Submitted by Peter Smith on Sat, 14/06/2014 - 11:14

When does an artifically sown native plant become a wild flower?

There's a verge in a new development (less than 2 years old) where I found and recorded an interesting variety of plants this spring.  Since then, new species have kept appearing and I now believe that the verge must have been artificially seeded with an enormous range of different native flora.  Similarly, I sometimes come across wild flower meadows with a tell-tale abundance of yellow rattle that is often included in seed mixes to reduce the competition from grasses.  I'm happy to see them ... but should I record them?  Do I have to wait a few years and see what survives or spreads: does that make it a "wild" flower?  And what if -- as is usually the case -- I don't know the history of the site?

I wonder where such records fit on the spectrum of self-sown garden plants, garden escapes, plants accidentally moved with imported soil, naturalized aliens, successfully re-introduced natives?  (After all, everyone seems happy to record ospreys and red kites.)  Is there any official guidance about where the dividing line should be?  What do others do?

Comments

Submitted by David Nicholls on Wed, 25/06/2014 - 20:27

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This is really good question and one that doesn't have a clear cut answer. As you suggest, there is a spectrum of circumstances where humans have planted, moved, released or otherwise helped to introduce a range of both plants and animals. Indeed the majority of trees and hedgerow shrubs have probably been planted originally. In terms of recording I think the location has a bearing. If the plant is in a generally unmanaged place (ie not a garden or park) then it is OK to record wild plants, even if they may have been seeded or planted (it is often hard to know anyway). In terms of ornamental or non-native species, the litmus test is whether they have naturalised such that the plant is now spreading without human help. Others may have different views!
 

Submitted by Maggie Frankum on Thu, 10/07/2014 - 12:37

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Hi Peter,

Check the <B.S.B.Ivc55.blogspot.co.uk>  In January, I queried this point regarding "naturalised" flowers in my garden, when B.S.B.I.vc55 did the New Year Plant Hunt in Leicester.  Tim Rich, who organised the B.S.B.I. Plant Hunt nationally, made comments on recording naturalised plants.

Maggie

Submitted by Graham Calow on Tue, 17/03/2015 - 14:20

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I asked our County Recorder a similar question relating to plants growing on Stewardship Farm land which had been sown with birds in mind and was turning up a lot of unusual species.  His answer was to record what you find as it is a means of determining what becomes established and what doesn't - and also gives a record of when any given species first appears.