In September, October or even November this is one of the few common plants covered in flowers, so on a warm day it is covered in insects. Wasps particularly and more rarely butterflies, find this plant a good source of nectar in the leaner, cooler Autumn months. This one is probably ssp helix there is so much overlap between this and ssp hibernica that I rarely try to separate them in the UK.

H. helix is found throughout the British Isles and Ireland apart form the tops of our highest Scottish mountains and is one of our most invasive native species.

Helsby, Cheshire 9th November 2001

Added on September 30th 2004, amended January 27th 2005, updated 3rd February 2009, updated 3rd April 2010