Across the United Kingdom this winter, an astonishing number of wildflowers and other plant species have been observed in bloom, a phenomenon that scientists say is not merely unusual, but a visible, on-the-ground signal of climate breakdown. This year’s New Year Plant Hunt has revealed hundreds more flowering species than would normally be expected in January, underscoring how rising temperatures are fundamentally altering seasonal rhythms in nature
Citizen scientists participating in the annual New Year Plant Hunt, coordinated by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), scoured gardens, parks and wild spaces for plants in flower over the New Year period. The results stunned researchers: in 2025, 310 native plant species were found in bloom compared with an expectation of around 10 species for this time of year. When non-native species are included, the tally rises to 646 species recorded in flowers this winter.
Among those blossoming are familiar faces are daisies, dandelions, groundsel and other common wildflowers as well as a suite of non-native species such as Mexican fleabane and white and red dead-nettles, many of which typically only flower in milder seasons.
Scientists say the pattern is far from random. A Met Office analysis of nine years of plant-hunt data found a clear statistical relationship between higher autumn and early winter temperatures and the number of species in bloom. For every 1°C rise in mean temperature during November and December, about 2.5 additional species are observed flowering during the New Year period.
This year’s exceptionally mild late autumn and winter were a major factor in the bloom surge. The UK’s 2025 was likely the warmest year on record, according to the Met Office, as global temperatures continue to hover around 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels a level of warming that scientists warn brings significant disruption to ecosystems and weather patterns.
Experts say that unprecedented winter flowering isn’t just a curiosity; it is direct evidence of the way climate change is shifting natural cycles that plants have followed for millennia. Kevin Walker, a scientist at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, described the patterns emerging from the plant hunt data as a “visible signal” of climate change that people can literally see in gardens and countryside across the UK.
The implications of this shift are far-reaching. Many insects and animals time their life cycles to coincide with predictable plant events such as flowering and leaf emergence. Early or out-of-season blooms can create what ecologists call “temporal mismatches”, where food availability no longer aligns with the needs of pollinators, herbivores and other wildlife. For example, bees that typically emerge in spring may find nectar sources out of sync with their peak activity, potentially threatening populations that play critical roles in ecosystems.
There are also impacts for agriculture. Fruit trees that flower earlier due to warmer winters can be vulnerable to frost if temperatures drop later in the season, jeopardizing harvests. Garden plants and crops also may enter their growth cycles before expected dates, creating challenges for farmers as well as gardeners.
This is not an isolated UK phenomenon. Scientists have documented earlier springs and altered seasonal cues for plants throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Studies show that the first flowering dates have been shifting over decades in recent years.
The New Year Plant Hunt highlights the value of citizen science, with public observations helping researchers track subtle changes in plant behavior over time. While the colorful January blossoms may appear cheerful, scientists warn clearly that they are indicators of climate stress with serious consequences for biodiversity and food systems.
