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Annual Biennial

Melampyrum pratense

common cow wheat

A native, annual wildflower, found throughout the British Isles but favouring the west and north. Slender upright stems to about 50cm carry narrow, pointed leaves that are food for the caterpillars of the heath fritillary butterfly. Narrow, tubular, yellow flowers are carried in widely spaced pairs on the upper half of the stem from late spring to early autumn, peaking in summer, and providing nectar for bees and food for caterpillars of the lead-coloured pug moth

Other common names

gliniogai cyffredin

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Orobanchaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Has two subspecies found in different locations. The more common subsp. pratense occurs in open woodland, grassy clearings, scrub and moorland on acid soil; subsp. commutatum occurs on chalk or limestone soils in scrub, hedgerows or deciduous woodland. Both favour well-drained soil in a sunny or part-shaded position. It is a hemi-parasite, meaning it can photosynthesise but also derives some of its nourishment by parasitism, probably on the roots of woody plants. Consequently, it is likely to be difficult to establish away from its natural environment

Propagation

Naturally propagates by seed, often spread by wood ants

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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