WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

• Veronica salicifolia x V. elliptica = V. x lewisii (Lewis's Hebe) 25 Jan 2024, 1:17 p.m.one self-sown plant at the base of a wall on Cotham Brow, Bristol at ST58837453.

• Lactuca sativa (Garden Lettuce) 6th Feb, 2 plants of two different cultivars (Probably 'Little Gem' and 'Freckles') found growing amongst leaf litter at the base of a tree stump outside Quakers Burial Ground, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol at ST59067234. They looked good enough to pick! How they got there is a mystery. They felt well-rooted and I couldn't see any signs of them being the result of guerilla gardening. The tree had not long been felled and more likely the disturbance and sudden increase in light levels awakened seeds brought in casually by some other means.

• Phygelius aequalis (Cape Figwort) 25 Feb 2024, 11:41 a.m.the cultivar 'Yellow Trumpet' growing through a stone wall on Fishponds Road, Bristol at ST61977510.

• Lycopsis arvensis (Bugloss) 7 Mar 2024, 4:33 p.m. one plant growing on the harbourside outside Castle Park at ST59217305 and another at the base of a wall close by. Also 2 plants on a site of roadworks opposite Lidl at the Bottom of Springfield Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol at ST59867610 17 Aug 2024, 11:53 a.m.

• Brassica juncea (Chinese Mustard)18 Mar 2024, 1:46 p.m. [revisited 10 May 2024, 6:47 p.m.] one plant growing on a kerb on the corner of Kellaway Crescent, Horfield Common, Bristol at ST58977662.

• Petroselinum segetum (Corn Parsley) 20 Mar 2024, 3:57 p.m. a few plants appeared after roadworks on a grass verge on Glenwood Road, Henleaze, Bristol at ST58057732.

• Anemone blanda (Balkan Anemone) 30 Mar 2024, 11:23 a.m., several plants self-seeded and naturalised on a grass bank near to a well-established planted population, Eastville Park, Bristol at ST61687512.

• Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis (African Lily) 16 Apr 2024, 1:03 p.m., a young plant self-seeded at the base of a wall on Broadway Road, Bishopston, Bristolat ST58797519.

• Brunnera macrophylla (Great Forget-me-not) 18 Apr 2024, 3:53 p.m. growing in a derelict corner of BRERC's (Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre) courtyard, Bristol at ST56227874.

• Ornithogalum umbellatum ssp. campestre (Star-of-Bethlehem) 10 May 2024, 6:38 p.m.one clump in long grass, Horfield Common, Bristol at ST58917652. It's probably been there for years but until recently the grass here was cut regularly and so it wouldn't have had the chance to flower.

• Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera (Turnip-rape) 14 May 2024, 1:21 p.m.one bird-sown plant at Bathurst Basin, Bristol at ST58797214.

• Anemone coronaria (Poppy Anemone) 14 May 2024, 2:10 p.m.one plant self-seeded onto harbourside cobbles near to a large planter where it probably originated. Bathurst Basin near the Lock Swingbridge, Bristol at ST58787223.

• Sisyrinchium laxum (Veined Yellow-eyed-grass) 14 May 2024, 3:20 p.m.masses of plants (100s) at various stages. Many large and in flower and proliferating along approximately 30 m of brick-paved dock-side along Bathurst Parade, Bristol at ST58697215. Actually discovered in 2023 but only identified when revisited in 2024. It probably originated from one of the opposite front gardens.

• Brassica oleracea var. viridis (Kale) 14 May 2024, 4:24 p.m. the cultivar 'Red Russian'; established on the remnant corner exposure of Redcliffe Caves and on the harbourside opposite, along Phoenix Wharf, Bristol at ST58837230.

• Dianthus barbatus (Sweet-William) 23 May 2024, 7:41 p.m. one plant found in long grass near the site of an old ornamental meadow on Horfield Common, Bristol at ST59047671.

• Zantedeschia aethiopica (Altar-lily) 27 May 2024, 6:48 p.m. established beside Horfield Brook; Mina Road Park, Bristol at ST60107453.

• Euphorbia stricta (Upright Spurge) 29 May 2024, 3:27 p.m. 2 plants on an ex-roadwork site on the corner of Kellaway Crescent, Horfield Common, Bristol at ST58977662.

• Hydrangea sargentiana (Sargent's Hydrangea) 29 May 2024, 4:27 p.m. growing in an abandoned garden beside Hazel Brook, Henbury, Bristol at ST56407871.

