Orange bird's-foot
Glimpse of gold
Nestled away in the busy heathland, the orange birds-foot is a rare glimpse of gold amongst the green. It isn't found anywhere else in the UK apart from on Scilly. These flowers are barely visible unless actively sought out by the keen, wandering eye.
It is predominantly found in low-growing areas, often making its home near the entrances of granite cairns, or disturbed areas such as gardens with sandy soil.
Its bright yellow leaves form an assembly of tiny, cup-shaped bulbs that point towards the sky, occasionally compared to the bell-like petals of cowslip. The orange bird’s-foot is also often found growing alongside its close relative, the little white bird's-foot, which has white, pinkish flowers as opposed to pure gold.
Scilly is the only place in the UK where orange bird's-foot grows. It is native to Western Europe, the Mediterranean Region and Macaronesia but is found elsewhere as an introduced species.
Find out more
The Isles of Scilly is home to some rare and beautiful flora. Here are some of the other species you might see around the islands in the spring and summer...
