Alien Flora of Hampshire
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Hamble Footpath, Hampshire, 15 February 2002
Common on Hampshire coasts especially in Hamble and Warsash areas.
Apple of Peru - flower (Nicandra physalodes)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 29 September 2001
A frequent weed of disturbed ground
Apple of Peru -fruit (Nicandra physalodes)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 12 October 2001
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Verwood, Hampshire, 24 September 2002
Quite common on waste ground, usually a garden throw out.
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Mayfield Park, Woolston, Southampton, 24 September 2003
An invasive species of waterside, wet woodland and marsh
Orange Balsam (Impatiens capensis)
Exton Lane, Hampshire, 24 July 2003
A fairly common alien of marshes, overgrown streams and ditches, also reed beds. Common in Itchen valley.
Small Balsam (Impatiens parviflora)
Bassett Wood, 26 July 2004
Locally abundant in wet woodland as at Bassett Wood, at Rownhams and around the Sports Centre.
Red Bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis)
Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, 21 August 2003
A scarce garden escape in damp woodland. Occurs north of the Ornamental Lake on Southampton Common.
Italian Bluebell (Scilla italica)
Mill Lane, Nursling, Southampton, 22 April 2004
An uncommon garden escape. Grows at Nursling and in the French Street area in Southampton.
White-stemmed Bramble, leaf & stem (Rubus cockburnianus)
A35 by Ashurst Lodge, Hampshire, 21 June 2004
Possibly originally planted. Only known in this area from the site given above.
White-stemmed Bramble, fruit (Rubus cockburnianus)
A35, Ashurst Lodge, Hampshire
Green Bristle-grass (Setaria viridis)
Upper Wootton, Hampshire, 18 August 2004
An increasingly common birdseed alien in market garden areas, by roadsides and in flowerbeds under flats where people feed the birds.
Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)
Black Point, Hayling Island, Hampshire, 8 August 2001
Increasingly common shrub with lovely orange-scented flowers. Found by the Totton bypass and in the Gosport and Browndown areas.
Creamy Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
Priors Dean, Hawkley, Hampshire, 2 March 2002
An uncommon spring flower in damp alder woods, especially places flooded in winter. The nearest site to Southampton is at Fairthorne Manor, Botley. Also at West Meon.
Creamy Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
Priors Dean, Hawkley, Hampshire, 3 March 2003
Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia)
Bedhampton Stream, Havant, Hampshire, 8 August 2001
The above site is the closest to Southampton but it couls turn up on the muddy edges of ponds and streams. From South Africa and spread by birds.
Star Clover, flower (Trifolium stellatum)
Browndown, Gosport, Hampshire, 17 June 2002
A common flower of the Mediterranean. Occurs here and at Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex.
Star Clover, fruit (Trifolium stellatum)
Browndown, Gosport, Hampshire, 16 June 2004
Russian Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum)
Eastleigh Sewage Works, Hampshire, 9 May 2002
A fodder crop and used in composting. Common on roadsides and waste ground on rich soil.
Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea montana)
Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire, 20 May 2003
A garden escape occasionally seen on roadsides and waste ground.
Druce's Cranesbill (Geranium X oxonianum)
Peartree Green, Southampton, 8 July 2002
An occasional escape especially on roadsides.
French Cranesbill (Geranium endressii)
Royal Victoria C.P., Southampton, 25 June 2004
A frequent garden escape especially where soil is dumped, but long established in grassland at Weston Common.
Purple Cranesbill (Geranium X magnificum)
Botley Manor C.P., Hampshire, 25 June 2004
An attractive but uncommon garden escape
Hoary Cress (Lapidium draba)
Peartree Green, Southampton, 4 June 2004
Locally abundant in urban areas, roadsides and by the coast. Psarticularly plentiful at Weston Shore.
Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)
Bushfield Camp, Winchester, Hampshire, 5 April 2004
An attractive spring flowering escape, frequent around Southampton. Probably bird sown.
Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy (Aster lanceolatum)
Warsash Common, Hampshire, 12 September 2002
A very common, late flowering plant of roadsides, waste ground and urban areas.
Large-flowered Evening Primrose (Oenanthera glazioviana)
Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 26 August 2004
A common alien in a wide variety of open situations.
Hairy Finger-grass (Digitalia sanguinalis)
Gosport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 26 August 2004
Scarce but increasing in pavements etc. Found at Hightown in 2005.
Bilbao Fleabane (Conyza bilbaoana)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Southampton, 26 August, 2004
A very common urban weed. First identified in Southampton in the last 15 years.
