ROI plant life

My favourite examples of plant life in the R.O.Ireland

Black Thorn

They are able to grow up to 6-7m and capable of living for 100 years they are spiny and thickly branched trees with dark brown bark and branches able to grow thrones along their length. They can be identified by looking out for the white flowers in March and April on short stocks after pollination by insects the flowers turn into blue-black fruits which measure 1cm across. They provide an important source of nectar and pollen to bees in spring with its leaves and fruits often being eaten by various forms of wildlife and various bird species use them for nesting.They are susceptible to fungal diseases causing various issues to flowering and the formation of berries causing disruptions to reproduction.

Wild cherry

Able to grow up to 30 m when mature they are able to live up to 60 years they are a native tree to the British isles. The wild cherry tree is identifiable by the flowers which appear in April which are white cupped-shaped measuring 8-15 mm across with five petals in relatively large clusters of 2-6 flowers once pollinated by insects the flowers begin to turn into red cherries which are eaten by birds to spread the seeds contained. The leaves of the tree are green with pointed tips measuring 6-15 cm with two red “glands” at the base of the stalk which appear as crimson or deep orange in autumn. The bark of the tree is considered a deep shiny reddish-brown colour with distinctive cream coloured lines running up the trunk. The wild cherry is commonly mistaken for the sour cherry as the wild cherry have longer stalks. The species is widespread across Ireland and the rest of the British isles.