Photographs: Inchidoney, Co. Cork

Wild Madder Rubia peregrina Garbhlus na Boirne Family: Rubiaceae Flowering: June-August. Evergreen perennial. Native. Small creamy yellow-green flowers with 5 petals are followed by small black berrirs. The evergreen dark-green leaves are in whorls of 4-6 and are prickly, shiny and lanceolate. A vigorous clambering plant with strong, prickly, 4-angled stems. Height/spread to 1.5m. Often coastal on cliffs, walls, among scrub and in hedgebanks but also found inland on calcareous soils. Mainly south, SW and western Ireland Similar: Field Madder, Sherardia arvensis. Smaller with pink flowers

Wild Madder, Rubia peregrina, Garbhlus na Boirne