "Bearberry". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  61. "Alpine catchfly". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  62. "Green-winged orchid". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  63. "Dark-red helleborine". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  64. "Rock-rose". Plantlife. Archived from the original on 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  65. "Scottish primrose". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  66. "Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  67. "Spring cinquefoil". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  68. "Lesser water-plantain". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  69. "Viper's-bugloss". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  70. "Coralroot orchid". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  71. "Broom". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  72. "Twinflower". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  73. "Holy-grass". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  74. "Dune helleborine". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  75. "Sticky catchfly". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  76. "One-flowered wintergreen". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  77. "Chickweed wintergreen". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  78. "Alpine bearberry". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  79. "Cloudberry". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  80. "Alpine gentian". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  81. "Bogbean". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  82. "Bog asphodel". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  83. "Maiden pink". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  84. "Viola lutea". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  85. "Shetland mouse-ear". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  86. "Scottish dock". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  87. "Common spotted-orchid". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  88. "Hebridean spotted-orchid". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  89. "Yellow iris". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  90. "Spotted rock-rose". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  91. "Snowdon lily". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  92. "Wild leek". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  93. "Whorled caraway". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  94. "Limestone woundwort". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  95. "Bell heather". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  96. "Yellow whitlow grass". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  97. "Welsh poppy". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  98. "Spiked speedwell". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  99. "Radnor lily". Plantlife. Retrieved 2018-07-06.

Bibliography