Flowering plants and ferns

Devon supports over 2000 plant species.

Heath Lobelia - East Devon National Landscape

Heath Lobelia – East Devon National Landscape

1. About

Add introduction text after the consultation when approach is agreed.  

The list of Focus Species below aims to draw attention to some of Devon’s rarest species and species for which Devon is a stronghold. 

For more information on all of Devon’s plants and detailed accounts of the landscapes discussed below please see the Devon Flora using the link in Find out more below.  

Headline information on pressures and opportunities is discussed for each Focus Species or group.  Further details are set out in each relevant habitat section.

2. What we need to do and where

Priority

Increase the abundance of flowering plants and ferns across Devon, particularly those identified as Focus Species.

Focus species

Focus Species are discussed below.  Where a number of species have similar needs they have been grouped together.  The exact locations of plants are not mapped in the LNRS.  For plant records please see links in Find out more below.

Strapwort - Peter Llewyn, UK Wildflowers

Strapwort

Corrigiola litoralis

Strapwort is only found in two places in the UK, one of which is Slapton Ley SSSI in South Devon. It lives on the sparsely vegetated margins of the ley, which are kept open by changing water levels, trampling by cattle and waterfowl and disturbance from boat users. Strapwort was once widespread around the ley but by the 1990s was confined to just three spots. The Wild Planet Trust has been working with Natural England to restore the population by planting propagated plants and clearing vegetation to create bare habitat. Strapwort has been re-introduced to the only other British location, which is near Helston in Cornwall.

Note that Slapton Ley was one of the three last known sites for lesser water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) which is now only known at Braunton Burrows.

Actions

Continue management to restore and maintain bare areas around Slapton Ley SSSI for strapwort.

Where to focus action

Slapton Ley SSSI in the Brixham to Start Point Coastal Wildbelt. See Mapping.

Deptford pink - Peter Llewellyn

Deptford pink

Dianthus armeria

Once widespread across southern England, Deptford pink has declined rapidly as habitats have been lost. Devon is a national stronghold and the plant is largely found around Buckfastleigh (Buckfast Hill Deptford Pink CWS) and a few other sites such as Ware Barton fields CWS in Kingsteignton and Pear Tree Cross CWS in Ashburton.

Deptford pink is a short-lived perennial which can be found in a wide range of habitats such as meadows, gardens and road verges with sunny, open, disturbed ground. It’s very palatable to cattle and so vulnerable during the flowering season. The large population on the disused railway line in Budleigh Salterton was lost as dense vegetation grew and crowded out the Deptford pink.

Seeds germinate easily and can persist in the soil for a long time. New populations can be established on suitable sites and one of the largest colonies was created from local seed thrown onto a Buckfastleigh road verge.

Actions

Manage and restore sites for Deptford pink and establish new populations.

  • Maintain sunny, open areas and disturbed soils. Lightly graze where possible but reduce grazing during the flowering period. Cut after plants have set seed where grazing isn’t possible. Seed or use plants grown from local seed to establish new populations.

Where to focus action

All known sites.

Consultation Q: Discuss whether we map a High Opportunity Area around Buckfastleigh + propagate and plant in suitable sites?  – consult Species Recovery Trust.

Plymouth pear

Pyrus cordata

Plymouth pear is one of Britain’s rarest trees and is only found in Plymouth and a few sites in Cornwall. It grows in hedgerows or woodland edges in full sun and moist soils. Due to its rarity, seeds have been deposited at Kew’s Millenium Seed Bank.

The population was first discovered in 1865 at Estover in Plymouth. This is now an industrial estate but the two sites at Estover and Derreford are designated as the Plymbridge Lane and Estover Road SSSI (composed of two sites). In 2012, a hedgerow contractor, carrying out works without Natural England permission, felled a large pear tree and was subsequently fined.  Trees have been planted in two Local Nature Reserves at Efford Marsh and Forder Valley. 

Actions

Protect all Plymouth pears in Plymouth and expand the population by propagating and planting more trees.

Consultation Q: Who is leading this work? What’s needed?

Where to focus action

Existing sites. Plymbridge Lane and Estover Road SSSI and Efford Marsh and Forder Valley Local Nature Reserves.  See Mapping (use the search function to find sites).

Consultation Q: Could Plymouth pears be planted in lots more sites?

Great sundew

Drosera anglica

This very rare carnivorous plant is found in acid bogs and mires and is often associated with various sphagnum mosses. Because it’s carnivorous, it competes well in acid habitats with few nutrients, getting its food from insects.

Great sundew is mostly found in Scotland. In Devon it’s currently only found at Hense Moor SSSI in the Blackdown Hills and Corndon Ford Bog CWS near Ponsworthy on Dartmoor. It was formerly found in at least three other mire sites in the Blackdown Hills including Maiden Down and one site in the Bovey Basin.

Actions

Manage mires for great sundew and restore previous sites, experimenting with gently disturbing the seed bank.

Consultation Q: Consider translocation?

Where to focus action

Dartmoor Valley Mires (includes Corndon Ford Bog CWS), East Devon scarp slopes (includes Hense Moor SSSI).  See Mapping.  

Lesser butterfly orchid - Peter Llewellyn

Lesser butterfly orchid

Platanthera bifolia

Lesser butterfly orchid is found on acid to base-rich soils in unimproved grasslands, damp heaths, woodland clearings and among scrub. It was once widespread and is still widely scattered but is declining rapidly. It’s most often found on commons on the SW edge of Dartmoor, the Teign Valley, the  Blackdown Hills and the north Devon culm. 

Roborough Down and Leigh Tor, Poundsgate (both undesignated sites?) both support hundreds of plants and are considered the two largest populations for the species in southern England outside the New Forest.    

Actions

Manage existing sites for lesser butterfly orchid and restore previous sites. Re-introduce where appropriate.

  • Maintain sward height of less than 10 cm through moderate to heavy grazing. Bracken cutting or burning and heathland burning may be necessary. 

