On my first trip to Guernsey many years ago, I came across this shrub with its bell shaped flowers and it looked straightforward to identify. After looking through all the books I'd brought with me I failed and only worked out what it might be by borrowing a copy of an excellent Guernsey flora. This is a South American introduction which has taken easily to the Guernsey climate so that it has spread to several localities on the Island and has been found somewhere on the island since 1946.

Salpichroa origanifolia is an occasional escape in southern England and the Channel Islands. It does not occurs in Wales or Scotland but there is one record from western Ireland.

Port Infer, Guernsey 20th June 2004

Added on November 19th 2004, updated 27th January 2012