Plant Overview
A British native wildflower found in meadows and verges. It grows happily in amongst grass and other meadow plants, in most soil types, including very wet. Like most native plants, it is very useful for our native pollinators.
Height and Spread: 45cm x 25cm.
Common names: Cookoo Flower; Lady's Smock; Milkmaid; Bog Spink; Naked Ladies; Pink Folly; Spring Cress; Bread and Milk; Cuckoos Shoes and Stockings; Naked Ladies; Lonesome Lady; Lucy Locket; Milk Girls; Smick Smock.
Myth and Legend
The flowers, when seen at a distance in the meadows, were said to resemble linen left out to whiten on the grass, 'when maidens bleach their summer smocks'. The name of 'cuckoo flower' comes from the traditional belief that the plant will be in flower throughout the period when the cuckoo can be heard.
This is traditionally a plant associated with faeries. It may be because of this that it is not always considered to be a terribly lucky plant. For ladies' smocks to be included in the garlands carried on May Day would be disastrous, and the whole garland would have to be split apart and remade. It was beleived that ladies' smocks should never be taken into the house, as it would bring bad luck for the whole household.
Photo: Jac. Janssen from Baarlo lb, NL, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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