Winter blooming of hundreds of plants in UK ‘visible signal’ of climate breakdown | Climate crisis
Daisies and dandelions are among the hundreds of native plant species blooming in the UK; Scientists call this the “visible signal” of climate disruption disrupting the natural world.
Analysis of data from the Met Office annual new year plant hunt Over the past nine years, it has been found that for every 1°C increase in temperature in a given location last November and December, an additional 2.5 species bloomed during the new year period. This year’s hunt began Thursday and will continue through Sunday.
In 2025, citizen scientists recorded 310 native plant species in flower; The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) said it had grown well beyond the 10 species they would normally expect for this time of year. They counted 646 flowering species, including non-native species.
BSBI scientist Kevin Walker said it was a “visible signal” of climate change that people could see in their own gardens.
“This new analysis shows a very clear link between rising temperatures and impacts on our plant species,” Walker said. “This is further evidence that climate change is affecting our wildlife indiscriminately.”
Early results for 2026 show unexpected blooms of common wildflowers like daisies and dandelions on the native plant list. The non-native list includes species such as Mexican pyrethrum and white and red deadnettle.
Fossil fuel pollution has warmed the planet an average of 1.4 degrees above pre-industrial levels, worsened extreme weather conditions and degraded habitats. Last week the Met Office said 2025 was likely to be the UK’s hottest year on record.
Vegetation expert Debbie Hemming from the Met Office said it was “hard evidence” that climate disruption was directly affecting the world around us.
“These findings underscore how rising temperatures and climate extremes are altering the natural cycles of our plants and wildlife,” he said.