Where to focus action

South West Dartmoor Downs, North Devon Culm, East Devon scarp slopes and plateau heaths,  Enclosed Dartmoor    

Consultation Q – check these areas as largely in Culm?

Bastard balm

Melittis meliosphyllum

Bastard balm is a threatened UK Priority Species which is more common in Devon and Cornwall than anywhere else. It’s a woodland and scrub species, with a few populations in sheltered coastal grasslands.

Bastard balm is widely scattered in Devon and many of the larger populations are on road verges where annual cuts provided perfect habitat (A few are designated as Special Verges for bastard balm). However, road verges are now cut less often and as scrub grows the population will decline. Bastard balm responds well to management and populations will increase following coppicing or scrub clearance.

Actions

Manage woodlands (create and maintain open areas), grasslands and road verges for bastard balm.

  • Restore oak coppicing in woodlands and rotational scrub clearance in woodlands and grasslands to benefit bastard balm. 
  • Cut Special Verges annually where bastard balm occurs.

Where to focus action

Woodlands, grasslands and Special Verges across Devon where populations occur. 

Consultation Q – should we focus on any specific areas?

Field gentian - Peter Llewellyn

South West Dartmoor Downs Specialists

A series of unenclosed commons lie on Dartmoor’s southwestern edge, stretching between Tavistock and Ivybridge. The commons support a mosaic of acid grassland, bracken, mire, scrub and heathland communities and at first glance may appear overgrazed and unimpressive. However, historically, they have supported around 50 nationally rare and threatened vascular plant species, along with over 30 species that are rare or scarce in Devon.

They are considered to support the highest number of acid grassland and heathland plant species of any area in Devon. Five species have been listed as Focus Species to represent this group which are in need of particular attention. Two are possibly extinct. Lesser butterfly orchid, Devon whitebeam and bastard balm are other Focus Species found here. For more details see the LNRS paper on the SW Dartmoor Downs plants and the Devon Flora, links in Find out more.

Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile

Chamomile is a mat-forming species which grows in seasonally wet, acid grassland that is generally tightly and heavily grazed. It‘s often associated with village greens, road verges, seasonally-flooded trackways and the margins of seasonal pools.

Chamomile is declining quickly in the UK. Its distribution is now largely confined to lowland areas of southern England, Ireland and Wales. SW Dartmoor Downs is a stronghold but a few outliers are found on the south Devon coast and dunes at Northam Burrows.

Cornish eyebright - Peter Llewellyn

Cornish eyebright

Euphrasia vigursii

Cornish eyebright is an endangered annual species that grows in well-grazed heathlands and mires on the edge of Dartmoor. It’s more common in Cornwall and very rare at other sites in Devon. It’s known at Roborough Down, Lydford High Down and at Shapley Common. within East Dartmoor SSSI.

Numbers can fluctuate wildly depending on site conditions. Lydford High Down supported 21,000 plants in 2002 but only between 250 and 350 plants annually in the decades since. This decline is thought to reflect less grazing and taller grassland and heathland vegetation.

Marsh clubmoss

Lycopodiella inundata

Marsh clubmoss is not a moss but a type of fern. It first appeared on earth about 400 million years ago and most members of its family are now extinct. It’s one of 13 plant species that the Species Recovery Trust is trying to save by 2050.

Marsh clubmoss was once widespread across wet heaths and mires but is now only found in very low numbers in around 100 heathland sites across England and Wales with a stronghold in the New Forest. In Devon it’s only found on old china clay pits in this area –  Cadover, Headon Down CWS and Smallhanger Waste CWS. The Smallhanger Waste site is within the Lee Moor china clay quarry and at threat from extraction. The Cadover site may be at threat from fishing lake developments. 

Irish ladies-tresses - Peter Llewellyn

Irish lady’s-tresses (possibly extinct in Devon)

Spiranthes romanzoffiana

Irish lady’s-tresses has only ever been recorded from one site in England, at Whitchurch Down near Tavistock in west Devon,  where it grew in wet acid valley mire. Six plants were discovered here (and new to England) in July 1957, reaching a maximum population of 22 flowering plants in 1986. However, since four plants flowered in August 1993, it may have disappeared from this site. It’s relatively widely scattered in western Scotland, and discovered new to Wales from a single site in Ceredigion in July 2019.

Field gentian - Peter Llewellyn

Field gentian (possibly extinct in Devon)

Gentianella campestris

In Devon, field gentian was probably confined to bristle bent and western gorse heathland. It’s been recorded at a scattering of sites from Meldon to Ivybridge but the last records were from Roborough Down in 1994-96. Nationally it’s mainly found in the uplands of Scotland and the north of England. It’s now very rare in southern England and outside the New Forest has only been seen in seven sites since 2000.

Actions

Manage existing grass-heath-mire common to restore their wildlife value for rare plants. Where possible expand existing sites and restore lost ones.

  • Review grazing regimes to identify stewardship funding that could allow an increase of cattle and ponies but a decrease of sheep.
  • Selectively clear scrub and secondary woodland from parts of the grassland areas, in particular Roborough Common and the southern parts of Smallhanger Waste.
  • Maintain and expand a sustainable annual programme of bracken cutting, in particular on Plaster, Ringmoor, Whitchurch and Roborough downs.
  • Compare the nature conservation benefits of burning with flailing at Roborough Common.
  • Review outstanding minerals permissions around Smallhanger Waste to identify whether mining areas that are currently unworked can be conserved for their rich flora and dragonfly fauna. 
  • Restore Lee Moor and Hemerdon quarries to benefit rare flora.

Survey

  • Survey the rare plants of the downs, focussing on the rarest species and those that are currently deemed to be extinct, here and in the rest of Devon. 
Forked spleenwort - Peter Llewellyn

Sunny rocky outcrops

There are two Focus Species which grow on sunny rocky outcrops, mainly in the Teign Valley gorge. 

