Yellow Oxytropis is an incredibly rare, tufted perennial herb found in only three known sites across the British Isles. It is of high conservation priority and is closely monitored by the Scottish Government's nature agency, NatureScot. The two montane populations of Yellow Oxytropis exist in the Scottish Highlands in the Caenlochan area and Glen Tilt, with isolated growth on steep cliffs and limestone scree at specific elevations of 500-640 metres. The only known lowland population is on Dun Ban in Kintyre, Argyll, where it grows on sea cliffs.
The Scots Gaelic name for Yellow Oxytropis translates directly into English as ‘flower of the queen’ or ‘queen's flower’ for its physical, crown-like appearance, but also for the fact that it grows in isolated ‘kingdoms’, making it such a prized jewel by Highlanders.