• Anisantha tectorum (Drooping Brome)10 Jun 2024, 5:31 p.m. at the base of a wall on Ashley Hill, Bristol at ST59767491. *

• Knautia macedonica (Macedonian Scabious) 12 Jun 2024, 4:20 p.m. one plant self-seeded at the base of a wall close to its garden source on Trym Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol at ST57327746.

• Phedimus kamtschaticus var. ellacombeanus (Kamchatka Stonecrop) 26 Jun 2024, 5:10 p.m. one plant self-seeded at the base of a wall close to its garden source on Trym Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol at ST57327746.

• Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow-cress) 26 Jun 2024, 5:13 p.m.growing along a kerbside on High Street in the heart of Westbury-on-Trym! at ST57167733. Also on a site of roadworks opposite Lidl at the Bottom of Springfield Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol at ST59867610 17 Aug 2024, 11:41 a.m..

Verbena rigida (Slender Vervain) 26 Jun 2024, 5:57 p.m. abundant and proliferating behind the orangery, Blaise Castle, Bristol at ST56237872. Also found escaping from a flower bed at Snuff Mills, Bristol at ST6240765113 Oct 2024, 4:31 p.m.

• Salvia forskaehlei (Indigo Wood Sage) 30 Jun 2024, 5:29 p.m. several plants of various stages self-seeded and proliferating on slate chippings in a front garden otherwise devoid of plants and cultivation. Radnor Road, Bishopston, Bristol at ST59027610. There doesn't appear to be any previous records of this in Britain.

• Eryngium planum (Blue Eryngo) 1 Jul 2024, 6:43 p.m. a single plant self-seeded at the base of a street tree on Egerton Road, Bristol at ST58717556.

• Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed-Susan) 18 Jul 2024, 1:07 p.m. one plant at Castle Park escaping the mowers on the edge of an old ornamental meadow now turned to grass. ST59167306.

• Picris hieracioides ssp. villarsii (Hawkweed Oxtongue) 28 Jul 2024, 4:30 p.m. one plant Below Dower House, Stoke Park at ST62257721. Also several plants on a stone wall at Riverside Park, Bristol at ST60117412 2 Aug 2024, 6:24 p.m.. In 2023 I found it to be very prolific on a patch of Wasteland behind Feed Bristol at ST62817713 21 Aug 2023, 5:23 p.m. and adjacent along the side of the Metro Bus slip road opposite Stapleton allotments, and also at Narroways, ST60287508 30 Sep 2023, 10:10 a.m.. Its distribution so far appears to be linked with the M32.

• Typha latifolia (Bulrush) 2 Aug 2024, 1:34 p.m. on the roof of a warehouse building! between Newfoundland Way and Houlton Street, Cabot Circus, Bristol at ST59687364. I actually discovered it here in 2022 out of the corner of my eye whilst driving by but could never refind it until now. It appears to have blown here from a nearby population along a stretch of the River Frome a few hundred metres away.

• Calamagrostis epigejos (Wood Small-reed)2 Aug 2024, 3:46 p.m.occurring on the same roof as the Typha! It probably arrived here on the plumage of Gulls from somewhere along the River Avon.

• Pastinaca sativa ssp. sativa (Parsnip) 2 Aug 2024, 1:46 p.m.one plant in full flower on a bank between Newfoundland Way and Clement Street, Cabot Circus, Bristol at ST59697368.

• Malva alcea (Greater Musk-mallow) 2 Aug 2024, 6:52 p.m. one plant on an island crossing on Newfoundland Way (opposite Houlton Street), Cabot Circus, Bristol at ST59637365; occurring as a casual or planted relic. Looking at past years of Google Maps Street View did not show any presence of it in planting schemes. It was probably introduced by other means.

• Amaranthus blitum (Guernsey Pigweed) 2 Aug 2024, 7:25 p.m. a line of plants growing outside the Bristol Flyer Pub, Gloucester Road, Bristol at ST59007524. Not long after it was destroyed with weedkiller! Several plants also beside the lake at Eastville Park, Bristol at ST6166754917 Aug 2024, 10:56 a.m. in both cases introduced with bird-seed. 4 subspecies (not mentioned in Stace) are recognised by Kew [powo.science.kew.org]. The latter record is the typical plant with more or less entire leaves but the former appears to be ssp. emarginatus with strongly emarginate tips.

• Amaranthus retroflexus (Common Amaranth) 17 Aug 2024, 10:41 a.m. one plant growing at the edge of the lake at Eastville Park, Bristol at ST61727552.

