A tiny grass species that can appear before many others have started growing, giving it the name “Early” Meadow Grass. It is easily overlooked due to its small size and subtle flower heads. On Lihou, it may emerge in low grassy patches or coastal paths soon after winter, taking advantage of the island’s mild conditions.

True to its name, the Dwarf Pansy forms tiny flowers barely above the ground. On Lihou it thrives in the sparse, short turf that experiences minimal disturbance. Flower-spotters must crouch low to spot these miniature pansies, as they can be easily overlooked among more robust wildflowers.

Wild Carrot produces umbrella-like clusters of tiny white blooms, often with a single dark floret in the centre (the “queen anne’s lace” effect). Bees and other insects frequent these flower heads in calm weather. On Lihou, patches of Wild Carrot add a delicate froth to the island’s short turf and sandy areas.

Named for its horn-like, deeply lobed leaves, Buck’s-horn Plantain often appears on Lihou’s paths or disturbed edges. It is highly tolerant of salt spray and trampling, making it common where people walk. Look for its compact rosettes hugging the ground, sometimes sprinkled with tiny flower spikes.

A member of the pea family, Yellow Vetch features delicate yellowish flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Like other legumes, it helps improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen at its roots. On Lihou, it may appear in open patches of grassy or sandy ground near the shoreline, adding spots of pale yellow among the greenery.

This cheerful plant is easily recognised by its clusters of yellow, pea-like flowers, sometimes tinged with red. It is important for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, and its seedpods can resemble a bird’s foot.

Known as “Poor Man’s Weatherglass,” it closes its flowers in dull conditions and opens them in bright weather. On Lihou, it can appear in scuffed ground or by footpaths, forming tiny spots of colour. Though each blossom is only a few millimetres wide, the vibrant hue stands out against the island’s more subdued greens and browns.

This delicate plant sends up tiny pink or lilac flowers just as many other species are finishing for the year. On Lihou, it can pop up in sparsely vegetated spots where competition is low, providing a surprise burst of colour in late summer. Its flower spikes may go unnoticed unless you look closely at the island’s short grassland and along the edges of the footpaths.

Thrift produces clusters of dainty pink flower heads, often forming bright patches along Lihou’s rocky coast. Its thin, grassy leaves withstand salty sprays and harsh winds, giving it an advantage over less hardy species. When in full bloom, it adds a splash of colour to Lihou.

Ragwort is instantly recognisable by its golden-yellow daisy-like flowers that appear in large, open clusters. It thrives on Lihou in areas where the vegetation is not overly dense, creating a splash of colour among the grass. Though toxic to livestock, it supports many insects, such as the cinnabar moth caterpillar, which feeds on its leaves.

Lesser Celandine is one of the earliest spring flowers, opening bright yellow petals whenever sunlight warms the ground. Around Lihou, look for its clusters in sheltered depressions or damp hollows, noticeable spots of yellow before other species emerge. Although its flowers are short-lived, they provide vital early nectar for pollinators.

Its rounded leaves, said to resemble a dove’s foot, and tiny crane’s-bill-shaped fruits give this wildflower its name. On Lihou, it can appear among sparse turf where the ground is kept short by coastal conditions. Despite the delicate blooms, it is quite hardy and can flourish in poor soils where competition from larger plants is minimal.

This rare species is known in the Channel Islands only from a brackish pool on Lihou, demonstrating how specialised plants can be in coastal environments. Its succulent-like leaves tolerate saltwater fluctuations. As an annual adapted to saline habitats, its survival depends on the pool’s unique water chemistry and the island’s minimal disturbance.

The bright yellow petals of this poppy create a striking display against sparse coastal shingle, though each bloom is relatively short-lived. Its long, horn-like seed pods give the plant its common name. Like Sea Kale on Lihou’s shorelines, the Yellow Horned-Poppy helps stabilise loose substrates and favours salty, drought-prone conditions.

Once cultivated as a vegetable, wild Sea Kale now represents relatively undisturbed shingle habitats. Its bluish-green leaves and clusters of white flowers attract pollinators and stabilise shifting substrates. On Lihou’s shingle banks, these statuesque plants help preserve biodiversity while withstanding strong salt-laden winds.

With lilac or pinkish crocus-like flowers, Sand Crocus is found in only a few locations in the UK yet flourishes on Lihou. The island’s mild climate and sandy soils provide ideal conditions for its bulbs. In late winter or early spring, look for these dainty blooms brightening open turf where competition from larger plants is minimal.

A rare fern ally, Hedgehog Quillwort grows in very specific sites with fluctuating water levels. Its spine-like leaves poke out of shallow depressions, easily overlooked unless one searches carefully. On Lihou, temporary pools provide a vital haven for this uncommon plant, allowing it to complete its life cycle away from heavier disturbance in other locations.

This rare, fern-like plant is at risk in both France and the UK, making Lihou’s population particularly valuable. Its single leaf and tiny “adder’s tongue” spike can be challenging to find among low vegetation. The island’s low disturbance and favourable microclimate allow it to flourish where it might struggle on more heavily sites across the causeway in Guernsey.