Flora of Northern Ireland

Protected plant species in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Legislation:

All wild plants are given some measure of protection in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (NI) Order, 1985. Fifty-six species, listed in Schedule 8, parts 1 and 2, are given special protection.

The order has the effect that, unless you have a licence, you may not: intentionally pick, uproot or destroy any wild plants listed in the schedule, or even collect their flowers and seeds; sell these plants or their seeds if taken from the wild; uproot any wild plants intentionally, except on your own land or with permission.

The plants listed in Schedule 8, part 1 are:

Dactylorhiza traunsteineri	Epipactis palustris	Epipactis phyllanthes	Hammarbya paludosa
Ophrys apifera	Pseudorchis albida	Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Orchis morio
Adoxa moschatellina	Ajuga pyramidalis	Andromeda polifolia	Calamagrostis stricta
Carex magellanica	Carex pauciflora	Centaurium littorale	Cirsium heterophyllum
Dryas octopetala	Elatine hydropiper	Eleocharis parvula	Erica vagans
Erigeron acer	Frangula alnus	Geranium sylvaticum	Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Hierochloe odorata	Hordelymus europaeus	Hottonia palustris	Hypochaeris glabra
Lathyrus palustris	Limonium binervosum	Limosella aquatica	Lycopodiella inundata
Melampyrum sylvaticum	Mentha pulegium	Mertensia maritima	Monotropa hypopitys
Neottia nidus-avis	Orobanche hederae	Pilularia globulifera	Polystichum lonchitis
Primula veris	Orthilia secunda	Ranunculus fluitans	Rubus chamaemorus
Saussurea alpina	Saxifraga aizoides	Saxifraga hirculus	Saxifraga oppositifolia
Silene acaulis	Sisyrinchium bermudiana	Stachys officinalis	Teesdalia nudicaulis
Trichomanes speciosum	Trollius europaeus	Viola persicifolia	Primula vulgaris *

* Primula vulgaris is listed in Schedule 8, part 2 and may be picked but not uprooted.

Priority plant species in Northern Ireland

Please see the Northern Ireland's Priority Species web site for details of which vascular plants have been included in the priority species list.