Forked spleenwort - Peter Llewellyn

Forked spleenwort

Asplenium septentrionale

Forked spleenwort is only known from the Canonteign Forest near Hennock (now managed by the Forestry Commission).  Only a few plants survive making this species arguably the rarest plant species in Devon, and perhaps south-west England. 

Forked spleenwort is nationally scarce with fewer than ten colonies in England, although it’s more widespread in central and north Wales and Scotland. 

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort

Hypericum linarifolium

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort grows on metamorphic rocks in heathland with an abundance of bare ground. It’s a nationally threatened species and most of the British population is found in the Teign valley. Most colonies (around 15) occur on rocks in the woodlands from Steps Bridge to Drewsteignton and in good seasons populations can be in the low thousands. A group of rare spiders are also found along this stretch of the Teign gorge. 

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort is also found in Cannonteign Forest growing with the forked spleenwort. Other known sites are one in the Dart valley, two on Devon’s southern coast, two in Cornwall and two isolated populations in North Wales.

Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort can reproduce freely from buried seed in open or coppiced woodlands, but will easily decline and disappear if sites become overgrown and shady.  

Actions

Maintain and expand sunny open areas on rocky outcrops.

  • Clear gorse and coppice oak on rotation around key metamorphic rock outcrops to provide open rock ledges and adjacent rubbly slopes.

Where to focus action

Teign Valley gorge.  See Teign Valley spider zone for areas higher up the Teign Valley with toadflax-leaved St John’s wort. See Mapping.

Heath lobelia - Peter Llewyn, UK Wildflowers

Grazed wet acid grasslands and heath (including heath lobelia)

A number of Focus Species thrive in heavily grazed acid grasslands and heaths where livestock create microhabitats of bare soil, nutrient-poor shallow pools and muddy hollows. Key threats are loss of habitat, lack of heavy grazing and pollution from fertilisers and livestock. 

Heath lobelia - Peter Llewyn, UK Wildflowers

Heath Lobelia

Lobelia urens

Heath lobelia is generally found in open wet acid grasslands and heathlands in the south of England. Heavy winter grazing by cattle or ponies prevent shading and creates bare soil where the seeds can germinate. Seeds can persist for long period in the soil and so it is possible to restore old sites.

It’s only found in seven sites as a native species, two of which are in Devon.  In the 19th century health lobelia extended over a large area of heathland on Shute Common in east Devon. Most of this habitat has been lost to conifers and dairy farming and it is now only found in a small area of species-rich wet grassland in a garden and is being re-introduced at nearby Kilmington Common.

In south Devon it is restricted to Andrews Wood SSSI which has the largest population in the world.  It used to grow at Stanton Moor.

Three-lobed crowfoot - Peter Llewyn, UK Wildflowers

Three-lobed crowfoot

Ranunculus tripartitus

A small endangered winter annual that grows in shallow nutrient poor pools and muddy hollows. Perfect microhabitats include rutted tracks and gaps in walls and hedges where stock move between fields.

Its stronghold was north Devon culm grasslands between Hatherleigh and the Cornish border. It was thought to be extinct but was found at Bridge Moor (west of Holsworthy) in 2000. This small population remains very vulnerable.  It has also been found at Dunsdon Farm SSSI (a DWT reserve) and is possibly at Gittisham CWS in east Devon.

Pennyroyal

Mentha pulegium

Pennyroyal is an endangered species. It grows on the edges of ponds and in heavily grazed damp pastures and heaths with bare ground. Since 1990, it has been recorded in six sites in Devon, including Bovey Heathfield SSSI (it was previously found at other heathland sites in this area) and Chapel Hill SSSI, Braunton. Interestingly, it has also been found in dry clifftop grasslands near Hallsands on the south Devon coast.

Yellow centaury

Cicendia filiformis

Yellow centaury is found in grazed lowland heathland in the same microhabitats as pennyroyal. It can also occasionally be found along forestry rides, on coastal cliffs and dune slacks. In Devon, yellow centaury has only ever been found at two sites and was last recorded in 2003 at Meddon Green Local Nature Reserve near Hartland in north Devon which is managed by the Parish Council.

Consultation Q for the parish – is it still there?

Actions

Heavily graze areas of wet acid grasslands and heaths to create pools, hollows and bare soil for rare plants, being sensitive to the needs of other species.

  • Heavily graze with traditional breeds of cattle or ponies (during the winter where possible) to create pools, hollow and open areas at existing sites. Lightly graze during the summer to control scrub and maintain an open grassland. Clear scrub mechanically where needed.
  • Assess sites for the potential to restore, reintroduce or introduce Focus Species.

Consultation Q – does this management cause issues for other species / soils…..?

Where to focus action

North Devon Culm, Bovey Basin heaths, East Devon scarp slopes and plateau heaths. See Mapping (use search to find sites mentioned).

  • Three-lobed crowfoot: Bridgerule Moor and Dunsdon Farm SSSI, both near Holsworthy, Gittisham CWS.
  • Pennyroyal: Bovey Heathfield SSSI, Chapel Hill SSSI
  • Heath lobelia: Andrew’s Wood SSSI and Kilmington Common CWS
  • Yellow centaury: Meddon Green LNR, Hartland
Greater butterfly orchid - Peter Llewellyn

Unimproved grasslands

Four Focus Species have been identified for this habitat, representing a range of grassland types. However, Devon’s unimproved grasslands support a wealth of other plant species and other Devon Species of Conservation Concern include add following consultation.

Greater butterfly orchid - Peter Llewellyn

Greater butterfly-orchid

Platanthera chlorantha

The greater butterfly-orchid is widely scattered across Devon. However, it’s absent or very rare in large parts of the county, such as the culm of north Devon where it’s being replaced by the lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia), which is itself in fast decline (see above). 

The greater butterfly-orchid is found in grasslands on well-drained base-rich soils. Dartmoor’s meadows and pastures are now a stronghold, particularly on the enclosed lowlands between the rivers Teign and Dart. It is also found in low numbers in other areas, such as the east Devon coast.