Guernsey Fleabane (Conyza sumatrensis)
St. Cross, Winchester, Hampshire, 3 October 2002
A very common urban weed that got here before the Bilbao Fleabane and is softly hairy rather than rough to the feel.
Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus)
West Meon, Hampshire, 7 May 2004
An uncommon alien on wall tops and similar places. Also occurs at Lyndhurst.
Hairy Garlic (Allium subhirsutum)
Byron Rd, Thornhill, Southampton, 15 May 2003
A rapdly increasing alien in damp or shady places. Reported at Thornhill, Millbrook and as a garden weed at Silverdale Road.
Naples Garlic (Allium Neapolitanum)
Bursledon Road, Southampton, 6 May 2004
Rarer than Hairy Garlic but found at Thornhill and has been seen at Hum Hole, Bitterne.
Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum)
Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 29 May 2004
More common in Portsmouth area but can be seen in the Bevois Valley and planted at Palmerston Park.
Goat's Rue (Galega officinalis)
Whitelley, Hampshire, 5 August 2004
A common and long established alien. Strong colonies at Freemantle and at Swaythling Grange.
Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Anton Lakes, Winchester, Hampshire, 27 August 2002
A common late flowering alien, found at many sites around Southampton.
Tall Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
Royal Victoria C.P., Southampton, 7 August 2002
Rarer than Canadian Goldenrod but also occurs at Peartree Green.
Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)
Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, 29 May 2003
A frequent alien of mown grassland and garden lawns. Particularly common around Thornhill and Hightown.
Prickly Heath, flower (Gaultheria mucronata)
Hannay Rise, Thornhill, Southampton, 11 June 2003
Starting to occur as birdsown bushes in acid grassland and on heathland. Strong colony at Hightown.
Prickly Heath, fruit (Gaultheria mucronata)
Hannay Rise, Thornhill, Southampton, 9 November 2005
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, 26 August 2004
An obvious garden escape but not really thoroughly naturalised.
Honesty, white (Lunaria annua)
Peartree Green, Southampton, 12 April 2004
Usually purple-flowered. A frequent alien of Southampton's greenways and open spaces, often on the edge of scrub.
Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
South Wonston, Hampshire, 11 June 2003
Birds go nuts over the berries and have spread this plant. It is increasing in woods and scrub.
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Mercury Marsh, Hamble, Hampshire, 16 September 2003
Now a severe pest of scrubby areas especially near the Hampshire coast.
Siberian Iris (Iris siberica)
South Wonston, Hampshire, 30 May 2004
This lovely escape might have been planted in the orchid meadow on Southampton Common.
Juneberry, view, (Amalanchia lamarckii)
Holmsley Wood, New Forest, Hampshire, 12 April 2003
A Canadian tree that is well established and bird sown in woodland on acid soil. Occurs at Telegraph Woods, Marlhill Copse and commonly at Lord's Wood.
Juneberry, flower, (Amalanchia lamarckii)
Holmsley Wood, New Forest, Hampshire, 12 April 2003
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Kingsworthy, Winchester, Hampshire, 27 August 2002
A horrible and abundant pest. Illegal to plant deliberately.
Lesser Knotweed (Persicaria campanulata)
Bassett Wood, Southampton, 5 August 2004
An attractive plant thoroughly established on the site of a former pond at Bassett Wood.
Garden Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Mayles Lane, Knowle, Hampshire, 28 July 2003
A frequent escape in grassland, cemeteries and wasteground.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigelle arvensis)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 3 October 2001
An increasingly common weed in gardens and allotments. Also on waste ground and by walls.
Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Peartree Green, Southampton, 8 July 2002
An occasional waste ground alien but abundant at Peartree Green.
Mind your own Business (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Caerleon Ave., Thornhill, Southampton, 24 April 2004
A pest of damp, shady lawns and damp walls. Related to the nettle and native to Corsica.
Apple Mint (Mentha X villosa)
Oliver's Battery, Winchester, Hampshire
Frequent near gardens, on waste ground and roadsides. Long established by the main road at Hut Hill.
Spear Mint (Mentha spicata)
Crooked Walk Lane, Southwick, Hampshire, 11 August 2003
Even commoner than Apple Mint and very widespread in similar places.
Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus)
Mansbridge, Southampton, 4 August 2003
A frequent river side and lake side plant but not native.
Musk (Mimulus moschatus)
Netley Marsh, Hampshire, 16 September 2003
Rarer than Monkey Flower. It favours damp grassy ditches as at Netley Marsh, west of Totton.
Garden Pink Oxalis (Oxalis articulata)
Burton, Hampshire, 19 September 2002
A very common alien in grassy places, often near the coast.
Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Peartree Green, Southampton, 8 July 2002
One of the characteristic aliens of scrubby places and waste ground around Southampton. Lots on Peartree Green.
Common Pigweed (Amaranthus rexoflexus)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 3 October 2001
Both this and Green Pigweed are common bird seed aliens of disturbed ground, pavements or in flowerbeds under flats.
Green Pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus)
Garnier Road, St. Cross, Hampshire, 3 October 2002
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Deacon Road, Sholing, Southampton, 24 September 2002
A weed from the USA. Not really established but seen three times in recent years in Southampton.
Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus)
Lower Test N.R., Nursling, Southampton, 18 June 2002
Native to Sicily. Now common by walls , roadsides, pavements and stony open ground.
Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)
Martin Down, Hampshire, 20 June 2002
A fodder plant that occasionally turns up in Southampton, recorded at Hightown.
American Skunk-cabbage, flower (Lysichiton americanus)
Marlhill Copse, Swaythling, Southampton, 22 April 2004
A striking plant, introduced from USA by the Victorians. In wet woodland at Marlhill Copse and in the Lordsdale Greenway.
American Skunk Cabbage, fruit (Lysichiton americanus)
Newtown Common, Hampshire
Greater Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major)
Black Point, Hayling Island, Hampshire, 31 October 2002
A frequent garden escape, often on old walls.
Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)
Home Covert, 25 April 2004
Actually one subspecies is native and found in wet woodland away from towns but most sites near Southampton are close to gardens. Occurs in So'ton OLd Cemetery though.
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Rowridge Lane, IoW, 14 August 2002
Not uncommon in the Southampton area especially around Mansbridge and on Peartree Green.
Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata)
Burton, Hampshire, 19 September 2002
Much commoner than Gallant Soldier in Southampton. Frequent pavement and roadside weed, also in allotments.
Garden Pink Sorrel (Oxalis latifolia)
Lee on Solent, Hampshire, 12 September 2004
Eastern Sowbread (Cyclamen coum)
Bittern Road East, Southampton, 9 February 2004
Naturalised by a roadside in Bitterne. Flowers as early as February.
Spirea douglasii
Botley Manor C.P., Hampshire, 25 June 2004
Grown in hedges and shrubberies. Naturalised near Botley.
Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)
Quobleigh Pond, Fairoak, Hampshire, 5 August 2004
Now a severe pest in ponds, especially in the New Forest.
Stransvaesia (Photina davidiana)
Chilworth Common North, Hampshire, 15 September 2004
Bird sown in woodland on the north edge of Southampton. Favours acid soils.
American Strawberry, flower (Gautheria shallon)
Lordswood, Southampton, 15 June 2004
A pest of woodland on acid soil. Abundant at Red Lodge Belt, Lord's Wood.
American Strawberry, fruit (Gautheria shallon)
Rhinefield, New Forest, 26 October 2005
Yellow-flowered Strawberry, flower (Duchesnea indica)
Southampton Common, 8 May 2002
An increasing alien. Established on a bank at Cemetery Road, in Gypsy Grove (Shirley) and at Weston Common. The fruit resembles a strawberry but is utterly tasteless.
Yellow-flowered Strawberry, fruit (Duchesnea indica)
Kingsworthy, Winchester, Hampshire, 27 August 2002
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus X laetiflorus)
Mansbridge, Southampton, 3 October 2002
An attractive late flowering alien, usually casual but established in scrubby grassland west of Mansbridge.
Cut-leaved Teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
Broom Hill, Eastleigh, Hampshire, 7 August 2003
Not in Southampton but established at the site quoted above.
Thorn Apple, fruit (Datura stramonia)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 29 September 2001
Thorn Apple, flower (Datura stramonia)
Blackberry Drive, Fair Oak, Hampshire, 29 September 2001
A sporadic alien that becomes more common in hot summers and can turn up on any disturbed soil.
Purple Toadflax (Linaria purpurea)
Warsash Common, Hampshire, 12 September 2002
Another typical weed of urban wasteground and the sites of former gardens. Also on walls.
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Micheldever Forest, Hampshire, 16 August 2001
Not in Southampton but strong colonies at Micheldever and Corhampton.
American Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum)
Kingsworthy, Winchester, Hampshire, 27 August 2002
An alien but probably the commonest willowherb to occur as a weed in gardens, allotments and cultivated fields.
Austrian Yellowcress (Rorippa austriaca)
Warsash Common, Hampshire, 11 June 2003
A rare alien. Found on introduced soil on a former tip at Warsash Common.
All pictures
© Peter Burford