Wildflower and Tree Guide: Castlebank Park, Lanark

Castlebank Park, Lanark

Wildflower & Tree Guide

Castlebank Park & Horticultural Centre Castlebank Park is located in the South West of Lanark and is a former hun�ng ground for the Lanark Castle, which in 1760 was developed into a residen�al area and formal gardens under private ownership un�l the early 1950s when the land was obtained by Lanark Town Council. From the 60s onwards, park area and gardens slowly fell into disrepair and community use declined.

From 2010 onwards, Lanark Community Development Trust has worked in partnership with Lanark in Bloom to bring Castlebank Park ‘back to life’, and to encourage and inspire the community to use this beau�ful greenspace on their doorstep.

Castlebank Hor�cultural Centre was established in 2014, and development works of the renovated Community Hub building completed in November 2018. Find out more at www.lanarktrust.co.uk

‘Grow Wild at Castlebank Park’ This guide has been produced as part of a project funded by Grow Wild. Grow Wild's mission is to bring people together to value and enjoy UK na�ve wildflowers and fungi. The project has also included wildflower walks, seed sharing & plan�ng, botanical art workshops and wildflower workshops. The guide features 25 wildflower species and 13 specimen trees within the park.

The guide has been produced by Lanark Community Development Trust. Thanks to Grow Wild, Volunteers at Castlebank Hor�cultural Centre, South Lanarkshire Council, Sco�a Seeds, Lanark Grammar School Art Department and Rebecca Crawford Art. Wildflower descrip�ons compiled from Plant Life, The Wildlife Trusts and Wikipedia.

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Early bloomers: January to March 1. Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) Snowdrop are one of the earliest flowering plants, and are sometimes known as the ‘flower of hope’. Snowdrop is a herbaceous, perennial plant that grows from a bulb. Each bulb produces around two to three linear leaves and an erect flowering stem with white, bell-shaped, nodding flower at the top. A galanthophile is an enthusiastic collector of snowdrops.

Illustration by Alister Crockett

2. Crocus (Crocus spp.)

Crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. Their colours vary enormously, although lilac, mauve, yellow, and white are predominant. The spice saffron is obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species.

Illustration by Keisha Benzies

Illustration

by Ethan Klastaitas

3. Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) Scilla siberica is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to southwestern Russia, the Caucasus, and Turkey. Despite its name, it is not native to Siberia. Scilla siberica is one of the earliest spring bloomers, producing intense blue, bell-shaped nodding flowers with blue anthers. The pollen is also dark blue. Siberian squill has escaped cultivation and is considered an invasive species in areas outside its native range.

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Early bloomers: January to March 4. Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)

Illustration by Erin Kelly

Ficaria verna, commonly known as lesser celandine or pilewort, is a low-growing, hairless perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae native to Europe and west Asia. It has fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flowers with bright star-like, yellow, glossy petals. As one of the first flowers to appear after winter, they provide an important nectar source for queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation and other early insects. The poet, William Wordsworth was so fond of lesser celandine that he wrote three poems about them: The Small Celandine, To The Same Flower and To The Small Celandine.

5. Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) A common plant, often seen carpeting the floor of ancient woodlands. Dog's Mercury has spear-shaped, toothed, fresh green leaves carried on upright stems. It produces a foul and rotten smell, and bears clusters of small, greenish flowers in spring. Unlike the 'true' mercuries (Chenopodiumspecies such as Good-King-Henry), Dog's Mercury is highly poisonous and hence became known as 'False Mercury' or 'Dog's Mercury'. Ingestion of this plant can lead to vomiting, jaundice, coma and eventually death.

Illustration by Lee Quigley

6. Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

Illustration by Naomi Fleming

One of the first flowers of spring, wood anemones bloom like a galaxy of stars across the forest floor. As a species it's surprisingly slow to spread (six feet in a hundred years!), relying on the growth of its root structure rather than the spread of its seed. As such, it is a good indicator of ancient woodland.

Vernacular names include Windflower, Grandmother's nightcap and Moggie nightgown. Solitary star-like white flowers with 5-8 petals, often pinkish underneath. Long-stalked stem leaves divided into three lobes, with each lobe divided. It has a sharp, musky smell. Hoverflies are particularly fond of the wood anemone and help pollinate it. Other animals, however, will only eat it if nothing else is available, because of its acrid taste.

It is poisonous to humans.