Frog orchid - Peter Llewellyn

Frog orchid

Coeloglossum viride

The frog orchid is a threatened species. Although never common, it was once widely scattered in short acid pasture across Devon. It is now only known from one Dartmoor haymeadow (designated a SSSI). 

Wood bitter-vetch - Peter Llewellyn

Wood bitter-vetch

Vicia orobus

Wood bitter-vetch grows on field boundaries and among boulders in grazed fields. It’s very rare in south-west England and Devon supports roughly 33% of the region’s population. It’s currently only found at two sites in Devon. 

Green winged orchid - Peter Llewyn, UK Wildflowers

Green-winged orchid

Anacamptis morio

Green-winged orchid is characteristic of old, unimproved meadows and pastures on base-rich to mildly acidic soils. It’s largely found in south Devon, from the Dart to the Otter (including good numbers on the coastal National Trust sites outside Exmouth). The Teign Valley is thought to be a stronghold.

Green-winged orchids seem resistant to colonising new ground and continue to decline in old sites. However, Devon does still boast a few large colonies.

Actions

Manage, expand and create species rich grasslands for Focus Species. Consider re-introductions where appropriate.

  • See Wildlife-rich grasslands for general actions that will benefit these species.  

Where to focus action

Dartmoor Enclosed meadows, Mid Teign Valley,  Exmouth to Sidmouth Coastal Wildbelt. See Mapping

Cornflower - Peter Llewellyn

Arable plants

The disappearance of many once common arable plants is now well documented. Of the 25 plants that have shown greatest national declines since 1930, 18 occur exclusively or partly in arable fields. The loss of plant abundance and diversity from arable fields is the main reason why insects and farmland birds are also in decline.

Most arable fields in Devon are now species-poor and dominated by a few species such as chickweed and scentless mayweed. A few less common species which are still widespread in Devon include corn spurrey (Spergula arvensis), field madder (Sherardia arvensis), sharp-leaved fluellen (KIckxia elatine), small-flowered buttercup (Ranunculus parviflorus), field woundwort (Stachys arvensis) and weasel’s snout (Misopates orontium). 

15 arable plants are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern.  These include Corn buttercup (Ranunculus arvensis) and Shepherd’s needle (Scandix pecten-veneris) both critically endangered but very rare in Devon(may occur between Dunsford and Cheriton Bishop) and Annual knawel (Scleranthus annuus)

Six species have been listed as Focus Species in need of particular attention.  Most were once common across Devon. 

Cornflower - Peter Llewellyn

Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus

A striking arable wildflower recognisable by its vivid blue flowers. It grows in freely-draining and relatively acidic soils, usually occurring in autumn-sown crops.

Cornflower is very rare in Devon with a few records from south Devon (coastal fields near Dartmouth), arable land west of Crediton and a new record near the north coast. This species is often included in  ‘wildflower’ mixes including in the Ludwell Valley, Exeter.

Mousetail

Myosurus minimus

Usually found on the compacted, disturbed and seasonally wet soils of field gateways. It gets its name from the tiny, tail-like appearance of its seed heads, which resemble the tail of a mouse. In Devon mousetail is largely found to the north-west of Colyton but also occurs east of Exmouth, in the Clyst Valley and near Musbury.

Prickly poppy

Papaver argemone

Generally found in autumn-sown arable crops on freely-draining sandy soils.  Since 2000, it has only been seen in a field between Credition and Tedburn St Mary and in three fields between Braunton and Braunton Burrows.

Small-flowered catchfly

Silene gallica

This flower gets its name from its sticky, glandular hairs, which can trap small insects. It grows in open spring-cultivated stony, free-draining, acidic arable fields and also on unstable soft-rock cliffs. Since 2000, it’s been recorded from several sites between Exeter and Plymouth, especially in the coastal arable between Dartmouth and Thurlestone. It’s also recently been found near Clovelly in North Devon.

Narrow-fruited cornsalad

Valerianella dentata

Most often found on freely-draining calcareous soils, especially near the coast. It’s more common in spring-sown crops and is usually found in species-rich field margins with plants such as small-flowered catchfly, weasel’s snout and corn marigold. Since 2000, most records are from the Teign Valley between Chudleigh and Cheriton Bishop and from the south coast between Salcombe and Dartmouth. It is now largely absent from north Devon.

Broad-fruited cornsalad

Valerianella rimosa

Similar habitat requirements to the narrow-fruited cornsalad but can also grow on heavier calcareous clays. It grows in species-rich field margins on a farm near Dartmouth, where it’s managed under an agri-environment agreement. Plantlife has also introduced it to a field near Salcombe.

Actions

Create uncropped cultivated margins or plots and maintain disturbance for arable plants.

  • Cultivate margins or plots in the spring or autumn so plants can grow from the seedbank. Leave until the 31 August without applying fertilisers or pesticides (other than spot treating injurious weeds etc if needed). See Find out more below for more information.
  • Consider reintroducing rare plants with expert advice.

Consultation Q: What is happening since Back from the Brink Colour in the Margins? Presume picked up through Life on the Edge?

Survey

  • Develop a Devon register of arable sites to allow targeted survey and monitoring. This will help to locate hotspots and target conservation action.  Areas to target for survey include Crediton to Dunsford, coastal arable of the South Hams, south-east Devon from Colyton to Uplyme and Braunton.

Where to focus action

The south Devon coast is a remaining stronghold and an area supporting rare arable plants is mapped as a High Opportunity Area. See Mapping.

Rare whitebeams

The best known whitebeams (Sorbus) in Devon are rowan, common whitebeam and the wild service tree, all of which need to be pollinated in order to produce fruit. However, there are also 20 species of Sorbus which are apomictic, which means they can set seed without fertilisation and have offspring which are identical to the parents. 

