Purple Vetch
(Vicia americana)

Description: Vine-like plant with delicate divided leaves, and tendrils which anchor it to surrounding vegetation. Pretty dark blue flowers are arranged in a row along the stalk. Flower has the characteristic petal morphology of the Pea family - with a large upper petal ("banner"), two small side petals "wings", and a lower petal (the "keel") which acts as a landing platform for visiting insects.

Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as meadows, roadside, forest edge.

Width: 3 m

Flowering: June - August

Chicory
(Cichorium intybus)

Description: Light blue flowers are open for just a day and close by late afternoon or in cloudy weather. The basal leaves resemble those of Dandelion. The stem is zig-zaggy, giving the plant a gangly, somewhat straggly appearance. Erect plant, sparsely leaved. The stem is zig-zaggy, giving the plant a gangly, somewhat straggly appearance. Light blue flowers have serrated ends to the petals. Flowers are open for just a day and close by late afternoon or in cloudy weather. The basal leaves resemble those of Dandelion. Introduced from Europe.

Habitat: Open, sunny habitats, especially dry meadow, roadsides, waste areas.

Height: 1 m

Flowering: June - July

Blueweed
(Echium vulgare)

Description: Best described as a "bristly" plant.

Habitat: Open, sunny habitats, especially dry meadow, roadsides, waste areas.

Height: 75 cm

Flowering: June - July

Bitter Nightshade
(Solanum dulcamara)

Description: Sturdy vine-like plant which likes to climb over fences and up branches. A relative of the tomato and potato, as evidenced by the distinctive flower with swept-back petals and protruding yellow stamens. Petals are purple. Shares with relatives the tomato and potato, the distinctive flowers with petals folded back like flaps and bright yellow anthers hanging out. Fruit is a berry which is first green, but ripens to red. The berries are toxic to humans.

Habitat: Moist, shady sites such as woodland edges.

Height: 75 cm

Flowering: June - July

Field Forget-me-not
(Myosotis scorpioides)

Description: Small, low-growing bushy plant. Flowers blue with yellow centre in clusters on end of short stem. Native to Europe.

Habitat: Moist areas, such as edges of marsh, stream-side.

Height: 50 cm

Flowering: June

Blueweed
(Echium vulgare)

Description: Best described as a "bristly" plant.

Habitat: Open, sunny habitats, especially dry meadow, roadsides, waste areas.

Height: 75 cm

Flowering: June - July