Anyone interested in the county's wild flowers is encouraged to buy the
Flora of Renfrewshire by Keith Watson (2013).
It is still available and is a very good account of our flora, with species accounts, records and maps. Keith is the local botanical recorder for the BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles).
I've extracted a list of the Renfrewshire flora from this book and here are links to the speadsheet and A5 booklet options.
Renfrewshire Plants Spreadsheet
In Lochwinnoch a small active botanical recording group is looking at LBAP species and revisiting some of the local Nature Conservation Sites. See the Lochwinnoch Wildlife page for more info.
As of summer 2021, a new group of amateur botanists is now active, carrying out surveys across Renfrewshire. New members are welcome.
Contact Michael Philips by email at
botany@opus44.co.uk
Below are some lists of the rarer species in Renfrewshire. this will eventually replaced with more 'focused' information
Found in 5 sites or fewer in Renfrewshire
Campanula latifolia Giant Bellflower
Carex acuta Slender Tufted-sedge
Carex arenaria Sand Sedge
Carex dioica Dioecious Sedge
Carex disticha Brown Sedge
Carex paniculata Greater Tussock Sedge
Carex pauciflora Few-flowered Sedge
Carex spicata Spiked Sedge
Centaurium erythraea Centaury
Chrysosplenium alternifolium Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage
Corallorhiza trifida Coral Root Orchid
Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder Fern
Ceratocapnos claviculata Climbing Corydalis
Cruciata laevipes Crosswort
Drosera anglica Great Sundew
Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow Buckler Fern
Eleocharis quinqueflora Few flowered Spikerush
Empetrum nigrum Crowberry
Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff
Geranium pratense Meadow Cranesbill
Gymnadenia conopsea Fragrant Orchid
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Hippurus vulgaris Marestail
Huperzia selago Fir Clubmoss
Juniperus communis Juniper
Lathraea squamaria Toothwort
Listera cordata Lesser Twayblade
Listera ovata Twayblade
Littorella uniflora Shoreweed
Lysimachia thyrsiflora Tufted Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
Melica uniflora Wood Melick
Menyanthes trifoliata Bogbean
Nuphar lutea Yellow Water Lily
Ophioglossum vulgatum Adder’s-tongue Fern
Paris quadrifolia Herb Paris
Phegopteris connectilis Beech Fern
Platanthera bifolia Lesser Butterfly Orchid
Polystichum setiferum Soft Shield Fern
Pyrola minor Lesser Wintergreen
Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle
Rorippa palustris Marsh Yellow-cress
Salix aurita Eared Willow
Salix myrsinifolia Dark-leaved Willow
A list of nationally Significant Plants Growing in Renfrewshire:
In less than 5% of 10km squares in Britain
Cicuta virosa Cowbane
Corallorhiza trifida Coral Root Orchid
Elatine hydropiper Eight-stamened Waterwort
Hierochloe odorata Holy Grass
Lysimachia thyrsiflora Tufted Loosestrife
In less than 10% of 10 km squares in Britain
Carex aquatilis Water Sedge
Meum athamanticum Spignel
Salix myrsinifolia Dark-leaved Willow
Sedum villosum Hairy Stonecrop
Zostera noltei Dwarf eel-grass
In less than 20% of 10 km squares in Britain
Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort
Carex diandra Lesser Tussock Sedge
Carex lasiocarpa Slender Sedge
Carex limosa Bog-sedge
Carex pauciflora Few-flowered Sedge
Carum verticillatum Whorled Caraway
Diphasiastrum alpinum Alpine Clubmoss
Drosera intermedia Oblong-leaved Sundew
Hammarbya paludosa Bog Orchid
Oenanthe lachenalii Parsley Water-dropwort
Pseudorchis albida Small-white Orchid
Pyrola minor Lesser Wintergreen
Rubus chamaemorus Cloudberry
Ruppia maritima Beaked Tasselweed
Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage
Stellaria nemorum Wood Stitchwort
Trientalis europaea Chickweed Wintergreen
