Bog Asphodel
Narthecium ossifragum
Overview
Bog asphodel lights up the wet moorland. Yellow spikes in June and July. Foulshaw Moss. The fells. It likes wet feet. The name ossifragum means bone-breaker. Old belief that sheep eating it got brittle bones. Not true. But the name stuck.
At a Glance
| Order | Dioscoreales |
| Family | Nartheciaceae |
| Habitat | Blanket bog · Wet moorland · Flushes |
| UK population | Widespread in upland and western Britain. |
| Lake District | Foulshaw Moss has good displays. Wet moorland throughout the Lakes. Yellow spikes in June and July. |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Boggy moorland. Foulshaw Moss, the fells around Coniston, wet flushes. That yellow spike in summer.
Identification
Yellow flower spike. Grass-like leaves. Grows in wet bog. Unmistakeable in flower.
Viewing & Photography Tips
June and July. Foulshaw Moss. Wet moorland. Sunny day for the flowers.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Lake District biodiversity.
Plan your visit to the Lake District
RSPB Haweswater, Grizedale Forest, Leighton Moss. Practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.