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Growing Wild: Lesser Celandine and Ivy berries

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.

Ivy berries

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.

Ivy berries and leaves

See previous Growing Wild articles below:

Keep an eye on Teagasc Daily for another Growing Wild later in the month. Learn more from Teagasc about Biodiversity and Countryside here.