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Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
Wildflowers

Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)

Once a staple of folk medicine and now vital to the small blue butterfly, kidney vetch thrives in dry, coastal soils. This soft yellow wildflower brings healing heritage, pollinator support, and natural beauty to Cornwall’s wild gardens and cliffs.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Yellow Horned-Poppy (Glaucium flavum)
Native Plant

Yellow Horned-Poppy (Glaucium flavum)

A vivid coastal wildflower steeped in myth, the yellow horned-poppy thrives on shingle and sand. Linked to dreams, death, and resilience, it flourishes in poor soils and salty winds—bringing golden blooms and folklore to Cornwall’s wildest edges.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
Wildflowers

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)

Delicate, romantic, and steeped in folklore, Deptford pink once lit up field margins across the UK. Now rare, it flourishes in sunny, well-drained coastal gardens—bringing vivid colour, pollinator value, and a touch of floral love language to wild corners.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense)
Native Plant

Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense)

Once shunned as a “poverty weed,” Field Cow-wheat is now a rare beauty of poor soils and open sun. Ideal for wildflower lawns in coastal gardens, its roots connect with surrounding grasses, offering a glimpse into old farming life and a new hope for biodiversity.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Fen Violet (Viola persicifolia)
Plant Profiles

Fen Violet (Viola persicifolia)

Delicate and endangered, Fen Violet is a rare symbol of Britain’s lost wetland meadows. With its pale blooms and quiet beauty, it can thrive in sheltered, damp corners of coastal gardens—offering a living tribute to fragile habitats and botanical resilience.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Greater Water Parsnip (Sium latifolium)
Native Plant

Greater Water Parsnip (Sium latifolium)

Tall and bold, Greater Water Parsnip was once a guardian plant in British wetlands. Rare today, it thrives in damp coastal gardens, supporting pollinators and reviving lost landscapes with its striking presence and folklore-rich past.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa)
Plant Profiles

Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa)

A striking orchid of Cornwall’s wet meadows and dune slacks, the Southern Marsh Orchid symbolises biodiversity and wild beauty. With its spotted purple blooms and love of damp soil, it’s a stunning and meaningful choice for naturalistic coastal gardens.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Sea Campion (Silene uniflora)
Plant Profiles

Sea Campion (Silene uniflora)

Known as dead man’s bells in Cornish folklore, Sea Campion thrives where cliffs meet sea. Resilient, low-maintenance, and rich in coastal myth, it’s a symbol of survival and a perfect plant for wild, windy gardens.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
Wildflowers

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

An elusive native orchid with insect-like flowers, the Fly orchid enchants with mimicry and mystery. A symbol of conservation in Cornwall, it thrives on chalky clifftops and in carefully managed grasslands.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis)
Plant Profiles

Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis)

Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis) is a rare native of Cornwall’s grasslands. Once common on sheep-walks, it now survives in scattered coastal meadows—its subtle beauty and conservation status making it a quiet emblem of traditional grazing heritage.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read
Sea Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. gummifer)
Native Plant

Sea Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. gummifer)

Sea Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. gummifer) is a resilient coastal wildflower steeped in Celtic folklore. Linked to fertility, luck, and sea rituals, it thrives in windswept gardens—offering beauty, pollinator value, and deep cultural roots.
By Ellory Moss • 3 min read
Thrift (Sea Pink)
Native Plant

Thrift (Sea Pink)

Thrift (Armeria maritima) is a hardy coastal wildflower known for its pink blooms and resilience. Once featured on British coins, it symbolises frugality and strength, thriving on Cornish cliffs and in gardens shaped by wind, salt, and history.
By Ellory Moss • 2 min read

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The Cornish Garden

A modern gardening blog rooted in Cornwall, sharing seasonal tips, plant profiles, patch plans, and stories from wild and edible gardens.

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