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Red Berries

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vessca) Flowers and Berries

 

The Wild or Woodland Strawberry is similar, in appearance to the well known garden strawberry although still edible it is overall much smaller. In the UK they can often be found growing in many dry grassy places, from Woodland rides, Meadows and Gardens to Road side verges, often sending out long runners and colonising any available ground.

The leaves of the strawberry plant are made up of three oval leaflets, the small flowers have 5 white petals and a rich yellow centre and appear April to July.

Wild strawberry fruit or berries, may be found from June through to October, although small size they are stronger tasting and are often used commercially in jams and medicines.

Wild Strawberry Plant with Red Berries

Wild Strawberry Plant with Red Berries

Wild Strawberry Plant showing leaves and yellow and white flowers

Wild Strawberry Plant in Flower

Quick Info

  • Type: Perennial Herb
  • Also Known As: Woodland Strawberry
  • Where: Commonly found through-out Britain
  • Habitat: Often found on well drained – Meadows, Road side verges, woodland Clearings, Gardens and tracks.
  • When does it flower? April to July.
  • Fruiting: June through to October.
  • Height around: 20-30cm.
  • Larval Food Plant: Grizzled Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus malvae)

Visit Thompson & Morgan to get Woodland Strawberry seeds

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024

Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

 

A fast growing climber, Honeysuckle is seen by many as a traditional garden shrub, often seen in gardens growing up a trellis or trailing over walls and fences.

Honeysuckle flowers generally appear from June-August and vary in colour from creamy white, pink, red and light yellow. They are mainly trumpet shaped, and give off an unmistakable sweet scent, most noticeable late evening and at night.

The flowers are followed by bunches of red berries which ripen in Autumn and are often eaten by wild birds during the winter months.

Native Honeysuckle

Probably the most popular variety of honeysuckle is Lonicera periclymenum (Woodbine) a native species which grows wild in woodlands and hedgerows throughout Europe.

It is deciduous (loses leaves in Autumn) with particularly fragrant light yellow flowers flushed with pink/purple and may grow to a height of 5-6m.In Britain wild honeysuckle can sometimes be seen growing up trees in woodland, spreading amongst hedgerows, and other plants using then for support.

The leaves are grey – green and oval shaped.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) red berries

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) red berries

Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) Woodbine in flowering in Woodland, growing amongst Blackthorn and Wild Privet.

Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) Woodbine in flowering in Woodland, growing amongst Blackthorn and Wild Privet

Honeysuckle for the Garden

Honeysuckles grown specifically for the garden can vary in that, some are deciduous others are evergreen and semi-evergreen. The flowers also can be trumpets or funnel shaped, often forming clusters, although some can occur in pairs depending on the species. Traditionally scented, some Honeysuckles can also have little or no scent, but make up for this with masses of spectacular flowers.

Quick Information

  • Name: Honeysuckle (Lonicera. Sp)
  • Family: Caprifoliaceae
  • Height: May grow up to 5m if supported.
  • Position: sun or semi shade
  • Care: Feed or water if needed, prune or shape if required in Winter or Spring
  • Wild Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is the primary food plant for the caterpillar of a rare British woodland Butterfly the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla).
  • Photographs: 8th – 15th August 2010

Popular Garden Honeysuckle and Varieties



Honeysuckle ‘Scentsation’
(Lonicera periclymenum)

Lonicera periclymenum, Common Honeysuckle, Woodbine yellow trumpet flowers

Honeysuckle ‘Scentsation’ Lonicera periclymenum

Pale yellow and ivory flowers from midsummer to September, and a powerful sweet perfume, make Honeysuckle ‘Scentsation’ a delightful garden climber. It is a great plant to let trail over a garden wall, or train up a fence or trellis. After flowering the glossy red berries are an attractive food for garden birds in late summer