Devon is one of the richest counties in Britain for whitebeams and the apomictic species. The entire population of some of these species consists of just a few trees. The majority are found in open woodlands and scrub on the Exmoor coast.  Some are also found on limestone in south Devon near Kingsteignton and the Torbay coast. The Devon whitebeam is largely a hedgerow species

The whole group is considered a Devon Special Species.

Devon whitebeam Sorbus devoniensis

Devon whitebeam is only found in the British Isles and is largely restricted to Devon and  south-east Ireland. The Devon population appears stable, with new sites being found every year. It’s mainly found across north Devon (not the coast) but there are isolated populations on the limestone near Kingsteignton, at Roborough Common (south-west Dartmoor) and Little Haldon. Most trees occur in hedges, although some grow in open woodland. Natural regeneration was noted under two trees on Roborough Common in 2018.

Watersmeet whitebeam Sorbus admonitor

Watersmeet whitebeam is a threatened species confined to Exmoor in the central Watersmeet area. Since the 1930s, a large tree above the river at Lynton has been referred to as the ‘No Parking’ tree because of the notice nailed to it.

English whitebeam Sorbus anglica

English whitebeam is very rare and only found on the Devonian limestones near Kingkerswell (Stoneycombe quarry area) and Devon’s Exmoor coast. 

Bloody whitebeam Sorbus vexans

Bloody whitebeam is a threatened species only known to be in a small area of north Devon and Somerset. It grows on acid soils in open woodland and among scrub on open sea cliffs, though usually in more sheltered areas. The total population is estimated to be around 66 trees, of which 42 are in Devon.

Margaret’s whitebeam Sorbus margaretae

Margaret’s whitebeam is a threatened species restricted to coastal areas in north Devon and Somerset. It grows on steep slopes in mixed woodland dominated by oak, or on acid grassland, broken rocks and scree.

Slender whitebeam Sorbus subcuneata

Most slender whitebeam trees are found on or near the coasts of north Devon and Somerset. The grow on acid to neutral soils in open rocky woodland, or among bracken and scrub on more open hillsides,

Grey-leaved whitebeam Sorbus porrigentiformis

Grey-leaved whitebeam grows in open limestone sea cliffs on the north side of Torbay and a nearby disused limestone quarry. It’s also found in open woodland in the Watersmeet area and on cliffs to the west.

Rock whitebeam Sorbus rupicola

Rock whitebeam is found on limestone and other rocks around Torbay and in scrub and woodland on the north coast.

Actions

Protect current populations of rare whitebeams and allow species to naturally regenerate.  Raise awareness.

Consultation Q –  what is happening regs conservation? Propagation? Are they mapped on the NBN?

Where to focus action

Coastal Wildbelts:  Morte Point to Somerset and Torbay Limestone.  See Mapping.

North Devon hedges.

Consultation Q – include limestone around Kingsteignton for these and other calcareous habitats

Calcareous coastal grasslands

Devon’s chalk and limestone grasslands in east Devon, Torbay and Plymouth support a wealth of rare species.  A few of these species also occur in and around the dunes at Braunton Burrows in north Devon. Species are discussed in groups based on where they are found.  The Torbay limestone species are in a separate drop down.

Sidmouth to Dorset coastal wildbelt only

Nottingham catchfly

Silene nutans

Nottingham catchfly is a long-lived species found in freely-draining, stony habitats on chalk and limestone and on coastal shingle. In Devon, it’s been recorded between Salcombe Mouth and Beer Head, Beer and Seaton Hole, and the Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs. It’s the only plant white spot moth larvae eat so is vital for the moths’ survival.

Early gentian

Gentianella anglica

Early gentian thrives in lightly cattle grazed, species-rich calcareous grasslands.  It seems to prefer a mosaic of turf heights and bare soil, which allow germination. Seeds are likely to remain dormant in the soil for several years.

The only reliable records in Devon are from a clifftop plateau at Rousdon in the  Axmouth to Lyme Regis NNR.  It was last seen in 2016, but numbers fluctuate hugely from year to year. The Berry Head population has not been re-found. There have been no records at Braunton since 1995, and if it is there, it may be a hybrid with the other gentian species that occur nearby.

Sidmouth to Dorset and Braunton Burrows

White horehound

Marrubium vulgare

Occurs in calcareous grasslands and coastal sand dunes. It’s been recorded around Braunton and at Beer Head on the east Devon coast.

Marsh fragrant orchid

Gymnadenia densiflora

A perennial orchid primarily found in sunny, wet, open areas in cattle grazed calcareous flushes and fens. It’s currently known from three sites in Devon: Culverhole Point on the Axmouth-Lyme Regis undercliffs, Springhead Fen SSSI near Axmouth and wet dune slacks at Braunton Burrows. The three Devon sites are among only seven in south-west England. Threats include scrub encroachment and pollution.

All limestone and chalk coastal areas

Pale St John’s wort

Hypericum montanum

Pale St John’s wort is a perennial species restricted to calcareous grasslands and scrub edges over both chalk and limestone. It’s tolerant of some shade but prefers open habitats and is generally found in lightly grazed grasslands. It’s widespread, but the Devonian limestone of Torbay and Plymouth and the chalk of east Devon’s coast are some of the main areas for this species in the UK.

Plymouth and Brixham limestone

Field eryngo

Eryngium campestre

Field eryngo is a  perennial species, recognisable by its spiky, thistle-like appearance. It thrives in grazed, dry, open calcareous grasslands near the coast. Most of the British population is found in six sites in south Devon. Three of these, Western King and Billacombe in Plymouth and Scabbacombe near Brixham, are designated as SSSIs due to the presence of field ernygo. However, it may have been lost from Scabbacombe SSSI now, but can be found in an adjacent field.

Torbay limestone specialists

Torbay’s limestone grasslands form part of the largest surviving extent of semi-natural vegetation on Devonian limestone in Britain and are critically important for plants including many very rare species.  Five are listed here as Focus Species but others include dwarf mouse-ear (Cerastium pumillum), basil thyme (Clinopodium acinos). Pale St John’s wort (Hypericum montanum) is discussed under Calcareous coastal grasslands above.  The area also supports rare whitebeams where are discussed under Rare whitebeams above.

