Species Data Page 20

Design By Nature - wildflowers.ie - Irish Wildflowers

Species Datapage No 20

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Species Common Name: Ox-Eye Daisy

Species Botanical Name: Leucanthemum vulgare

A common species found throughout Ireland on disturbed ground and in well managed wildflower meadows. Common in hay fields and Quarries. Ox-eye is important in that it seems to have 'restrictive properties' that help fight off grasses in our meadows, not that it kills grasses but in the early years grasses are slower to invade our Ox-eye crops than other crops on our nurseries.

Management: Ox-eye grows new from seed every few years, it is important to create the conditions for seed to set and fall on to bear ground. If you can keep ox-eye growing in your meadow you are managing the meadow correctly, if the ox-eye disappears, start cutting more and raking / gap creating to get the ox-eye back. Ox-eye can be cut for short meadows and high summer, if you cut your meadow after August it will be hard to keep this species growing. On steep dry banks ox-eye will persist.

Tolerance of cutting: High

Cutting time: Spring, Early Autumn.

Edible / Medicinal: Edible, Medicinal,

Seed just about ready for harvesting, the petals are well faded and the seed is just about ripe, hard.

Crop of ox-eye, slightly on the weedy side, we cut out the weeds before the combine enters the crop.

Life Cycle (Form): Short lived Perennial

Flower Height: 25 to 50 cm

Foliage Height: 5 - 10 cm

Flower Colour: White ,yellow centre

Flowering period: June, July,

Time to Flower: 6 -12 months

Soil Type: Will grow in most soils,

pH Type: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline.

Moisture: Dry, Moist, Wet

Aspect: Full sun, light shade in hedgerows,

Wildlife Value: Attracts Hoverflies and Insects. Attracts moths at night

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Species Common Name: *Opium Poppy

Species Botanical Name: Papaver somniferum

Sorry no picture available.

Management: Allow to self seed.

Tolerance of cutting: Low,

Cutting time: None,

Edible / Medicinal: Edible seed, Medicinal, Do not consume unless advised. Irish Opium Poppy does not contain opiates like it's Himalayan cousin.

Life Cycle (Form): Annual, with biennial growth habit

Flower Height: 40 to 100 cm

Foliage Height: 25 - 30 cm

Flower Colour: Mixed often Purple

Flowering period: July,

Time to Flower: 6 -12,

Soil Type: Will grow in most soils, best in dry, sandy loam.

pH Type: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline.

Moisture: Dry,

Aspect: Full sun, Partial shade,

Wildlife Value: Low,

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