Pollinator plant

Meadow Fleabane

Inula britannica

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Common names

6 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • British Elecampane[1]
  • British Yellowhead[1]
  • Elecampane[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Meadow Fleabane[1]
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Engelse alant
German
  • Wiesen-Alant[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pentanema britannicum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Meadow Fleabane — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Pentanema britannicum.
  • British Elecampane — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Pentanema britannicum.
  • British Yellowhead — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Pentanema britannicum.
  • Elecampane — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Pentanema britannicum.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Pentanema britannicum ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Wiesen-Alant (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 140282; taxon 76NHD.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Inula britannica as a synonym of Pentanema britannicum.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.23–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Creeping

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Biennial; Perennial

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Native range
Europe to Russian Far East and Himalaya

NC State Extension profile, published as Pentanema britannicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [3]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Inula species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Meadow Fleabane (Inula britannica) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Inula britannica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 439233; ID 3PT2Y; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Pentanema britannicum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2595021; ID 76NHD; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2595021; ID 76NHD; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Pentanema britannicum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Inula species (top 367 pt)

    Source checked on .