Key issues include excess trampling from visitors, nutrient enrichment from dog faeces, lack of grazing and invasives. See Wildlife-rich grasslands for more information. 

Goldilocks aster

Galatella linosyris

This threatened species is a long-lived herbaceous perennial. The Torbay population is considered the second largest in the British Isles, and is largely confined to the relatively narrow coastal strip immediately south of Berry Head Common, including the cliff slopes around Durl Head, and running south to Kiln House meadow and St Mary’s Bay. 

Small restharrow

Ononis reclinata

Small restharrow is a UK Priority Species that is legally protected. It’s an annual that thrives on coastal cliffs and slopes and shallow soil accumulations on cliff-slope limestone outcrops. It’s been found at Walls Hill, Berry Head and Sharkham Point, where it grows near the cliff edge where competition from other species is low.

Honewort

Trinia glauca

Honewort is very locally abundant on Berry Head Common, with very small populations towards Durl Head and St Mary’s Bay and at Sharkham Point. Old, unconfirmed records exist for the northern limestones of the bay. Otherwise it’s  only known in Britain from the southern Mendips and Bristol limestones. Because it’s very low growing it’s easily outcompeted. Seeds have a very short viability, so once it dies out it can’t recolonise. 

Small hare’s ear

Bupleurum baldense

This tiny annual is confined to two spots on Berry Head, which is one of only two sites in the UK. It’s otherwise only known from the coastal chalk of the South Downs near Beachy Head in Sussex. Given its rarity it’s endangered and legally protected.

White rock-rose

Helianthemum appenium

White rock-rose is a threatened speces. It’s a delicate, sun-loving, flower that produces distinctive bright white flowers. It’s locally abundant on Berry Head and is also found growing on the northern Torbay coastal limestones, where about 15 separate small populations are known. It’s otherwise only found in Britain in a handful of sites on the Mendip Hills. The species often germinates well from buried seed and so former sites can be restored through scrub and secondary woodland clearance. 

Other coastal wildbelt (non-calcareous)

Coastal grasslands on neutral and acid soils also support a number of rare species. Devon Species of Conservation Concern include yellow vetch (Vicia lutea), purple broomrape (Orobanche purpurea), which was discovered on a wall at Ayrmer Cove, west of Bigbury, in 2022.  Green winged orchids are a Focus Species also found on the coast, especially near Exmouth – see Unimproved grasslands above.

Lundy cabbage

Coincya wrightii

The only known site in the world for Lundy cabbage is on bare areas of Lundy’s steep cliffs, where it’s widely scattered along the eastern sheltered side of the island. However, the weather can cause annual populations to fluctuate significantly, with 320 and 10,000 plants recorded in different years.   Move this to the Lundy inverts page?

The greatest threat is the spread of invasive common rhododendrons. In controlled numbers, rabbits can help maintain open areas.  The Lundy cabbage weevil and flea beetle live on the Lundy cabbage and so are also only known on Lundy (see Lundy invertebrates).  

Smooth cats-ear

Hypochaeris glabra

This threatened species is found in lowland dry acidic grassland, coastal sand dunes, maritime cliff and slope. In Devon it’s found in coastal grasslands at Dawlish Warren, Braunton Burrows and between Kingswear and Brixham.

Shore dock

Rumex rupestris

Shore dock is a deep-rooted perennial found on the lower part of sea cliffs, particularly where there are freshwater seepages. Numbers can fluctuate hugely, in part because of storms and cliff falls. South Devon supports perhaps the greatest concentration of populations of this species in Britain.

There are six known sites between Wembury and Bigbury, most of which have small numbers of plants. However, the best monitored site is Soar Mill Cove where 400 plants were counted in 2009. Sites need to be protected from recreational damage. 

Slender birdsfoot trefoil

Lotus angustissimus

Slender birdsfoot trefoil is a classic species of the south Devon coastal grasslands where it’s often found around rock outcrops or on the edges of the coast path. It’s particularly associated with the stretch between the mouth of the Salcombe Estuary and Start Point. However, it’s also found on steep grassy slopes in the Teign Valley that are kept open by soil slippage and rabbits grazing and is probably more common in Devon that anywhere else in Britain. As with other species, declines are due to lack of grazing or burning and encroachment of scrub and gorse.   

Bithynian vetch

Vicia bithynica

Bithynian vetch is a nationally scarce, annual plant found on grassland on south-facing slopes of soft eroding sea cliffs and other freely draining sites near the coast. It’s been recorded in a few sites in and near Exmouth, including Sandy Bay Caravan Park. It was formerly frequent along the non-calcareous cliffs from Torquay to Lyme Regis. It’s not nationally threatened but has declined rapidly across the country and is a flagship species for the coast between Exmouth and Sidmouth.

Actions

Manage and restore coastal grasslands for Focus Species. Re-introduce species where appropriate.

  • See Wildlife-rich grassland pages for more details on coastal grasslands.  
  • Graze sites appropriately and monitor impacts to tweak grazing levels.  Where grazing isn’t possible, mow (cut and collect) to maintain open habitats
  • Clear scrub, secondary woodland as needed to restore grassland habitats. Control invasive species
  • Manage dog fouling to reduce enrichment, particularly at Berry Head.
  • Consider restoring habitat by experimental mechanical scraping of coarse grassland to expose the underlying subsoil and bedrock. 
  • Restore non SSSI grasslands between Daddyhole and Dyer’s Quarry SSSIs and north of Babbacombe Cliffs SSSI (around Petit Tor).  

