Species Data Page 3

Design By Nature - wildflowers.ie - Irish Wildflowers

Species Datapage No 3

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Species Common Name: Bladder Campion

Species Botanical Name: Silene vulgaris

A perennial herb found in a wide range of fertile disturbed habitats including spoil heaps, waste ground, steep banks, building rubble, Dry ground and sandy places.

Occasionally in various others such as paths, stream sides, etc. Intolerant of shading and absent from wetlands. Competes well with most grasses.

Seed germinability can be rapid and growth slow but it sends down roots so by year three Bladder Campion is a large self seeding perennial

Management: Moderate persistence in unmanaged grassland
Moderate tolerance of cutting but will compete on steep banks with no cutting.
Management options: Keep fertility poor,

Tolerance of cutting: medium, will re-grow and flower if cut in summer.

Cutting time: Summer / autumn

Edible / Medicinal: Dried flower/seed heads for decorations, Edible green leaves but chewy.

Life Cycle (Form): Long-lived perennial in the right situation, Short lived elsewhere

Flower Height: Flowers to 90cm

Foliage Height: Leaves to 25cm

Flower Colour: White

Flowering period: June-August

Time to Flower: 1-2-3 years

Soil Type: Rubble gravel sand loam clay limestone

pH range 6-7.5 7.5-9

Moisture: Dry, normal

Aspect: Warm and sunny

Winter green: No

Wildlife value Good especially for Butterflies.

See also Sea Campion, species open pollinated and Cross breeds with Red Campion

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Species Common Name: Bluebell

Species Botanical Name: Hyacinthoides non-scriptus see also BSBI

Bluebell and white Hedge Stichwort

Bluebells require little introduction, But they are grown from seed to produce a bulb and then flower. In the early years the young bulb looks like a chive then it develops true leaves and flowers. Bluebells contain poison or very strong alkaloids and care should be taken when handling.

A hedgerow and woodland species will grow in certain acid grasslands such as are found in the Wicklow Hills

Will grow well amounts bracken fern with wild violets

Management: Persistence in woodland and certain managed grassland. Moderate tolerance of cutting but will compete well on steep banks with no cutting.
Management options: Keep humus levels high, shelter the woodland floor,

Tolerance of cutting: None,

Cutting time:

Edible / Medicinal: Poisonous species.

Life Cycle (Form): Perennial Bulb

Flower Height: 30-50cm

Foliage Height: 10cm -15cm

Flower Colour: Blue, (white, lilac and Pink in Cork area)

Flowering period: March to May

Time to Flower: 3 Years

Soil Type: All except bog peat

pH Type: 5 to Neutral to 7 provided a leaf litter builds up, such as in woodland or under bracken fern.

Moisture: Dry to wet

Aspect: Shade and sunny banks where the roots are cool,

Wildlife Value: Where found Growing the public tend to want to protect such sites.

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Species Common Name: Bog Asphodel

Species Botanical Name: Narthecium ossifragum

Bog loving, common species that grows from seed on wet peaty soils,

No Photograph available.

Management: Moderate persistence in peaty grassland. Keep fertility poor,

Tolerance of cutting: None, except end of season management

Cutting time: None

Edible / Medicinal: Very Medicinal. Do not consume unless advised. Probably contain poisons

Life Cycle (Form): Short lived rootstock seems to die after flowering.

Flower Height:10cm- 20cm

Foliage Height: 2cm

Flower Colour: yellow to orange

Flowering period: July, August and into September

Time to Flower: 2 years

Soil Type: peat

pH Type: acid

Moisture: Moist to wet, if on dry peat it will grow if seedlings are not allowed to dry out.

Aspect: A wonderful upland species and in open sunny wet situations on bogs throughout Ireland, very common.