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Early bloomers: January to March

7. Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)

Illustration by Jack Smith

Perennial bulbous plants native to Eurasia that produce spikes of dense, most commonly blue, urn-shaped flowers resembling bunches of grapes in the spring - hence the name. Grape hyacinth is native to the whole of Europe, Russia and northern Asia, and spreads readily. Once the bulbs are in the soil, more will grow by division.

8. Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris) The Primrose is one of our most familiar and attractive native wild flowers. Native to native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and parts of southwest Asia. This low carpeting perennial has pale yellow flowers with a deep yellow centers which are in bloom from March to May with the occasional flower showing much earlier in the year. Did you know, April 19th is 'Primrose Day'?

Illustration by Alan Cummings

Did you know?

The most ancient land plants to appear in the fossil record are the bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts). It then took around 410 million years for the first flowers to evolve! Plants which existed before flowers appeared included the bryophytes, ferns, seed ferns and ancient conifer relatives. These plants were all wind or water pollinated. Scientists believe that flowers evolved alongside ‘pollinating’ insects, forming one of the most important partnerships in the natural world!

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Heralds of spring: April - May 9. Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)

Daffodil, also known as narcissus and jonquil, is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Amaryllis family. There are 26 to 60 different species of wild daffodils. Daffodils have long been considered one of the heralds of spring. Planted in autumn, they spend several months developing roots before the flowers burst forth in spring. Daffodils can be found in a wide range of flower shapes, forms and sizes.

Illustration by

Callum Glendinning

10. Common Daisy (Bellis perennis) Perhaps one of our most familiar flowers of all, the humble Common Daisy can be seen flowering almost all year-round. Bellis may come from bellus, Latin for "pretty", and perennis is Latin for "everlasting". The species habitually colonises lawns, wherever it appears it is often considered an invasive weed, however pretty it may appear.

Illustration by Stuart Jess

11. Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) A bulbous perennial plant, found in Atlantic areas from north-western Spain to the British Isles, and also frequently used as a garden plant. Bluebells transform our woodland in springtime with a carpet of deep voilet-blue. They spend most of the year as bulbs underground and emerge to flower from April onwards. The petals of native bluebells have upturned tips and a sweet scent. The pollen of native bluebells is creamy white. Native bluebells have a characeristically dropping or nodding appearance.

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Illustration by Ben Houghton

Heralds of spring: April - May 12. Few Flowered Leek (Allium paradoxum) Allium paradoxum, the few-flowered garlic or few-flowered leek, is an Asian species of wild onion in the Amaryllis family. It is native to mountainous regions of Iran, Caucasus, and Turkmenistan. This small bulb is a popular garden plant but in the wild it's most common in deciduous woodlands and along hedgerows and river banks. This is an invasive, non-native species which forms very dense carpets of leaves in spring, smothering and out competing native species, particularly early-flowering plants like primrose and moschatel.

Illustration by Caitlin Mitchell

13. Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)

Illustration by Steven Brownlie

Greater Stitchwort grows in woodland and along roadside verges, hedgerows and grassy banks. It has many other common names, including 'Wedding Cakes', 'Star-of-Bethlehem' and 'Snapdragon' the latter because its stems are brittle and easily break. Its pretty, star-shaped, white flowers bloom from April to June; as the seed capsules ripen, they can be heard 'popping' in late spring. Greater Stitchwort is visited by Honeybees, butterflies and hoverflies looking for spring nectar, and is the foodplant of the Marsh Pug, Plain Clary and Yellow Underwing moths. Typical of the Stellaria family, stitchwort has five notched petals, each of them split making it look like ten petals. Stellaria refers to the ‘star like’ flower and holostea means entire bone, somehow a reference to the brittle stem.

14. Great Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica) Luzula sylvatica, commonly known as greater wood-rush or great wood-rush, is a perennial flowering plant in the rush species Juncaceae. It is the largest British Wood-rush. Luzula are evergreen perennials, with clusters of unassuming tiny brown flowers, appearing in late spring or early summer. Its delicate ribbon-like foliage is loosely clumped into handsome tussocks. Self seeds moderately but is not invasive. Luzula could come from the Italian lucciola ("to shine, sparkle") or the Latin luzulae or luxulae, from lux ("light"), inspired by the way the plants sparkle when wet with dew.

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Illustration

by Adam Henderson

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12 *Estimation. Different types of wildflower may be found around the park throughout the year.

