CUCKOO FLOWER (Cardamine pratensis)

20cm bare root super-plug (perennial).

Cuckoo Flower, also known as Lady's Smock, is one of the most charming native wildflowers of spring. Its delicate pale pink to lilac flowers appear on slender stems above fresh green foliage, bringing subtle colour to meadows, damp grasslands and waterside habitats. The plant takes its common name from its habit of flowering around the time when the first cuckoos traditionally arrive in Britain, making it a classic symbol of the British spring countryside.

This attractive perennial thrives in moist, fertile soils and prefers sunny or lightly shaded locations. It is commonly found in damp meadows, floodplains, marshy grasslands and along stream banks, where it often forms attractive drifts of colour. Unlike many meadow wildflowers, Cuckoo Flower appreciates soils that retain moisture throughout the growing season, making it particularly valuable for wetter areas of a garden or meadow that can prove challenging for other species.

Cuckoo Flower is one of the most important native wildflowers for butterflies and other pollinators. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, hoverflies and early-emerging butterflies, while the plant serves as a crucial larval food source for the Orange-tip butterfly. Female Orange-tips actively seek out Cuckoo Flower on which to lay their eggs, and the developing caterpillars feed on the seed pods after hatching. This close relationship makes Cuckoo Flower an essential species for anyone wishing to encourage these beautiful spring butterflies into their wildflower meadow or garden.

Flowering from April to June, Cuckoo Flower typically reaches heights of 30-60cm and provides an elegant display during the transition from spring to early summer. It combines beautifully with Cowslip, Bugle and Meadow Buttercup, creating naturalistic plantings rich in seasonal colour and wildlife interest. Whether growing in a traditional wildflower meadow, a damp garden border or alongside a pond, Cuckoo Flower brings both delicate beauty and exceptional ecological value to the landscape.