They make the roads look stunning wherever we go in the Spring or summer, they are a spectacular, yet ephemeral, show that draw the camera’s eye, sometimes forming large clusters extending far beyond the eye’s reach.
By now you’ve probably noticed wildflowers. They’re called wild because they pop-up in nature without, in most cases, ever having been planted. They’re the true representatives of the bucolic scenarios repeatedly portrayed in painting or in our imagination.

When farming was less intensive it was possible to spot a wide variety of these flowers, and they are truly important as they increase biodiversity in farm areas. Many of these plants last all year long, being that they flower, leave their seeds and then disappear.

The flower is the most visible part, however, the cycle starts with the seed, which then blooms, the bears fruit and releases more seeds, restarting the cycle.

We want to introduce you to some of these plants:

Papaver rhoeas – the famous poppy

The fiery red on its delicate petals create a bright contrast in the fields and roadside, making them impossible to miss.
Poppies are usually spotted in crops, fallows, pastures, meadows, ridges, olive groves and sometimes on roadsides, wastelands and rubble. They like a somewhat nitrified soil, and often appear to be associated with extensive grazing of sheep. The use of herbicides in cereal crops makes it increasingly rare to see poppies.

Borago officinalis – borage

With its beautiful lilac flower, the borage is an annyal herbaceous that can occur in meadows, fallows and roadsides. They prefer soil that is richer in limestone.

Oxalis pes-caprae – bermuda buttercup

The infamous bermuda buttercup flowers between January and April. It is a weedy species of cultivated or uncultivated agricultural fields, orchards, roadsides, urban wastelands, slopes, dunes, cliffs and coastal pine forests. It is even legally declared as an invasive species.

Lamium maculatum – spotted dead-nettle, purple dragon, spotted henbit

Mainly present in the North and Center parts of the country, this species appears in meadows in the margins of water courses, often under cover of riparian forests or oak trees. In humid, dark places, and often disturbed lands.

Verbascum pulverulentum

This beautiful mullet that can reach up to two meters in height, and supports yellow flowers, is usually present in central Portugal, mainly in dry prairies, pastures, uncultivated fields, farm edges, landfills and pathways. It’s easily spotted in dry places, compacted, open and with high exposure to sunlight.

Cichorium intybus – chicory

Chicory is a biannual herb which supports a beautiful violet flower. It is commonly used in cooking, in salads for instance. It appears in urban wastelands, roadsides and cultivated or uncultivated agricultural fields.

Achillea millefolium

Often found in humid meadows, abandoned farmland, and banks of water lines, this plant likes damp and gloomy places. Its delicate white flowers are very aromatic.

Cynara humilis – wild artichoke

A beautiful thistle that occurs in dry places, fallows and pastures. Its coagulant properties, characteristic of some species of Cynara, allow for them to be used in the making of cheese.

Briza media – quaking grass

A species that occurs in marshes and meadows, in somewhat moist soils.

Digitalis purpurea – foxglove

It occurs in sheltered rocky outcrops, herbal slopes, edges and clearings of woods or bushes, sometimes on the side of the road and hedges. Usually in damp, cool or dark places.

Taraxacum officinale – dandelion

Another famous plant, known as dandelion. It is a hardwood perennial of small size and supporting yellow flowers. Although it was considered an important plant to have in the kitchen in the middle ages, this plant is now considered invasive in pastures, lawns and gardens.

Amália Souto de Miranda
Landscape Architect