Specimen Trees within Castlebank Park The ancient woodlands of Castlebank Park are a haven for wildlife and there is a good footpath network throughout the park, whether you are looking for wildlife or just a pleasant stroll in the countryside. 13 specimen trees of interest have been noted within the park. These are listed below and shown on the map on the previous page. Enjoy exploring!

Common names (Scientific name)

Life stage

1. Himalayan cedar, Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)...............................................Early mature 2. Wellingtonia, Giant Sequoia, Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum).............Young 3. Monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana)........................................................................Young 4. Variegated sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus variegatum)....................................Early mature 5. Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica).............................................................................Post mature 6. Smooth Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum).....................................................................Mature 7. Young's Weeping Birch (Betula pendula Youngii)...................................................Post mature 8. Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)..................................................................Early mature 9. European larch (Larix decidua)..........................................................................................Mature 10. Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea).............................................................Early mature 11. English Yew (Taxus buccata).............................................................................................Mature 12. Common lime (Tilia x europaea)......................................................................................Mature 13. Oak (Quercus rubur)............................................................................................................Young 9

Heralds of spring: April - May 15. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) Fond of moist ground, this pink, tassled wildflower can often be found carpeting riversides and damp ditches.

With so many small flowers packed densely together, butterbur is very popular with bees. It is a great source of nectar early in the year, when wildflowers are still rather sparse. The flower spikes have tiny pale pink flowers arranged down stems 10-40cm tall which appear before the leaves. The latter are very large: up to almost 1m wide and downy grey underneath. Its common names derives from its large, heart-shaped leaves that were used to wrap butter in the past.

Illustration

by Rebecca Crawford

16. Red campion (Silene dioica)

Illustration by Page Millar

A perennial plant, the bright rose-red flowers of red campion brighten up roadsides, woodlands and hedges throughout the summer. Red campion has rose-red flowers with five petals, each deeply notched and almost divided into two; its leaves and stems are hairy. In places where it grows alongside white campion, the two may hybridise to produce pinky or white blooms. Red campion is a good source of food for moths, bees and butterflies with the flowers opening in daylight. It is also known as Batchelors’ buttons which suggests it was once worn as a buttonhole by young unmarried men. Other local names include Johnny Woods, Ragged Jack and Scalded Apples.

17. Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) Lamium galeobdolon, commonly known as yellow archangel, artillery plant, aluminium plant, or yellow weasel-snout is a widespread wildflower in Europe, and has been introduced elsewhere as a garden plant. As the Bluebells fade, Yellow Archangel takes its turn to impress, with golden-yellow flowers carpeting our ancient woodlands. Although it is a from the dead-nettle family, it does not sting - perhaps lending its ‘angelic’ name. Grows up to 45cm tall. Yellow Archangel is a hairy perennial with heart-shaped or oval, toothed leaves, and whorls of yellow, 'hooded' flowers that appear up the stem.

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Illustration

by Danaka Lockhart

Summer beauties: June - August 18. Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Illustration

by Lorena Callaghan Honesty seed pods or ‘coins’

Honesty is a biennial herb growing up to 1m tall, often forming patches. Originally from south-east Europe, Honesty is a garden escapee that can often be found on waste ground, railway cuttings and roadside verges. The flowers are up to 3cm across, usually purple but sometimes white. The papery, translucent, silver 'coins' of Honesty are instantly recognisable, and lend to the plant’s nickname ‘Money Plant’.

The ‘coins’ are actually the leftover seed pods that dangle from the plant through winter.

19. Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) A member of the pea family (legumes), Common Vetch is able to make its own nitrates, a special nutrient essential for healthy plant growth. This makes it useful as a soil-fertilising plant and it is also often used as livestock fodder. It grows well on grassland, farmland, waste ground and roadside verges, as well as in coastal habitats, such as sand dunes.

Groups of one or two pink flowers appear between May and September. As a member of the legume family, which includes Broad Beans, Garden Peas and pulses, it's no surprise that archaeologists have found evidence to suggest that ancient people used to eat Common Vetch.

Illustration

by Leah Smith

20. Common Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)

Illustration by Raquel Gomez

Solomon's seal is an old cottage garden plant that appears early in spring, producing graceful, arching stems with precisely paired, oval leaves along their length. These are quickly joined by dangling, green-tipped, white bells that persist throughout late spring and early summer. The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon. This is a species of the genus Polygonatum native to eastern and central North America. It is often confused with Solomon's plume which has upright flowers.

