Meadow Clary

Did you know

• Meadow clary uses a clever pollen-delivery lever mechanism — when a bee pushes into the flower, a stamen arm swings down and daubs pollen onto the bee's back.
• It was a major component of traditional European wildflower meadows before intensive agriculture replaced permanent grasslands across the continent.
• The sticky hairs on its stems trap small insects in a way that is thought to deter crawling insects from stealing nectar without pollinating.
• Archaeological evidence shows meadow clary seeds were used as a food additive and medicinal herb by Bronze Age Europeans.
• The species epithet pratensis means 'of the meadows' in Latin, placing it firmly in the open grassland habitat where it evolved.

Color meanings

Uses

• ornamental
• meadow planting
• pollinator garden