Where to focus action

  • Coastal Wildbelts – see Mapping.
  • Calcareous grasslands: Sidmouth to Dorset,  Braunton Burrows (in Cornwall to Morte Point), Plymouth Limestone?  Consultation Q:  agree what to map as key sites include Billacombe and Western King SSSIs – check how relates to spiders and Plymouth Pear.
  • Torbay limestone specialists:  Torbay limestone
  • Consultation Q:  Do we extend Torbay CWB to include the fields around Scabbacombe SSSI?
  • Other coastal:  Lundy, Exmouth to Sidmouth (Bithynian vetch and green winged orchid), Start Point to Bolt Tail, Bolt Tail to Plymouth Sound
Sea stock - Peter Llewellyn

Sand dunes plants

The sand dunes at Braunton Burrows SSSI are of international importance for plants.  More detailed information om these and Dawlish Warren SSSI can be found in sources such as the Devon Flora, see links in Find our more.  Four Focus Species which are confined to sand dunes have been listed below. 

Other Focus Species found in other coastal areas include  smooth cat’s ear, white horehound and marsh fragrant orchid, discussed in the coastal group above.  Other Devon Species of Conservation Concern include lesser water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides),which was once scattered across Devon on the edges of ditches, pools and lakes and is now only found at Braunton Burrows, and heath dog-violet (Viola canina), which was once found at Braunton Burrows and Dawlish Warren.  

Sea stock - Peter Llewellyn

Sea stock

Matthiola sinuate

Sea stock grows in open sand in foredunes, usually on the first ridge of yellow dunes. It is abundant at Braunton Burrows where 5,000 plants were recorded in 2005, making it possibly the largest population in the UK. It’s also found in smaller numbers on the foredunes at Northam Burrows and was recorded at Instow Sands in 1991. It’s otherwise only known from the dunes along the northern shores of the Bristol Channel and from a small population that was recently rediscovered at the mouth of Poole Harbour in Dorset. 

Threats include rabbit grazing and being swamped by sea buckthorn, a particular problem at Instow and Braunton.

Round-headed club-rush

Scripoides holoschoenus

Round-headed club-rush grows in seasonally-flooded dune slacks and can form a crescent of plants when the wind blows seed to the inland side of the slacks.

It’s abundant at Braunton Burrows (thousands of plants), but is otherwise only known from Berrow Dunes in Somerset where there is one plant. Threats include cattle grazing (it is very palatable) and lack of regeneration from seed due to a lack of bare ground.

Water germander

Teucrium scordium

Water germander is another species that grows in seasonally-flooded dune slacks, particularly where grazing, vehicle activity and natural dune erosion reduce competition from other plants.  

It’s native to England and is confined to a handful of sites in the East Anglian fens and Devon. Water germander is well established at Braunton, although it’s undergone a massive decline. It’s severely threatened and rare at Northam Burrows.

Warren crocus

Romulea columnae

Warren crocus is a threatened species which grows on short turf on sandy grassland. It’s only known from two sites in Britain, one in Cornwall and the other at Dawlish Warren dunes.

Actions

Manage Braunton, Northam, Dawlish and other smaller dunes for Focus Species.

  • Selectively clear scrub and secondary woodland, including sea buckthorn at Instow and Braunton.
  • Review the need for an ongoing programme of mechanical scraping to remove herbaceous vegetation in key dune slacks
  • Maintain appropriate grazing regimes. 
  • Control invasive species, including sea buckthorn and Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa
  • Review opportunities to develop a wider programme of extensive grazing, perhaps linking key duneland habitat in Braunton Burrows to the wider coastal landscape, including Braunton Marsh and Swanpool. 
  • Consider translocations and re-introductions??

Where to focus action

Braunton Burrows, Northam Burrows and Dawlish Warren SSSIs.

Estuarine plants

Three estuarine plants have been identified as Focus Species that need specific action or attention. Other Species of Conservation Concern include frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) and sea barley (Hordeum marinum), which grow on the saltmarshes and grazing marshes of the Exe estuary and Borrer’s saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia fasciculata) also on the Exe as well as marshes at Kingsbridge and on the Taw.

Triangular club-rush

Schoenoplectus triqueter

Triangular club-rush has always been a rare and very localised species in the UK. It’s a tussock-forming perennial that once grew on open, upper estuarine mudbanks of the Thames, Meday, Tamar and Arun.  As areas became colonised by reeds such as Phragmites australis triangular club-rush declined.

It is now only found on the Tamar near Bere Alston but this population is very vulnerable and the last clump was recorded in 2010. Kew began reintroductions in the 1980s, planting  seeds at several sites in 1997, 1998 and 2010 between Morwhelham in  Devon and Cotehele in Cornwall, and it may still survive at some sites.  The upper tidal reaches of estuaries may be threatened in the future by rising sea levels as a result of climate change. 

Consultation Q – who is managing the re-intros and knows the current situation?

Divided sedge

Carex divisa

Divided sedge is typically found in damp, coastal grasslands and grazing marshes. It thrives in areas with seasonally wet soils and low-intensity grazing, such as estuarine fringes and wet meadows. Divided sedge is rare and although it was recently recorded in the Otter Estuary, it’s not known if it’s still there or could be restored.

Dwarf spike-rush

Eleocharis parvula

Dwarf spike-rush is a nationally threatened small perennial plant that grows on exposed mud in the upper tidal reaches of estuaries. It has recently been lost from sites in north Wales and the south coast of England and is now only found at three sites in England. In Devon it was on the Teign and Avon but the last record at either site was on the Avon near Aveton Gifford in 2010. 

Dwarf spike-rush relies on open sites maintained by grazing or other disturbance. 

Actions

Manage and protect rare plants on intertidal estuarine habitats – assess the potential to expand habitats through managed retreat.

  • Survey sites for the Focus Species. Maintain open habitat where they occur and protect them from infrastructure projects, including river bank defences.
  • Assess the potential for managed retreat at Aveton Gifford, upstream of the main road, to increase open intertidal habitats.

Where to focus action

Tamar, Otter and Avon estuaries. See Mapping.

South West Dartmoor Downs

Link to South West Dartmoor Downs webpage.

Arable (disturbed ground) plants

See Arable (disturbed ground) plants webpage.

