Cardamine pratensis, commonly known as cuckooflower or lady’s smock, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and western Asia. It is recognized by its delicate, pale pink to lilac flowers held above finely divided leaves in spring. The name “cuckooflower” comes from its habit of blooming at the same time the first cuckoos are heard, while “lady’s smock” refers to its association with washing-day linen spread across meadows. Closely tied to damp grasslands, it is also notable as the main food plant of the orange-tip butterfly, giving it a special place in traditional meadow ecosystems.
