Although this is a southern European plant, its introduction to the countryside of the British Isles is mainly as a garden throwout. It doesn't usually persist for long but I have known a patch stay and even expand over a period of five years until brambles smothered it.

It is dotted throughout England and Wales and even escapes in northern Scotland but hardly at all in Ireland.

Llandulas Quarry, North Wales 1st July 2008

Added on 3rd July 2008, updated 12th December 2008, updated 28th March 2010