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Summer beauties: June - August 21. Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) Hogweed is part of the parsley and carrot family (Apiaceae) also known as umbellifers for the spreading flower heads that look like umbrellas. It can grow up to 2m tall and has a ridged hollow stem that is roughly hairy. Many members of this genus can cause burns and skin irritation as the saps can cause skin to become hyper-sensitive to the sun. The scientific name of genus is a reference to the legendary strongman Heracles. This comes from the great size of the genus or perhaps its diverse medicinal properties. Many invertebrates can be found feeding on parts of hogweed, including the leaf, stem and flowers and it provides pollen and nectar for a wide range of invertebrates, including beetles, wasps and flies. A related alien plant, Giant Hogweed, is very similar in form but much larger, growing up to five metres tall.

Illustration

by Rebecca Crawford

22. Lords-and-ladies (Arum maculatum)

Illustration by Kieran Foster

Lords-and-ladies is a shade-loving plant of woodlands and hedgerows, and is particularly distinctive as it displays a pale green sheath surrounding a purple or yellow 'spadix' (a spike of tiny flowers on a fleshy stem). Lords-and-ladies has many other common names, arising from its rather strange look, but 'Cuckoo-pint' is perhaps one of the most widely used. The shiny arrow shaped leaves often feature dark spots. The variation ‘Italian Lords-and-ladies’ features pale veins on the leaves, opposed to dark spots. The flower is designed to attract flies for pollination and its club shaped spike releases an unpleasant urine-like odour.

23. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Well known and easily recognisable, this wildflower has tall spikes which can bear up to eighty bell-shaped blooms. These are usually pink but white variants are also occasionally seen. This plant is poisonous if ingested, so treat with caution. The mottled markings on foxglove flowers were once thought to be the hand-prints of fairies. In fact, in Gaelic, it was called lus nam ban-sith - 'the fairy woman's plant'. It was proven in the eighteenth century that the Foxglove acts upon the heart and is a good diuretic, and it is now a major instrument against heart disease. Dosage, however, is critical: a fraction too high and it can stop the heart altogether! Foxglove's active principles digitoxin and digoxin have now been isolated and purified Illustration and are widely used in orthodox medicine as heart stimulants.

by Charli Whiteford 12

Burnished autumn: September - October 24. Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia) Unlike other sages, Wood Sage has very little scent, so has little value as a herb in cooking. It can be found on sand dunes, heaths and coastal cliffs, and along dry woodland rides, preferring acidic soils. Upright spikes of straw-coloured flowers can be seen from July to September and its plentiful seed provides food for many birds. Bees, wasps, beetles and butterflies all feed from Wood Sage; one beetle is even specific to it. In common with other sages, Wood Sage has the familiar crinkly, sage-green leaves. Its yellowish flowers appear in pairs along long, leafless spikes.

Illustration

by Rebecca Crawford

25. Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)

Illustration

by Corey Johnston.

Aegopodium podagraria is a perennial plant in the carrot family that grows in shady places. The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder, which is unrelated. It is a is a fast-growing, invasive, perennial weed that can spread quickly to form a carpet of foliage that will crowd out less-vigorous plants in beds and borders. It is also known as gout weed, bishop weed and jump-about. Spreading by rhizomes, ground elder can easily creep in from a neighbouring garden or nearby wasteland. It can also be unknowingly introduced with new plants if pieces of its fleshy, white rhizome are hidden within the compost of the rootball or are tucked away among the roots of the plant.

Did you know?

The distinction between weeds and wildflowers is not so simple. After all, weeds are just plants in a place we don’t want them. Wildflowers are best defined as those which grow naturally year after year, generation after generation, without human interference. As you can see from the plants in this guide, many of our wildflowers have been introduced from other parts of the world, these are referred to as non-native. If these plants spread uncontrollably, they are also referred to as invasive.

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‘Grow Wild at castlebank Park’ Project Photos

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HEARTS LIKE WILDFLOWERS I hope you are blessed with a heart like a wildflower.

Strong enough to rise again after being trampled upon, tough enough to weather the worst of summer storms, and able to grow and flourish even in the most broken places.

Nikita Gill

Lanark Community Development Trust www.lanarktrust.co.uk Registered Scottish Charity SC040584