Actions for all flowering plants and ferns

Habitat management

All Devon’s plants will benefit from the actions set out in the Habitat pages. 

Anyone who manages habitat with rare plants or wants to create new habitat for them should be aware of their needs. For more information see the list of Devon Species of Conservation Concern and Find out more below. 

Survey, monitor and engagement

Survey and monitor species (especially Focus Species) and share records with DBRC and the Devon County Recorder (see Find out more below).

Join the Devonshire Association’s botany group and attend training courses to learn more about plants in Devon. 
Support organisations and projects working to help Devon’s plants.

Other relevant actions

3. Inspiration

Case studies

To be added following discussion during Consultation – text below is draft

Could include Moor Meadows + Dynamic Dunescapes +  Life on the Edge HLF Project on south coast.

Back from the Brink – arable plants + lesser butterfly orchid

Heath lobelia is a target species for the Species Recovery Trust, who are coordinating a reintroduction programme and management at all UK sites. They’re working with East Devon National Landscape and local residents to re-introduce heath lobelia to Kilmington Common.

Where to visit

To be added following discussion during Consultation.

All sites of high botanical importance on the Torbay limestones are managed by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and have free and open access. Walls Hill (in Babbacombe, north of the bay) and Berry Head (in Brixham, south of the bay) offer the widest range of special vegetation types and rich floras.

4. Find out more

To be added following discussion during Consultation.

Please see a New Flora of Devon for a detailed overview of Devon’s plants and records – including descriptions of the areas mentioned in this section.

Plantlife

The Species Recovery Trust

The NBN Atlas has species records, and a search function that pulls up records for a specific area. Health warning: the Atlas shows records submitted and not actual distribution of species. Therefore, absence on the map does not mean absence. Some records are also quite old and the species may no longer be present.   

Get records from and share them with Devon Biodiversity Records CentreNote: they may charge, depending on the reason for the request.

iNaturalistUK helps you identify wildlife and share records. 

The Devonshire Association Botany Group has lots of information on Devon’s plants and their location in the Devon Flora.

Plant Atlas 2020 is the most comprehensive survey of flowering plants, ferns and charophytes undertaken in Britain and Ireland.

Lesser butterfly orchid 
 
One of the target species for the Back from the Brink HLF Project with this element led by Plantlife.  Included work on the Poundsgate population.
 
Deptford pink  
 
Information from the Species Recovery Trust
 
Whitebeams 
 
???
 
Information from East Devon National Landscape
 
South West Dartmoor Downs
 
South West Dartmoor Downs, paper for the Devon LNRS, Andy Byfield link to be added.
 
The Species Recovery Trust has information on marsh clubmoss and forked spleenwort.
 
Byfield, A.J. (2011).  The south-west Dartmoor downs.  British Wildlife, 22(3): 184-192.  
 
Byfield, A.J. (2016). Southwest Dartmoor Downs.  In: Smith, R., Hodgson, R. & Ison, J. (2016).  A New Flora of Devon. The Devonshire Association of the Advancement of Science, Literature & Arts, Exeter. 
 
Potential delivery partners:
Local communities, landowners and land managers
Dartmoor Commoners’ Council  
Dartmoor National Park Authority 
Natural England 
Tamar Valley National Landscape 
Devon County Council (minerals and ecology) 
Minerals companies 
Species Recovery Trust
Butterfly Conservation
Devon Dragonfly Group
 
Poached wet acid grassland and heaths
 
Species information guide from Back from the Brink
 
Million Ponds Project leaflet on creating ponds for yellow centaury
 
Information from The Species Recovery Trust

Arable  own drop down?
 
Plantlife has lots of information on identifying and managing land for arable plants
 
Plantlife’s Back from the Brink project was funded by the Heritage Lottery. It aimed to save threatened arable habitats and the species that depend on them.
 
Plantlife’s Important Arable Plant Areas – ask Plantlife for a link as we can’t find it….
 
Current agri-environment options for arable plants: AB11: Cultivated areas for arable plants.  See Countryside stewardship grant finder.
 
Hurford C, Storkey J, Swan E, Wilson PJ (2024).  Reversing declines in arable biodiversity: challenges and opportunities.  The article is available on subscription to British Wildlife.
 
Wilson PJ & King M (2003).  Arable Plants – a field guide.  The book is available from booksellers including the NHBS.
 
Potential partners for conservation action
Farmers and landowners facilitation groups
Communities and botanical surveyors (to survey and monitor)
South Devon National Landscape
East Devon National Landscape
National Trust
FWAG SW
Plantlife?
GWCT
 
Although arable habitats are included in The National Vegetation Classification (Rodwell, 2000), the data the accounts are based on predates many of the recent changes in the arable flora. This classification should be revised so that  conservation priorities can be assessed. There are no currently accepted standard botanical survey or condition assessment methods for arable habitats, and no national register of biodiverse arable sites. These are significant obstacles to the conservation of arable biodiversity.
 
Torbay limestone grasslands   
 
Byfield, A.J. (2007).  Classic wildlife sites: The Torbay limestones.  British Wildlife, 18(3): 184-193.
 
Byfield, A.J. (2016).  Botany of the Torbay Limestones.  In: Smith, R., Hodgson, R. & Ison, J. (2016).  A New Flora of Devon.  The Devonshire Association of the Advancement of Science, Literature & Arts, Exeter.  
 
Coast
 
Smith, RE.N. (2016).  The South Hams coast between Start Point and Bolt Tail.  In: Smith, R., Hodgson, R. & Ison, J. (2016).  A New Flora of Devon.  The Devonshire Association of the Advancement of Science, Literature & Arts, Exeter.
 
Sand dunes 

Information on the flora of Braunton and Northam Burrows, taken from A New Flora of Devon.

Dynamic Dunscapes……
Breeds, M. (2004).  Wild Flowers of Braunton Burrows.  Tarka Country Millenium Awards, Devon.

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