Growing Wild: Lesser Celandine and Ivy berries

Now is the time to look out for Lesser Celandine and Ivy Berries, according to Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, who takes a closer look at some of our native Irish biodiversity.
Lesser Celandine
The glossy, yellow, star-like flowers of Lesser Celandine (pictured above), provide a stunning display on hedge banks. Resembling buttercups, but with more and narrower petals, these early flowers have now appeared on the heart shaped leaves which were among the first green vegetation to emerge after winter. The shiny flowers reflect the sun to attract pollinators. Bumblebee queens emerging from hibernation need an early supply of pollen and nectar. By early summer, there will be no trace of Lesser Celandine above ground, maintaining its presence underground in fig like tubers. The eye-catching, cheery, golden flowers are part of our native Irish biodiversity.
Ivy berries
Look out for the last Ivy berries, now black, soft and partially eaten by birds such as blackbirds, thrushes, robins and wood pigeons. They also provide food for holly blue butterflies.
This stage of Ivy is not always recognised because the leaves are simple, more oval than the more recognised three lobed Ivy leaves on the plant in its climbing phase. It is not parasitic, but gets nutrients from its own roots rather than the tree onto which it clings with tiny roots. Some thrushes, blackbirds and wrens are now building nests in Ivy. Love or hate it, Ivy is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
See previous Growing Wild articles below:
- Growing Wild - Winter Heliotrope and frogspawn
- Growing Wild - Willow Catkins and Birds Nests
- Growing Wild - Harts Tongue and Hazel
- Growing Wild - Whins and Ferns
- Growing Wild - Rose Hips and Flowering Ivy
- Growing Wild - Yarrow and Herb Robert
- Growing Wild - Elderberries and Blackberries
- Growing Wild - Haws and Spindle
- Growing wild - Guelder Rose and Sloes
- Growing wild - Purple loosestrife and Lord and Ladies
- Growing Wild - willowherb and water mint
- Growing Wild - dandelion and greater stitchwort
- Growing Wild - willow, primrose and lady's smock
- Growing Wild - whitethorn and cow parsley
- Growing Wild - bluebells and guelder rose
- Growing wild – Honeysuckle and Foxglove
- Growing Wild - Elder and Ragged Robin
- Growing wild - dog rose and meadowsweet
- Growing wild - Privet and Lady’s Bedstraw
- Growing Wild - Bird’s foot trefoil and Knapweed
Keep an eye on Teagasc Daily for another Growing Wild later in the month. Learn more from Teagasc about Biodiversity and Countryside here.