Flora

The Isles of Scilly are home to some outstanding areas of natural beauty and the many acres of heathland and shoreline are home to some spectacular species of plantlife.

Of the flora found on the Islands, probably the best known are the daffodils and narcissi cultivated here. These, along with agapanthus, hottentot fig, osteospermum and belladonna lilies, are now establishing themselves as ‘wild’ flowers in locations across the islands.

In summer look out for fields full of the yellow corn marigolds, known locally as bothams, which flourish when the bulb fields are idle. In spring the coastal flowers are a picture with thrift, sea campion, spring squill, bird’s foot trefoil and kidney vetch to name but a few.

In August and September the heathland comes into flower with the purple of heather and bell heather contrasting beautifully with the yellow of western gorse. On the more exposed parts of the Islands you can see classic examples of ‘waved heath’ where the heather is interspersed with bare ground in a waved mosaic pattern.

Enjoy a relaxing helicopter flight to the Scillies on board the British International Helicopter’s scheduled service from Penzance.