• Polygonum rurivagum (Cornfield Knotgrass) 22 Aug 2024, 7:24 p.m. several plants beside a well-used natural path. Blaise Castle, Bristol at ST55687826.

• Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla var. cicla (Foliage Beet)25 Aug 2024, 7:33 p.m.three young plants growing on a kerbside on Seymour Road, meeting with Dongola Road, Ashley Down, Bristol at ST59407578.

• Verbena incompta (Purpletop Vervain) 27 Aug 2024, 11:19 a.m. one large and luxurious plant in flower to the side of a gate entrance plus 5 young and stunted plants on the kerbside on the Gloucester Rd end of Thornleigh Rd, Bishopston, Bristol at ST59207610. I first encountered this species last year at Castle Park. It differs from the now frequently seen Verbena bonariensis in having broader leaves which are more deeply serrate, significantly less rough to touch and flowers elongating into much more prominent but laxer spikes. There doesn't appear to be any previous records of this in Britain but it's becoming increasingly popular in gardens and should be expected to become more widespread in the future.

• Lepidium virginicum (Least Pepperwort) 31 Aug 2024, 10:43 a.m.one bird-sown plant on a kerbside. Springfield Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol at ST59757617.

• Salvia hispanica (Chia) 31 Aug 2024, 1:22 p.m. two young bird-sown plants on the harbourside near some steps leading onto Saint Philip's Bridge, Bristol at ST59337295. My only record for 2024. A great reduction on last year when I found it in 7 different locations. [My previous records: 1 Aug 2021, 11:27 a.m. one plant on a kerbside, Ash Road, Bristol at ST59127633; 3 Aug 2023, 3:34 p.m. many plants on disturbed ground (left after filming works for a TV series 'The Winter King'), Blaise Castle, Bristol at ST55687828 - revisited later in the year when nearly in flower. Some plants were as tall as me!; 12 Aug 2023, 10:02 a.m. several plants at the base of a wall, Muller Road, Bristol at ST60827531; 15 Aug 2023, 12:40 p.m. many plants on newly disturbed ground on a road verge backing onto a garden (where a hedge was grubbed out and replaced with a fence!), Henbury Road, Bristol at ST56687834; 18 Sep 2023, 1:30 p.m. one plant at the base of a bollard, Gloucester Road, Bristol at ST59147571; 7 Oct 2023, 8:40 a.m. one plant, Bromley Road, Bristol at ST59727612; 7 Oct 2023, 10:05 a.m. several plants at the base of a fence on newly made groundoutside Lidl, Muller Road, Bristol at ST59907608; 28 Oct 2023, 10:48 a.m. one plant on a kerbside, Draycott Road, Bristol at ST59837613].

• Chenopodium strictum (Striped Goosefoot) 31 Aug 2024, 5:46 p.m. numerous plants established on a patch of cordoned off car park outside Temple Meads, Bristol at ST59497241.

• Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. landra (Mediterranean Radish) 7 Sep 2024, 9:43 a.m. one heavily nibbled plant (presumably bird-sown) beside a path at Three Brooks Nature Reserve, Bradley Stoke at ST62638149. Revisited recently and it has re-emerged with fresh new leaves.

• Caryopteris incana x C. mongholica = C. x clandonensis (Bluebeard) 14 Sep 2024, 11:14 a.m. one self-sown plant at the base of a wall close to its garden source on Tortworth Road, Bishopston Bristol at ST59427631.

• Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Narrow-leaved Michaelmas-daisy) a patch to the side of a cut-through between Longmead Avenue and Radnor Road, Bishopston, Bristol at ST58927613. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera to hand.

• Nicotiana alata (Sweet Tobacco) 30 Sep 2024, 4:09 p.m.one plant at the base of a wall on Cotham Brow, Bristol at ST58627399.

• Passiflora caerulea (Blue Passionflower) 3 Oct 2024, 2:19 p.m.growing along the base of a wall on Kellaway Avenue, Bristol atST59237686.

• Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil) 17 Oct 2024, 11:35 a.m. one self-sown plant to the side of a gateway on Cotham Brow, Bristol at ST58717425. The basal leaves were unusually broad and blunt. It appears to match online representation of ssp. obscura (not mentioned in Stace) which might be the origins of the bright golden-yellow-flowered cultivar 'Warrenii' which I suspect this might turn out to be but a revisit is needed to determine this in flower.

• Forsythia suspensa (Trailing Forsythia) 19 Oct 2024, 10:10 a.m. self-seeded on a brick wall on Muller Road, Bristol at ST60827531.