This week I have chosen a very pretty wild flower to share, with a pretty name too: Lady’s Smock, or Cardamine pratensis.
These delicate looking flowers nod their heads above tall grass in damp meadows, which is why it has reappeared here this spring after our rather wet winter. And I am so glad to see it.
This is another edible wild flower, full of vitamin C, and quite peppery. It is also called the Cuckoo Flower, perhaps because it flowers just as the first cuckoos are commonly heard. (I haven’t heard a cuckoo yet). The name may, however, be due to the ‘cuckoo spit’ often found on it – produced by spittlebugs which produce a kind of foam around their larvae as protection. The German name reflects this: ‘Schaumkraut’ – ‘foam weed’.
The colour varies from almost white to a soft lilac. The one above grows in partial shade and is paler than the ones in the full sun. It is a valuable food plant for the Orange Tip butterflies, as well as for various bees including wild bees and for bee flies and other butterflies.
The Flower Fairy’s poem describes it as ‘Dainty as a fairy’s frock’. And that is, I find, a perfect description. 😃
If anyone would like to join me on a Wednesday in posting about weeds/wild flowers in your garden, just leave a comment with a link below. Thanks for reading!
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Words and Herbs 
Very pretty 😍
A perfect meadow flower. 😃
Another name here is Ladies Smock.
Very pretty.
I’m currently enjoying red campions in my garden – I let a few stay in the borders as I love the colour (pink!).
Ooh, are the campions flowering already?! Lovely!
It is dainty, I shall look out for it when I go for my walk later.
I hope you spot some Rosie. 😃
I have to say again that your weeds sure are pretty.
😃 This one certainly is!
Oooh Cathy that cardamine is beautiful, so dainty. I’m not sure I’ve seen any around here. But there are plenty of weeds that seem to love my chalky soil. I try to have a few wild areas around the garden but the wild plants don’t always understand my instructions to stay in those areas ! 😉 In my latest blog article I feature a blue fence whose initial purpose was to separate the nettles, brambles and bryony from the more “civilised” plants. So naïve !
Our last garden was only about 45 minutes from here, but with very chalky soil, while here it is borderline acid. And I really notice a difference in what wild flowers grow. No Hepatica or Echium will grow here, but wild lupins and broom are profuse. I have tried subscribing to your blog without success… I just get an error message. Any tips?
Yes the platform for my blog informed me that they would no longer be notifying readers of new articles a few months ago. It’s a real nuisance and the only thing I can suggest is to have a look to see if anything’s new when I post a comment on your blog. Sorry about that !
Okay, I’ll do that Judith! 😃 Thanks!
Oh they are not only so pretty Cathy but beneficial for wildlife too. It’s never appeared in my garden but there is a bewitching patch of cardamine surrounded by primroses at our caravan site in the Lake District. I’ve posted about one of my weeds here today :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2023/05/wild-and-weedy-wednesday-corydalis-lutea.html
Thanks for hosting.
Oh I am glad you are joining me Anna! Cardamine is one of the prettiest wildflowers, so delicate and magical. 😃
I’ve got plenty of spittlebugs but, sadly, no Cardamine. As the genus doesn’t even appear in my western garden guide, I’m guessing it doesn’t grow here. It looks lovely scattered among the dandelions.
It likes cool damp meadows, so probably wouldn’t like your climate Kris. I also think it is one of those flowers that will only grow where IT wants to grow! 😉
It is pretty, but I’m wary of any plant in the mustard family for its producing way too many seeds!
This one is not invasive at all Eliza. It is always a treat to find some.😃
“The Flower Fairy’s poem describes it as ‘Dainty as a fairy’s frock’.” – Love this, and so true!
I bet I have fairies in my garden! 😜
It is indeed a charming little flower. And to think it is is edible as well! Isn’t it wonderful to see wildflowers appearing after a season of rain!
The wet winter has produced an abundance of them Debra, both weeds (not so good!) and wildflowers. 😃
It looks so delicate–“fairy’s frock” must be right! It’s not a wildflower I’ve ever seen; probably it’s one that hasn’t been introduced this side of the pond. What a charmer!
My sister encouraged me to photograph one of our rather unusual wild desert vignettes this afternoon, so that is what I am posting today:
https://smallsunnygarden.substack.com/p/desert-collage
Yes, it is charming. 😃 Will be over to visit your post soon! 👍
What a perfect sweet dainty flower
It is Donna. Very sweet. 😃
It’s an endearing flower. Do you save it for wildlife exclusively or do you eat it as well?
I have only nibbled a flower when out in the garden, but we don’t have many so I wouldn’t pick them.
We have this lovely flower growing near us but I did not realise that it was edible. Amelia
It is amazing just how much IS edible Amelia! We have recently started reading up on all the weeds and wild flowers around us that can be eaten or have medicinal uses and there is something for almost any ailment within our reach. 😃
That’s really pretty! I’ve not seen it here, but I wouldn’t be unhappy to find it in my yard!
Maybe it’ll turn up one day, who knows?!