Here are photographs of nine garden or wild plants that were in flower during May in central England. The weather during this period has been mainly sunny with very little rain. Dates when photographs were taken are in brackets.
Chinese Wisteria Wisteria sinensis is a popular climbing plant native to China, introduced to Britain in 1816. (May 5)
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber. Introduced from Southern Europe in the 17th century, it has escaped from gardens and can now be found in walls, banks and waste places throughout Britain. (May 16)
White Campion Silene latifolia is a native wild flower found throughout Britain in hedgerows and waste places. (May 18)
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus is a native wild flower that grows by water throughout Britain. (May20)
Clematis Dr Ruppel is a hybrid introduced to Britain in 1975 (May 20)
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris is the first roadside umbellifer in spring and is a very common native wild flower. It dominates roadside edges from April into June. (May 21)
Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium caeruleum is native to Britain but is also grown in gardens. (May 21)
Elder Sambucus nigra is a shrub or small tree which grows in hedgerows and woods throughout Britain. (May 24)
Garden Peony cultivar based on Paeonia lactiflora introduced to Britain in the 18th century from China. (May 27)