Blooming heck! The primrose has been voted Wales’ most popular flower.

In a nation associated world-wide with the majestic golden daffodil, it is actually the multi-coloured little primrose that remains closest to our hearts.

Following a three-month long campaign and UK-wide vote to discover our favourite wildflowers, the brightly-coloured little bloomer, which grows in small bunches all across Britain, was voted best in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In England, the primrose came a close second the bluebell.

Most surprisingly, the daffodil failed to muster even a top three finish in the Welsh poll.

Dr Trevor Dines, botanical expert at the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife which organised the vote to mark its 25th anniversary, admitted he was shocked by the result.

“I’m really surprised – and quite delighted - that primrose has come out tops in Wales, Scvotland and Northern Ireland,” he said.

“This might reflect their curious pattern of occurrence; in northern and western Britain, where it’s wet and cool, primroses often spread out of woods and colonise roadside banks and verges.

“Perhaps they’re more visible as a result and are just more part of people’s lives.”

Dr Dines said the appeal of the primrose was best summoned up by one respondent to the poll who said the flower was “just perfect, and could not be improved in any way”.

To find out more about The Nations’ Favourite Wild Flower Vote and the conservation work that Plantlife carries out, visit plantlife.org.uk.