Wild Wednesday – Round-headed Rampion
The Round-headed Rampion, scientific name, Phyteuma orbiculare is known as the 'Pride of Sussex,' is the county flower of Sussex, this wildflower is relatively rare and found primarily on the South Downs chalk grasslands in both East and West Sussex. Sussex chose the round-headed rampion as its county flower in 2007.
You will see it during the late summer months, with flowering typically occurring in July and August.
It is a perennial (lives for many years) herb, which prefers a habitat of chalk grasslands. The flower is a dense sphere shape of deep violet-blue and are thistle-like in appearance, the round-headed flower is not a single bloom, but a collection of smaller ones. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped at the base, becoming more linear (long and narrow) up the stem. This plant will typically grow from 20 to 50 centimetres tall.
Key locations
- Devil's Dyke (near Brighton) - a classic chalk grassland area and part of the South Downs National Park
- Mount Caburn (near Lewes) - known for rich downland flora and a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and great for summer wildflower walks
- Seaford Head Nature Reserve - offers coastal views and chalk grassland. Good management practices have helped preserve the habitat here
Wildlife benefits
- excellent for bees and pollinating insects, including the chalkhill blue butterfly and six-spot burnet moth
- a good choice for wildlife or rewilding gardens
It is a protected species in the UK and features in conservation initiatives for chalk grasslands. While protected on nature reserves, the plant's survival will depend on conserving its chalk grassland habitat.
It's illegal to dig up wild plants without landowner permission (protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).