  • RHS Perfect for pollinators: Yes
  • Type: Hardy Shrub
  • Colour: Pale yellow and Ivory
  • Flowering Period: July, August, September.
  • Position: sun or semi shade.
  • Great For: scented gardens, woodland garden, Fences and Walls

Available in a range of pot sizes from 3 ltrs, for more information find it here at Thompson & Morgan


Honeysuckle ‘Belgica’
(Lonicera periclymenum)

Honeysuckle 'Belgica' a colourful flowered sweet scented climber

Honeysuckle ‘Belgica’ a colourful sweet scented climber

A hardy climber Honeysuckle ‘Belgica’ has sweet scented flowers that begin white and gradually turn yellow with rich red streaks. Early Dutch Honeysuckles usually flower early summer and often follow up with a second flush of blooms in late summer, September to October. The glassy red berries that are loved by garden birds.

  • RHS Perfect for pollinators: Yes
  • Type: Hardy Shrub.
  • Colour: white, yellow, red.
  • Position: sun or semi shade.
  • Growing and Aftercare: Easy
  • Soil: Moist, well drained – Most types

Available in a range of pot sizes from 3 ltrs, for more information find it here at Thompson & Morgan


Honeysuckle ‘Halliana’
(Lonicera Japonica)

Lonicera Japonica Halliana (Honeysuckle)

Lonicera Japonica Halliana (Honeysuckle)

Lonicera Japonica Halliana is an evergreen Honeysuckle that produces masses of creamy white and yellow very fragrant flowers, all spring and summer. Also known as Japanese Honeysuckle, Honeysuckle ‘Halliana’ is a vigorous climber and will rapidly make it’s way up a trellis or wall, plant in the garden near windows or doors to fully appreciate the wonderful scent.

  • Also known as: Japanese Honeysuckle
  • Type: Full Hardy climber
  • Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade
  • Flowering: May to September
  • soil type: Most well drained
  • Height: 600cm
  • A great plant for attracting wildlife to your garden

See more information about Honeysuckle ‘Halliana’ Click Here to Visit Jersey Plants Direct

Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’
Lonicera x brownii

Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’

A robust climber with long, red and orange trumpet-shaped flowers that continue to bloom from July through to September. Although unscented, Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ makes up for this with masses of colourful flowers, vigorous growth and semi-evergreen blue-green foliage, ideal for hiding an unsightly area of the garden like a wall or fence, or trailed through a large mature tree.

  • Type: Hardy shrub
  • Colour: Orange and red (Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle)
  • Flowering: July, August, September
  • Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil Type: In fertile, moist, free draining soil.
  • Height and Spread: 4m (13′), 2m (7′).
  • Ideal For: Wildlife garden, Cottage garden, walls and trellis

For More Information on this climber you can visit Thompson & Morgan Here

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© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024

Holly shrub (Ilex aquifolium)

 

An evergreen shrub or bush with shiny dark green leaves, with light yellow-green margins and prickly edges, often used as a single ornamental shrub, or as a hedge in urban gardens and parks, it can also be found in the countryside growing in hedgerows, and woodland clearings.Flowering May – July, the small groups of white petalled flowers, attract butterflies, moths and other insects, the berries or fruits which follow turn bright red in the Autumn, which although toxic to humans provide a winter food source for many species of wild birds and animals.

Holly shrub-bush (Ilex) bright red berries

Holly (Ilex) has been considered a sacred shrub, deeply associated with Winter since ancient times, a tradition still followed today, its branches used to make to traditional Christmas decorations, like wreaths and table decorations.

Holly Shrub or Bush (Ilex aquifolium) with small white petalled flowers

Holly Shrub-Bush (Ilex aquifolium) small white petalled flowers

Plant Information

  • Group: Aquifoliaceae
  • Type: Evergreen Shrub or Tree
  • Similar appearance to:
  • Flowering: April Berries: November
  • Position: Sun or Semi shade
  • Height: Up to 10m
  • Larval food plant: Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus)
  • Nectar plant:
  • Photograph: Top 25th April – Left 11th November
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024