5 Wildflowers to Inspire Magical Nature Play

There’s something utterly enchanting about a child discovering a wildflower in the garden or on a walk — tiny petals clutched in sticky hands, turned into fairy soup, flower crowns, or even treasure for a woodland creature.

At A is for Alice, nature is one of our greatest inspirations. Whether we're designing forest fairy wings or glittering wands, we believe children’s imaginations bloom best when they’re outdoors — and wildflowers make the perfect storytelling companions.

Here are five of our favourite British wildflowers to inspire magical nature play this summer.

Simple and iconic, the daisy is often the very first flower a child picks. Their sturdy stems are ideal for threading into chains, making daisy crowns for fairies, forest kings, and brave explorers.

Play ideas:

Make daisy chains for dolls and soft toys

Press into summer journals

Pairs perfectly with: Our Woodland Crowns or Gold Glitter Star Wands.

The bright yellow glow of a buttercup under the chin is a nostalgic joy for many of us — and for children, it becomes a “sunshine spell” or a way to tell if someone’s secretly a fairy in disguise.

Play ideas:

Use petals as "gold" in treasure hunts

Stir into mud kitchen creations for pretend sunshine potions

Draw and colour your own pretend buttercups for indoor play

Pairs perfectly with: Our Rainbow Crowns and Gold Glitter Accessories.

This soft, fluffy bloom is a favourite for bees and a brilliant prompt for pollinator play. Encourage little ones to buzz like bees, collecting pretend nectar and imagining life in the hive.

Play ideas:

Bee role play with bee headband and wings

Count how many bees visit one patch of clover

Invent stories about a fairy bee queen or magical garden

Pairs perfectly with: Our Felt Frog Mask and Floral Bee Headband.

With its frilly, feathered leaves and clusters of tiny blooms, yarrow feels both delicate and ancient. Historically used in folklore and medicine, it invites children to concoct potions and elixirs.

Play ideas:

Mix into a pretend woodland potion

Use the stalks as "swords" for fairy duels

Press flowers to make midsummer bookmarks

Pairs perfectly with: Our Cream Felt Crown and Woodland Animal Masks.

Delicate and cheerful, cranesbill blooms in shades of pink, purple and blue and is often found tumbling through cottage gardens and hedgerows. Its rounded petals and soft scent make it perfect for flower potions and fairy perfumes.

Play ideas:

Collect fallen petals for “perfume” or fairy tea

Create tiny bouquets for dolls and animal toys

Use the distinctive leaves in rubbings or prints

Pairs perfectly with: Our Pink and Purple Glitter Crowns and Star Headbands

All of these flowers can be found in UK parks, gardens, or countryside paths — perfect for a weekend adventure or a slow afternoon in the garden. Just remember: teach children to pick responsibly, leave plenty for pollinators, and be careful around unknown plants (like foxglove).

Add a wand, a crown, a pair of wings, and a head full of stories — and you’ve got everything a child needs for a summer of imaginative play.